Middle School Back to School – Lesson 4
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CloseRhythm
Grades
Holidays
Chords
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson you will:
- Warm up with “We Love to Sing!”
- Do the movements to “We Love to Sing!”
- Play “This or That”
- Discuss How to and What If?
- Review Music Room Rules
- Teach “Plainsies, Clapsies”
- Learn the actions for “Plainsies, Clapsies”
- Do the actions and sing “Plainsies, Clapsies”
- Play a Circle Name Game
- Teach “Chester”
- Learn the actions for “Chester”
- Do the actions and sing “Chester”
- Option 1: Play “Chester” on Ukuleles or Guitars
- Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Chester”
- Play rhythms at different tempos
- Optional: Complete the Tempo Worksheet
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 tell how many beats each note gets.
- I can define accented beats and barlines.
- I can play rhythms at different tempos.
Teaching Procedures
Warm up with “We Love to Sing!”
Copy LinkWarm up with “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!”
Copy LinkDo the movements to “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!”
Discuss How to and What If?
Copy LinkTeach “Plainsies, Clapsies”
Copy LinkTeach “Plainsies, Clapsies”
This song is a good song for learning about accented beats. The process below is given as a projectable in the Concept Slides for the song. Give each student a tennis ball and have them bounce and catch as they sing. When they bounce the ball, the beat feels stronger than when they catch the ball.
1. Have the students show the beat for the first line of the song as follows. Pat the stronger beats, and tap shoulders on the weak beats.
2. Count the beats. There are eight. Each beat is a ta,or a quarter note. Draw the eight quarter notes on the board.
3. Place accents ( > ) on the quarter notes that feel stronger.
4. Tell the students that a bar line always comes before a stronger or accented beat.
5. When the beats are in groups of two, the music is in 3/4 meter.
Learn the actions for “Plainsies, Clapsies”
Copy LinkLearn the actions for “Plainsies, Clapsies”
"Plainsies, Clapsies" is a ball bouncing game. While you sing, you try to bounce a ball and do all the actions that are indicated by the words of the song.
Do the actions and sing “Plainsies, Clapsies”
Copy LinkTeach “Chester”
Copy LinkTeach “Chester”
This song is used to teach or review tempo terms. Play one verse or sing the song to the students. Teach them the actions for the song. Tell the students you’re going to try singing "Chester" at several different tempos. The actions get more and more challenging as the tempo increases. Repeat the song four times, getting faster each time. When you teach or review a musical term, add that term to your musical word wall.
Learn the actions for “Chester”
Copy LinkDo the actions and sing “Chester”
Copy LinkOption 1: Play “Chester” on Ukuleles or Guitars
Copy LinkOption 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Chester”
Copy LinkOption 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Chester”
Invite students to create 8-16 beat drumming patterns with rhythm sticks on the floor (or on beat boards) between repetitions of the song.