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Looking to use Middle School Back to School – Lesson 1 in your Middle School classroom?

While teaching this learning module you will cover multiple concepts including: Timbre of Orchestral Instruments, Melodic Direction (high-middle-low), Percussion Family, String Family, Woodwind Family, Brass Family, Dynamics, Beat, and 9 others!

You'll also cover the themes of: Insects, Eras in Music, Romantic

Middle School Back to School – Lesson 1

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Introduction

In this lesson, you will:

  1. Play Poison Rhythm
  2. Discuss How to and What ifs?
  3. Learn about the William Tell Overture
  4. Play along with the Finale from William Tell
  5. Play a Circle Name Game
  6. Practice dynamics on the Trivia Wheel
  7. Warm up with “We Love to Sing!”
  8. Do the movements to “We Love to Sing”
  9. Teach “Clap Your Hands” by the Kungs
  10. Learn the choreography for “Clap Your Hands”
  11. Sing and do choreography to “Clap Your Hands”
  12. Play space music adventure
  13. Teach “Boll Weevil”
  14. Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Boll Weevil”
  15. Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Boll Weevil”
  16. Option 1: Play “Boll Weevil” on the Ukulele
  17. Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Boll Weevil”
  18. Play Instrument Fun Facts on Trivia Wheel
  19. Play Instrument Bingo
  20. Optional: Play SING-O

Extensions:

About the ‘Back to School’ Lessons

Different school districts have different start dates, ranging from the end of July to after Labor Day. The Musicplay song sequence is designed to begin in the first week of September. For teachers whose schools start earlier than September, there are five ‘Back to School’ lessons provided. If your school year begins in August, start with ‘Back to School’ lesson 1. Once September begins, regardless of your start date, use the ‘September Week 1’ lesson.

Objectives

  • I can identify instruments of the orchestra.
  • I can read and name notes in the C scale.
  • I can sing and move to music.

Play Poison Rhythm

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Practice Item Used: 9 q qr Q h h. w

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Discuss How to and What ifs?

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Learn about the William Tell Overture

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Listening Selection Used: William Tell Overture

Play along with the Finale from William Tell

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Listening Selection Used: William Tell Overture

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Play the Circle Name Game

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Practice dynamics on the Trivia Wheel

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Warm up with “We Love to Sing!”

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Song Used: We Love to Sing

This is a movement song to use as a warm-up or shake-up during a choir rehearsal or class. You can also use the song to review tempo terms. This song may already be familiar to some of your students as a bible song. Teach the song by rote, and then introduce the actions.

Do the movements to “We Love to Sing”

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Song Used: We Love to Sing

When the song is well known, have the class stand up each time they come to the words, “We love to sing!” Later, divide the class into two groups. Have one group sing the “alleluias” and the other group sing, “We love to sing!” Have each group stand up when it is their turn to sing.

Denise Tip: I like to have both groups stand and sing the final two measures, “We love to sing!”

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Teach “Clap Your Hands” by the Kungs

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Song Used: Clap Your Hands – By KUNGS

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Learn the choreography for “Clap Your Hands”

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Song Used: Clap Your Hands – By KUNGS

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Sing and do choreography to “Clap Your Hands”

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Song Used: Clap Your Hands – By KUNGS

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Play space music adventure

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Teach “Boll Weevil”

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Song Used: Boll Weevil

This Texas folk song tells the story of a pesky bug that ruins the farmer’s crop. Teach the song by rote.

Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Boll Weevil”

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Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Boll Weevil”

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Option 1: Play “Boll Weevil” on the Ukulele

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Song Used: Boll Weevil

This song uses three basic chords: I, IV, and V. If you sing the song in the key of G, you could have students play chords on guitars or ukuleles.

Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Boll Weevil”

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Song Used: Boll Weevil

This is a folk song with many variants. There are many different verses given for this song. Have students create new verses for the song.

Play Instrument Fun Facts on Trivia Wheel

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Play Instrument Bingo

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Optional: Play SING-O

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Unit Used: Back to School

Playing SING-O is fun!

Stamp or color in a box for every activity you complete.

How many squares can you fill in? You get the middle one for free!

You win when you get a line of 5 in a row.

*Extra Challenge*
Fill in ALL your squares!!

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