Practice distinguishing between speaking and singing voices by introducing a toy elephant named Melody.

Melody the elephant will do what the students tell her, if they tell her in a “singing voice.” If they speak, she does nothing.

Tell Melody to “jump up and down” using a speaking voice.
Melody won’t move. Then sing to Melody to “jump up and down” and make your elephant jump.

Invite the students to sing to Melody what to do. The demo that follows will show how to do this.

This is a preschool class with children ages 3-4-5.

A few children in this age group were able to sing to Melody, but many needed help.

Keep bringing your "Melody Elephant" back to class until your students can sing to her!

Substitute whatever stuffed animal you have - Melody Monkey would work just as well!

Teach the song by rote. Use this song as a movement activity. Copy the movements for the dance or have the students create their own!

The wallaby comes from Australia, but is not a kangaroo. Google "wallaby" to learn more.

Read the slides to learn some fun facts about kangaroos.

While students listen, ask them to think about whether the notes are long or short.

Ask students to pretend they are a mama kangaroo who's lost her baby.

When they hear "jumping" or short sounds, they jump to where they think they see their baby.

When they hear "looking" or long sounds, they look for baby.

Teach the song by rote. Teach the song by singing or playing a phrase and having students sing back to you.

The students sit in a circle with one student in the middle with eyes closed. The students sing the first three phrases. While they sing, the teacher chooses one child to sit behind the student in the middle. The chosen student sings the last phrase, "Guess who's caught you just for fun?" The first student must guess who it is.

Keep track on your class list of who's had a turn to be in the middle, and who's had a turn to sing alone. In the first class that you play the game, give half your students a turn in the middle adn the other half a turn to sing alone. In the second class that you play the game give each group the chance to do the reverse. In this way, all students are involved in some way both classes and the class doesn't get restless waiting for their turn.

Teacher note: We don't have a kids demo for "Kangaroo". If your students would like to see themselves on MusicplayOnline please review the submission requirements here: https://help.musicplay.ca/can-i-submit-a-kids-demo

In this activity students learn to point to the beat.
As well, they practice tracking from left to right.

A beat pointing page will soon be available for this song. Students benefit from tapping the beat on the pointing page manipulative even more than they do from watching the projected visual. Project the visual first so you can model how to point to the beat. Then, copy the pointing page for each student and they can tap the beat themselves.

The purpose of this exercise is to help students develop "audiation" or "inner hearing".

Click on some beats. The students won't sing out loud on those beats. They'll sing them "in their head".

I like to keep taking away beats until students sing just the first and last notes.

If you have had your students tap the beat many times, they may be ready to learn about rhythm.

In Musicplay, rhythm is defined for very young students as "the way the words go."

Sing the song and clap the words.

Clap and sing the words in a box and ask your students, "Is it one sound or two".

This is preparing students to learn that one sound on a beat is a quarter note. (ta or du)
Two sounds on a beat are eighth notes. (ti-ti)

Use the rhythm names that you prefer in naming the notes.

The story starts at 2:10. The reader has an Australian accent.

This is a song to encourage friendship and to practice the names of your class. When the singer leaves a space, insert the names of the children in your class.

You might invite students to discuss what makes a good friend, and how they can be a good friend to others.

Create actions to accompany the song. The actions could be as simple as swaying left and right on phrases 1, 2 and 4. On phrase 3, motion “out” for “your friends” and motion “to self” for “my friends.”

Sing and move to “Skinnamarink”.