1 Sing the echoes in "Welcome to School"

Sing the echoes in "Welcome to School"

2 Sing to Melody the Elephant

Sing to Melody the Elephant
Practice 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. (The demo that follows will show how to do this)

3 Optional: Watch the demo of the class singing to Melody Elephant

This is a preschool class with children ages 3-4-5.

A few children in this age group were able to sing to Melody, but many needed help.

Keep bringing your "Melody Elephant" back to class until your students can sing to her!

Substitute whatever stuffed animal you have - Melody Monkey would work just as well!

4 Review song #96 “Wallaby Hop”

Copy the movements for the dance.

Or have the students create their own!

5 Sing along with #99 “If You’re Happy”

This song should be familar to most children.

Sing along and do the actions suggested by the words.

6 Substitute Instruments in "If You're Happy and You Know it"

Substitute Instruments for the claps and stamps in the song.

If you have a class set of sticks, try this version.

1. If you're happy and you know it tap the sticks! X X
2. If you’re happy and you know it scrape the sticks. x x
3. If you’re happy and you know it drum the floor. x x

7 If You're Happy and You Know It - Instrument Family version

Substitute Instruments for the claps and stamps in the song.

If you have woods, metals and drums try this version. (substitute shakers for metals if needed)

1. If you’re happy and you know it play the woods.
2. If you’re happy and you know it play the metals.
3. If you’re happy and you know it play the drums.

8 Learn the words for #101 “Alice the Camel”

Do body percussion and movement with the song:
Alice the Camel has – pat the words on your legs
5 humps. – show 5 fingers (3x)
Go Alice go! – clap the words
Boom boom boom! – bump hips with the person on your left and right
(if alone at home, hip rock the left, right, left)

9 Alice the Camel Instruments

Accompany the song with instruments: (substitute freely)

Alice the Camel has – play on sticks or pool noodle scrapers

5 humps (4, 3, 2, 1, 0 or no) – play on tambourines

Go Alice go! – sticks and tambourines play

Boom boom boom! – play on conga drums, tubanos, gathering drum or hand drums

10 Alice the Camel Instrument Demo

If you are using the primary video player you can slow down the video.

Use the Little gear wheel in the bottom right.

This is too fast for kindergartens, so either sing unaccompanied, or slow down the video.
(or watch the video for a demo of how to do it)

11 Optional: Illustrate a storybook for "Alice the Camel"

Optional: If a printer is available print the storybook from supporting resources and create illustrations for the song.

Alternate suggestion: Draw a picture illustrating the song.

12 Learn to sing #102 “A Tisket a Tasket”

Learn to sing the song by watching the note highlights video.

This video shows how the notes go higher and lower.

Have your students show with arm motions how the notes go higher and lower as they listen.

The solfa part of the video is optional.

Game Directions: One child holds the green and yellow basket (or scarf) and walks around the outside of the circle. At the end of the song he puts the basket behind a child. The child picks it up, leaves the circle and tries to tag the person who is it, before that person gets to the hole in the circle.

Adapt for Zoom:
1. Pretend to jumprope while you sing the song. (kids can try skipping later)
2. Have a challenge between 2 children. Who can do the most jumping jacks while the class sings the song.
3. Choose one child to race on and off screen while the class sings the song. Count how many times you see him.
4. Choose a place in your house to run to (bathroom) and we see who gets back first.

In-person:
1. If you can take the children outside, play it as a race game. Line them up, sing the song (or say it), and race to a designated finish line.
2. Play as a circle game, but space further apart. Use a pool noodle for tagging.
3. Have a challenge between 2 children. Who can do the most jumping jacks while the class sings the song.

13 Do the interactive beat/rhythm activities for A Tisket

Choose from the activities available:
1. Sing and point to the beat
2. Interactive beat chart - "turn off" some of the beats and have the children sing those beats "in their head." Develops inner hearing or audiation.
3. Clap the words (the rhythm of the song)
4. Beat Rhythm switch game (Beat - step beat, Rhythm - clap words)
5. Is it beat or rhythm? (assess)
6. How many sounds do you hear? (with icons)
7. How many sounds do you hear? (with notes - can use to label rhythm)
8. Create a new rhythm

14 Listen to a famous jazz singer sing A Tisket

Ella Fitzgerald was called the Queen of Jazz.

She was a famous recording artist, was in movies and performed with jazz greats Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

She was awarded 14 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Her performance of "A Tisket" was her first big hit.

This is a safeshare link. If the link doesn't work, google Ella Fitzgerald A Tisket A Tasket.

15 Review #95 “Kangaroo” and play the singing game

Listen to the song.

Play the video again and sing along.

This is a guessing game. Choose a "kangaroo" and a "hunter."
The "kangaroo" covers eyes.
The class sings the question and the "hunter" sings the last line alone.
The "kangaroo" guesses who the "hunter" was.

Zoom: play as suggested.
In-person: If you aren't allowed to sing, play the recording for the first 3 phrases, then have the "hunter" say instead of sing the last line.

16 Review "Kangaroo" from Carnival of the Animals

While the children listen, ask them to think about whether the notes are long or short.

17 End our class by singing "Sinnamarink"

Sing and move to #10 “Skinamarink”