Middle School Lesson 37
Start LessonBeat, Melodic Direction (high-middle-low)Themes(s):
Animal Songs, Farm
Extra Details:
CloseThemes
Rhythm
Tone Set
Grades
Song Type
Curriculum Links
Chords
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson, you will:
- Play Four Corners
- Learn “Our Old Sow”
- Learn the game with “Our Old Sow”
- Play the game and sing “Our Old Sow”
- Option 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Our Old Sow”
- Option 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Our Old Sow”
- Option 1: Play “Our Old Sow” on Guitars or Ukuleles
- Option 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Our Old Sow”
- Teach “The Capitals of Canada”
- Teach “The Capitals of America”
- Optional: Complete and note and rest values worksheet
Extensions
- Blood on the Saddle
- Home on the Range
- Instruments of the Orchestra
- Campfire Songs
- Independence Day Unit
- O Canada Unit
Musicplay is a menu. The teacher is not expected to teach every song or activity. Choose the songs and activities from the list that will best fit your schedule and the needs of your students.
Objectives
- I can read rhythms in a piece of music.
- I can play instruments to music.
Teaching Procedures
Review “Our Old Sow”
Copy LinkReview “Our Old Sow”
This is an excellent reading song and chase game that is a lot of fun to play. Have the students read the rhythms using rhythm names, and sing the note names in solfa or using letter names. When they have learned to sing the song, add a clap at the end of each phrase.
Alternate lyrics for the song:
Farmer Brown is getting very thin
Kimo komo keemo
Cannot see where he has been
Kimo komo keemo
Review the game with “Our Old Sow”
Copy LinkReview the game with “Our Old Sow”
Choose one student to be the "farmer" and one student to be the "sow". All the other students form "walls". If you have 20 students, form four rows of students with five in each row. The rows of students must line up facing the front. If you have 24 students, you could form four rows with six in each row.
---O------O------O------O------O------O---
---O------O------O------O------O------O---
---O------O------O------O------O------O---
---O------O------O------O------O------O---
The students stand in this formation and sing phrase one. At the end of the phrase, they let go of hands, clap and turn to the left, and join hands with the person from the row behind them.
| | | | | |
O O O O O O
| | | | | |
O O O O O O
| | | | | |
O O O O O O
| | | | | |
O O O O O O
| | | | | |
At the end of the second phrase, they let go of hands, clap and turn to the right, and join hands with the person they started with. At the end of the last phrase, they let go of hands, clap and turn to the left, and join hands with the person from the row behind them. The "farmer" chases the "sow" through the aisles. The "farmer" and "sow" are not allowed to break through the "walls". The game can continue until the song is finished, until the "farmer" catches the "sow", or until they are too tired to continue. If you want to increase the excitement (as if you need any more!), increase the tempo.
Play the game and sing “Our Old Sow”
Copy LinkOption 1: Complete the solfa challenge for “Our Old Sow”
Copy LinkOption 2: Complete the note name challenge for “Our Old Sow”
Copy LinkOption 1: Play “Our Old Sow” on Guitars or Ukuleles
Copy LinkOption 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Our Old Sow”
Copy LinkOption 2: Teach the Orff arrangement for “Our Old Sow”
Creative Ideas: Set the barred instruments up in G pentatonic. Teach all the students how to play the melody on barred instruments. When they know the melody well, invite them to improvise their own melody in bars 3-4 and 7-8.