Reading Red Rhythms! and purple too

This year's Sunshine class has been very excited about learning to read rhythms.

Every year this is a favorite activity for many kids. I love seeing their eyes light up as they start to "get it" and fall in love with making new rhythm patterns to clap.

Here's my simple strategy -- borrowed and modified from where? I'd love it if someone told me where I got this idea.

I drew some red quarter notes and double purple eighth notes on 3x5 index cards. My cards are getting so old! It's time to make some new ones.

First I show the kids a single red quarter note, and ask them what they see. Of course it's red. We also see it has a round part -- a head, and a long line -- a stem.

I tell them we will call it "red" like its color, and when I point to it, we will all say "RED".

Then they learn that when I point to the note, we will say "RED" AND clap one time.

Next I line up four red notes. We practice saying the name first: 

           RED                       RED                       RED                      RED

Now clapping hands ready! We clap and say RED for each note.
So GOOD!
Ready for something more?


I show them the eighth note pair on a single card. What is different?
It is purple. Good! What else? This will take a little time, but we discover it has two heads!
Would you like to have two heads? 

I teach them to say PUR-PLE when I point to the note. I point to each note head.

We then learn to clap for each note head (syllable), so we clap two times. PUR-PLE

Now there are four cards of purple notes. We say them first.
Then we clap them.

          PUR-PLE          PUR-PLE           PUR-PLE           PUR-PLE

Ready for something more?

I line up the four red cards, and under them the four purple cards. We say them first, going left to right, top line to bottom line. (Reading readiness)

Now, clapping hands ready! We say and clap both lines.

           RED                     RED                   RED               RED
           PUR-PLE        PUR-PLE         PUR-PLE       PUR-PLE

Ready for something more? (Yes, they are!)









Rearrange the cards to create a very simple mixed rhythm. Say it first, Then clap and say.

               RED                 RED                    PUR-PLE             PUR-PLE 

I try not to go too long with this activity at any one time, because one or two children may not ready for this, and they get very frustrated or bored. The ones who understand will get enthusiastic and want to grab the cards to start creating patterns. Next time! They are so full of great ideas.

Transition: 
Now stand up and stomp our last rhythm!
RED  RED  PUR-PLE  PUR-PLE 
RED  RED  PUR-PLE  PUR-PLE

Follow up:

Lately I have been inserting our rhythm cards briefly before storytime. I "warm up" the kids by doing our 4 reds & 4 purples, and then choose one child to create a mixed pattern. I'm keeping track, so everyone will eventually have a turn. We always say it first, then clap it together.

Our Favorite Dad's Night Song "I'm Gonna Wrap Myself in Paper"...

Mail Myself to You

This is just the best Dad's Night song I have ever found. Thanks Woody Guthrie!

Partly because it's just SO FUN.

And also because just before Dad's Night the kids make valentines and visit the post office, so it just works.

I will share our hand motions. Here is a link to the lyrics.

Chorus:
"wrap" swing alternating hands across body "wrapping" ourselves up.
"daub with glue" one hand "daubs" shoulders, side to side
"stamps on my head" one hand, palm up, sweeps up and plants palm down on head.
"to you" big motion whole arm, point finger to someone

Verse 2 (I skip verse 1, but it's good too)
"mailbox" shade eyes to look in mailbox
"Cut" fingers make scissors motion "let me out" hands move apart, fingers extended
"Wash"  rub fingers in washing motion
"bubble gum" point to open mouth

Repeat Chorus:

Verse 3
"Take me out" jump, moving hands away from body
"Wash" Rub top of head
"Pour" tip head back, pour motion with hand
"bed" sleep hands under head

This year we have had a lot of kids out with colds and other bugs, so I have asked Teacher Teri to play a recording of the song during the week to help the kids learn it in time. I found a very nice version on Itunes by "Russ"; it is not too fast, and it's in a good key.

Here is a link to it on CD Baby.

Note to Sunshine Parents: If you buy this song, I do not use the first verse in school -- I only use verses 2 and 3. They are all fun to sing, I just like to keep things simple.

Hickory Dickory Dock 1-2-3-4

Make a clock pendulum by clasping your hands together, arms extended out in front, and swing them from side to side.

"TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK"

get everyone in rhythm, keep the arms going

and then sing...

Hickory Dickory Dock

The mouse ran up the clock (fingers run up from waist to the top of your head)

The clock struck ONE! (hold up one finger) 

DONG!

The mouse ran down (fingers run down)

Hickory Dickory Dock TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK (back to pendulum)

other verses:

The clock struck TWO
The mouse said BOO!

The clock struck THREE
The mouse said WHEE!

The clock struck FOUR
The mousie snored.

Make sure the clock chimes the correct number of times for each verse.

Here is a nice melody for this nursery rhyme; the lyrics are different, but also fun!

Hickory Dickory Dock | Super Simple Songs

I added a verse each week as I introduced the next number. By the time we got to number five, it was time to start the Halloween "Knock Knock" fingerplay.

Introducing Numbers

Every year I pledge I'm going to get organized about teaching number songs.

This year it's finally coming together!

