Unit 4: Making Music

Sing a chant to help children recognize their name in print and build their concept of self.  Make sure each child gets a chance to participate.

Discuss all the sounds children have heard over the past weeks.  Help them recall the sounds and demonstrate some of them.

Have children bring instruments outside for a listening walk.  Encourage children to listen for sounds and imitate them with their instruments and voices.

Watch a Between the Lions video about different musical instruments, then discuss the various instruments and their sounds.

Read a book about a family that likes to make music with many different musical instruments. Help children make connections to the book.

Use the Target Letter and Word Routine to introduce children to the letter “Ii” and the word instrument.

Use the Sandpaper Writing Routine to help children recognize and begin to “write” the letter “Ii.”

Sing “All Day Long” inviting children to play their rubber band guitars as they sing.  Engage them in discussion about how they are making the sounds.

Send a Family Connection letter home with children.

Hold up children’s name cards one at a time during the chant. Invite children to show the class what they can do with their voices.

Talk about some of the music the children have been listening to together. Play some music and invite children to move to the music.

Provide materials such as scarves, feathers, or strips of construction paper and have children move to music using these materials.

Read Kitchen Dance by Maurice Manning and focus on the various sound words as well as the movement words. Have children act out some of the movements.

Use the Letters In Our Names Routine to help children recognize the letter “Ii” in their names.

Watch a short Between the Lions video about the letter “i.” Ask children to look for the uppercase and lowercase “Ii” on the screen.

Show children pictures of faces showing different emotions.  Ask children to move in a way that shows that emotion.

Ask each child to move a specific part of his or her body when you sing the line “Show us something you can do.”

Have children listen to music and name instruments they hear.

Invite children to create their own music by responding to the sounds they hear indoors. Provide various materials and help children identify and imitate sounds.

Continue sharing and exploring making music in small groups. Invite the class as a group to give a concert of the sounds they made.

Reread Kitchen Dance by Maurice Manning, playing tango music softly in the background to set the mood.  Act out the action words and have children join.

Ask children to get up and dance when they hear words that begin with the /i/ sound. Let children lead the game and include new words.

Invite children to hold hands and form a circle.  Teach the dance song “Looby Loo” and have the children sing and dance.

As you sing, ask each child to show you something they can play with the instruments. Have children cheer for each other after they play.

Review with children what music is, and all the ways they’ve learned to make music. Have children prepare for a music performance.

Ask children what music they would like to play for Music Day. Have children explore and discuss what music they want to play.

In preparation for Music Day, have children listen to music and perform it in a group. Encourage small groups to try different volumes, pitches, and instruments.

Read My Family Plays Music by Judy Cox and focus on the different kinds of music each member of the family plays. Talk about how each instrument is played.

Print out or draw pictures of musical instruments on a chart and have children place their name card next to the instrument they like best.

Teach children the song “I Am a Fine Musician.” Reinforce the directionality of print by using a written chart of the lyrics.

Use the Letters in Our Names Routine to help children recognize the letter “Ii” in their names.

Ask children to pull out an object from a bag filled with objects beginning with the /i/ sound. Have children name the object emphasizing the /i/ sound.

Remind children that tomorrow is Music Day.

As you sing, ask each child to show something they can do when they dance to music.

Remind children that today is Music Day. Discuss the music each group will play. Have children discuss how they will put together the performance.

Gather children in the same groups as yesterday. Play the same music children listened to yesterday. Allow children to practice their music or movements from the week.

Reread one of the books, watch the video “What Instrument Does Alvin Play?,” or select a book from the recommended list focusing on the various sounds.

Watch a short video about the letter “Ii.” Ask children to notice the letter “Ii” when it appears on the screen.

Gather children in a circle. First teach children the traditional song and motions. Then hand out plastic letters and sing the song for a particular letter.

Have children watch the Between the Lions clip “Poem: Tuning Up” to review some sound and music vocabulary.

Congratulate children on their music performance and on being hosts to their visitors.  Have children share their experiences from the day.