PreK Back to School – Lesson 1
StartBeat, Dynamics, Tempo, Melodic Direction (high-middle-low)Themes(s):
Animal Songs, Health, Building Character (SEL)
Extra Details:
Grades
Curriculum Links
Holidays
Learning Module Category
Introduction
In this lesson, you will:
- Sing the echoes for “Time for Music”
- Say the “Hello Beat Chant”
- Discuss What ifs and How tos
- Sing to Melody the Elephant
- Teach “Welcome, Welcome”
- Optional: Read the story “All Are Welcome”
- Teach “Hands on Shoulders”
- Do the movements with “Hands on Shoulders”
- Teach “Roly Poly”
- Learn the actions for “Roly Poly”
- Teach “Wash Your Hands”
- Teach “Alphabet Song” (Zee)
- Teach “Alphabet Song (Zed)
- Teach “Soft Kitty”
- Learn the actions for “Soft Kitty”
- Sing and do the actions for “Soft Kitty”
- Optional: Complete the “All About Me!” worksheet
- Learn the actions for “Skinnamarink”
- Do the actions and sing “Skinnamarink”
Extensions:
- K – Kung Fu Koala (this letter is introduced in June)
- Back to School Unit
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 sing and move to music.
- I can keep a beat.
- I can use loud/quiet, up/down.
- I can perform a steady beat as I say a chant
Teaching Procedures
Sing the echoes for “Time for Music”
Copy LinkTalk about beat.
This is an opening song that can be used for each music class throughout the year or throughout the first 17 lessons. In PreK, you can teach songs by rote or teach them by immersion. In rote teaching, you sing a phrase (or play a phrase in the recording) and the children echo. Then you combine phrases until children can echo the entire song. When you teach by immersion, you sing the song (or play the recording) and have the children do a movement while listening to the song. If teaching this song by immersion tell the students to copy your movements while they listen to the song. After doing the movements for several lessons, they will have “caught” the melody and can sing along.
When children know the song and are singing along, invite the children to create their own verses and movements.
At the end of each verse there is an eight beat interlude. During the eight beats continue the movement from the verse and count the beats. Tell the children that when they count to eight, they are counting the beats in the song and explain that beat in music is the steady pulse that you can feel, clap or dance to. I use hearts as a visual to show the beat, and print out 8 hearts to tap on to show the beat during the interlude.
Say the “Hello Beat Chant”
Copy LinkThe beat chants are a great way to welcome your students to music class or music time. Some music teachers teach more than a thousand students each week and it can be very difficult to remember the names. Starting your class with a name chant establishes a routine, introduces the term “beat” and will help the teacher remember all of the names.
Say the preschool chant, patting a steady beat as you speak. Say hello to four students, then say the chant again. Say hello to them using high and low voices, quiet and loud voices, fast and slow. Also use speaking, whispering, shouting or calling and singing voices. When singing hello use a variety of solfa patterns: so-mi
so-so-mi, so-la-so-mi-do or mi-re-do-do-do. In the chants where children say their own names, encourage them to use different voices.
Discuss What ifs and How tos
Copy LinkSing to Melody the Elephant
Copy LinkPractice distinguishing between speaking and singing voices by introducing a toy elephant named Melody. Melody the elephant will do what the children 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 children to
sing to Melody what to do. This activity helps the students to learn the difference between singing and speaking voices. It’s also great to encourage solo singing. You can soon tell who is matching pitch and who you need to work with when they sing to Melody.
Melody became a requested part of every music class. If I forgot to bring Melody out, they asked for her. They all wanted to give Melody hugs after class, so we developed a routine where if they were sitting nicely in their places, Melody would come and give them a hug.
Teach "Welcome, Welcome"
Copy LinkOptional: Read the story “All Are Welcome”
Copy LinkListen to the story, "All Are Welcome."
Pause the video and sing the welcome song each time you hear the words, "All are welcome here."
Teach "Hands on Shoulders"
Copy LinkSay and move to the poem. Try saying the poem in a quiet voice. Then say in a loud voice. Try it slow. Then try it fast. This helps students to learn the poem, AND reinforces the preK concepts!
Following directions is really important to learn in PreK.
Another fun activity is to play "Simon Says"
Teacher says "Simon says, touch your nose." - all touch their nose.
Teacher says "Simon says, touch your toes." - all touch their toes.
If the teacher doesn't say "Simon says" kids are NOT supposed to do it. This little game is great for times when you want the students watching you.
Do the movements with "Hands on Shoulders"
Copy LinkTeach "Roly Poly"
Copy LinkLearn the actions for “Roly Poly”
Copy LinkTeach “Wash Your Hands”
Copy LinkWatch the video to learn the "Wash Your Hands" song.
Play the video again and sing along!
Talk about other ways we can help to prevent spread of germs: don't share water bottles, cough into your elbow, use a tissue. Research says that washing hands is a proven way to help prevent spread of germs.
Also talk to the students (and their teacher) about having students use the washroom and have a drink before they come to music class. If necessary, talk about your procedures in the event that a student does need the restroom. But remember - in PreK - if one needs to go, all of a sudden they all need to go.
Teach “Alphabet Song” (Zee)
Copy LinkWatch and listen to the video.
Then watch and sing along with the video.
Have you sung this song before?
Teach “Alphabet Song (Zed)
Copy LinkWatch and listen to the video.
Then watch and sing along with the video.
Have you sung this song before?
Teacher note: Canadians pronounce Z as Zed. Use this version if in Canada or UK.
Teach “Soft Kitty”
Copy LinkIntroduce the song by asking the children to “pet a kitty” while you sing. They will “pet” their hands as you sing. Then, invite the children to sing with you.
Discuss the song. Ask the children to tell you if you used a quiet voice or a loud voice. Have them tell you when someone might sing a quiet song. Ask them if anyone has ever sung them a lullaby. Discuss why a lullaby might be sung. Ask them if they’ve ever heard the song before. (They may have heard it on “Big Bang Theory.” On the show, Sheldon asks Penny to sing it for him when he isn’t feeling well.)
Learn the actions for “Soft Kitty”
Copy LinkSing and do the actions for “Soft Kitty”
Copy LinkOptional: Complete the “All About Me!” worksheet
Copy LinkTrace the words on the page.
Color the things you'd like to do in music class.
If you want to save paper, draw a picture of what you'd like to do in music class.
Learn the actions for “Skinnamarink”
Copy LinkWatch the video and learn the actions.
Can you do all the actions?