PreK Extra Lesson November
Teaching Procedures
Sing the echoes for "It's Music Time"
At the end of each verse, there is an eight-beat interlude. During the eight beats, continue the verse movement and count the beats. Tell the children that when they count to eight, they are counting the beats in the song and explain that the beat in music is the steady pulse you can feel, clap, or dance to. Use the hearts in the supplemental resources as a visual to show the beat.
Teach "Stand Up Sit Down"
Use this song to review personal space, reminding students to stay in their own spot and keep hands and feet to themselves. Practice the song’s movements—clap, pat knees, stomp feet while seated, and tap heads—then sing along with the recording. Explain that it’s a cumulative song and finish with a faster tempo to introduce changing tempo. For an extension, invite students to suggest new seated movements, standing and sitting between each one.
Review "Open Shut Them"
Review the song and its movements, then invite students to suggest other opposites and actions that could be added to the song.
Play a drum and move to show fast/slow
Explore movements with a drum by having students respond to slow and fast beats. When the drum plays slowly, students walk; when it plays fast, they jog on the spot.
Explore the movements below. Should the movements be fast or slow?
Melody the Elephant
Practice distinguishing between speaking and singing voices by introducing a toy elephant named Melody. Explain to the children that Melody only follows instructions given in a singing voice—if they speak, she won’t move. Demonstrate by saying “Jump up and down” in a speaking voice and show that Melody stays still, then sing “Jump up and down” and make Melody jump. Invite the children to take turns singing instructions to Melody. This activity not only helps students learn the difference between speaking and singing voices, but also encourages solo singing and allows you to easily see who is matching pitch and who may need extra support.
Play Along with Instruments
Arrange students in a circle with non-pitched percussion instruments such as sticks, shakers, or drums. Explore musical opposites like fast/slow and loud/quiet, reminding students to handle instruments gently even when playing loudly or quickly. Practice keeping the beat while listening to the song and play as the music directs.
Create movements with "Ko Di Na"
Brainstorm other activities and movements for the song. Sing the song again and add the new ideas in the verses.
Review "Hula Hippo" movements
The actions are available in the Songs Activities PDF under the teacher tools (click the link "H - Hula Hippo" to get there).
