Last week we created rhythm compositions to play during the B, C, D sections. Revisit those compositions or improvise using unpitched instruments, found sounds (stomp, chairs, desks, shoes, etc.), body percussion, or Boomwhackers.

Listen to the song "Bats." Sing the "eee eee eee"s. Listen again, singing the verses as well.

Add Sound Effects: Give balloons to four or five children. They make the “eee eee eee” sound by letting only a little air out of the balloon. At the end of the song, they release the balloons letting them “fly away.” This works best when you give the balloons to only four or five children. When I’ve given them to the entire class, they get so excited about having the balloons that they forget to sing.

Orff: Play the orff arrangement. (Extension: Set the instruments up in E minor pentatonic. Have the students improvise melodies on the barred instruments or on recorders using DE GAB D.)

Use the song to introduce or review steps and skips.

Name the notes in the interactive to learn some fun facts about bats.

Listen to a spooky story.

Write your own spooky story.

You can use the recorded sound effects in the activity, or you can create your own sound effects.

When your story is written, read it with sound effects.