Middle School Back to School – Lesson 1
StartTimbre of Orchestral Instruments, Melodic Direction (high-middle-low), Percussion Family, String Family, Woodwind Family, Brass Family, Dynamics, Beat, ScaleThemes(s):
Insects, Eras in Music, Romantic
Extra Details:
Concepts
Themes
Rhythm
Tone Set
Grades
Holidays
Chords
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson, you will:
- Play Poison Rhythm
- Discuss How to and What ifs?
- Learn about the William Tell Overture
- Play along with the Finale from William Tell
- Play a Circle Name Game
- Practice dynamics on the Trivia Wheel
- Warm up with “We Love to Sing!”
- Do the movements to “We Love to Sing”
- Teach “Clap Your Hands” by the Kungs
- Learn the choreography for “Clap Your Hands”
- Sing and do choreography to “Clap Your Hands”
- Play space music adventure
- Teach “Boll Weevil”
- Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Boll Weevil”
- Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Boll Weevil”
- Option 1: Play “Boll Weevil” on the Ukulele
- Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Boll Weevil”
- Play Instrument Fun Facts on Trivia Wheel
- Play Instrument Bingo
- 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.
Teaching Procedures
Play Poison Rhythm
Copy LinkDiscuss How to and What ifs?
Copy LinkLearn about the William Tell Overture
Copy LinkPlay along with the Finale from William Tell
Copy LinkPlay the Circle Name Game
Copy LinkPractice dynamics on the Trivia Wheel
Copy LinkWarm up with “We Love to Sing!”
Copy LinkThis 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”
Copy LinkWhen 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!”
Teach “Clap Your Hands” by the Kungs
Copy LinkLearn the choreography for “Clap Your Hands”
Copy LinkSing and do choreography to “Clap Your Hands”
Copy LinkPlay space music adventure
Copy LinkTeach “Boll Weevil”
Copy LinkThis 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”
Copy LinkOption 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Boll Weevil”
Copy LinkOption 1: Play “Boll Weevil” on the Ukulele
Copy LinkThis 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”
Copy LinkThis 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
Copy LinkPlay Instrument Bingo
Copy LinkOptional: Play SING-O
Copy LinkPlaying 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!!