After our initial welcome song and fingerplay, I have added a brief number activity. It consists of introducing a number, counting out that number on our fingers, sometimes more than one way, and then following up with a number song. The kids have really enjoyed this activity.

For example, here is the page for number 6. After we practiced number six, we sang "This Old Man" up to number six. In the next post I'll describe another fun number song.

6

Hold up 6 fingers

1-2-3-4-5-6

Now hold up three fingers on each hand.

1-2-3-4-5-6

Clap six times

1-2-3-4-5-6

Pat six times

1-2-3-4-5-6

Are You Sleeping? Triangle Welcome Song

I hold a triangle in my hand and ask the kids what it is. Of course it's a triangle! They are so smart.

Then I ask them how to play it. They have good ideas. I produce the beater and make some sounds, and they all agree this is correct.

Then I ask them what would happen if I hold it this way? I grasp it in my hand instead of by the string. They have theories. I play it now, and they are amazed at the difference in the sound. 

Now I ask the child on my right to pretend to sleep while I sing the folksong, but use the child's name instead of "Brother John":

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping

(Child's Name --- Child's Name)

Then I play the triangle gently as I sing

Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing

Ding Ding Dong! Ding Ding Dong!

They almost always know to wake up when the triangle rings, but sometimes I need to instruct this. They soon get the idea.

Now I pass the triangle to the child who pretended to be asleep, and the child to the right of him/her "goes to sleep". I try to make sure the child does not ring the triangle until "Morning Bells are Ringing". 

Everyone gets a turn at being the sleeper and the ringer. 

The last child to get the triangle gets to wake up the whole class. 

A Mouse Game

This one is always a favorite.

The children sit in a circle with some space between them.

One child (mouse) goes in the middle.
Sing the first verse to the tune of "Skip to My Lou".
The child in the middle crawls around "eating" cheese out of the outstretched hands of the other children. They love this.

Mouse in a hole looking for cheese. 
Mouse in a hole looking for cheese. 
Mouse in a hole looking for cheese. 
Watching for the tom cat. 

Now choose a child to be the cat.
Both children stand up and the mouse trots around the outside of the circle.
The cat follows behind, but for safety's sake I can't allow anyone to get tagged. (Our floor is a bit hard)

Cat after mouse, in and out. 
Cat after mouse, in and out, 
Cat after mouse, in and out. 
Mouse runs in the mouse hole.

At the last line, the mouse runs between two of the seated children and sits back down. Now the "cat" can take the center and have a turn as a mouse. Everyone gets a turn to be the mouse and the cat.


I would like to give credit to the source, but can't remember where I found this little game.

Christmas Songs 2014

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas to all the wonderful Sunshine Parents and kids!

Here is the list of some of the songs we are working on this year in anticipation of the annual Christmas Party. I don't like to start teaching Christmas songs too early, so that means I welcome your help.

Especially Rudolph!! That song has soooo many words.

Peppermint Stick (tune: 99 bottles of pop on the wall)

Oh I took a lick of my peppermint stick (hold hand in front of face) 
And was it ever yummy. (Rub stomach)
It used to be on my Christmas tree. (crook finger & hold up over head) 
But now it's in my tummy! (pat tummy)

Up On the Housetop

Up on the housetop the reindeer pause, (arms overhead to make housetop)
Out jumps good old Santa Claus; (jump and open arms to sides)
Down through the chimney with lots of toys, (raise hands overhead & slide them down)
All for the little ones' Christmas joys
Ho Ho Ho! (hold hands in front for Santa's belly) 
Who wouldn't go! (hands up)
Ho Ho Ho! Who wouldn't go! (same motions)
Up on the housetop, click click click, (clap over head)
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

Ring the Bells (tune: Row, row your boat)

Ring, ring the bells, Ring them loud and clear
Tell the people everywhere That Christmas time is near

Jingle Bells

We need help with the verse!

Dashing through the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
bells on bob tail ring
making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.


Little Green Tree  (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)
Here is one youtube video of this cute song. 
(our motions are just a bit different)

I'm a little green tree by the house. (Arms out by sides in /\ shape like a tree)
Here is my trunk, (Hands to sides)
here are my boughs. (Arms out wide)
Decorate me now with lights so fine, (Flash fingers like video)
Then plug them in and watch me shine! (Move open hands around "glowing")

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer  ("antlers" hands by ears)
Had a very shiny nose. ("flashing" fingers by nose)
And if you ever saw him, (One hand shading eyes "looking")
You would even say it glows. ("flashing" fingers by nose)
All of the other reindeer ("antlers" hands by ears)
Used to laugh and call him names.  (cover mouth & point)
They never let poor Rudolph  (shake head) Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say: (Make Santa Belly)
“Rudolph with your nose so bright, Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” (hands holding reins)
Then all the reindeer loved him  (Put your hands over your heart)
As they shouted out with glee,(YIPPEE!)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, ("antlers" hands by ears) You’ll go down in history!

S-A-N-T-A (Tune: BINGO)
teaching video on youtube from "Super Simple Songs"

Red hat, (Point to head)
white beard, (Touch chin)
twinkle in his eye. (Point to eye)
Santa is his name-o.
S-A-N-T-A  S-A-N-T-A  S-A-N-T-A  And Santa is his name-o.