Hi!
My name is “Miss Carole” Stephens of Macaroni Soup – Active Music for Active Learners! Yes, yes – you’ll get new Songs for Winter Weather in this blog – but first, in this season of thankfulness, I want to highlight a few reasons I feel so blessed to do the work that I do, share the life that I live and wake up every day excited about what it may hold! These people are what keep me going:
1. THE CHILDREN
- My students – the thousands of little ones who
have sung, danced and played with me in 25 years of teaching. I am pleased to
say that it’s been a privilege to touch my toe to my nose with you during “Sticky
Bubble Gum”, and mix up a pretty “Stinky Cake!”
2. MY COLLEAGUES – the legions of teachers who come (and keep coming back) to
my workshops, the EC educators who work with me in schools, the incredible Children's Music Network and my fellow
presenters at conferences who welcome me into the fold.
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| Touching my toe to my nose - I've still got it! |
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| Stinky Cake - ewe! |
3. MY HUSBAND – yup, Jim
didn’t know what he was getting into 9+ years ago – but I’m so thankful that
all this whacky music-making didn’t scare him away!
OK – enough sappy stuff – I THANK EVERYONE who has encouraged me to
keep doing what I do! Now come’on, Miss
Carole – let’s get singing!
Here in Chicago we expect cold and snow – but not really for Halloween
(really, Mother Nature – that was nasty!) Pulling out the gloves and ear muffs
before Thanksgiving? Not amusing! SO,
let’s get even, and be ready with songs and movement activities that will warm
up the coldest day, brighten up the dreariest skies and put a smile on everyone’s
faces!
ALL of this month’s songs can be heard on my “Season Sings” cd – hear the
clips to get started – or you can order the cd on my website.
WE’RE MARCHING IN THE SNOW!
The tune is familiar to many – “The Farmer in the Dell”. It’s a zipper
song – sing the verse over and over, but zip in a new movement each time! Easy and fun!
LYRICS: We’re marching in the snow
We’re marching in the snow
Hi Ho! The wind will blow!
We’re marching in the snow!
I love to add these verses: skating
on the snow, running in the snow, rolling in the snow, tiptoe-ing on the snow –
and you can add your own verses!
HAT AND JACKET, PANTS AND BOOTS!
Yes – another familiar tune: “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes”. I suggest making pictures of each piece of
clothing to string together to “read” left to right before starting to sing
this one! Then tap the part of the body
that each piece of clothing is worn on as you sing. Clap your hands on the beat during “When it’s cold and we go
outside to play.”
LYRICS: Hat and jacket, pants and boots-
Pants
and boots!
Hat
and jacket, pants and boots-
Pants
and boots!
When
it’s cold and we go outside to play,
We
wear hat and jacket, pants and boots-
Pants
and boots!
Start singing this song slowly, speeding up with each repetition! It’s a favorite!
BUILDING A SNOWMAN (Part
one of the “Snowman Trio”)
This little movement piece should be done in a teacher led/child echo
style.
LYRICS: Head ball!
(echo)
Belly ball! (echo)
Bottom
ball! (echo)
DONE! (echo)
Building
a snowman…(echo)
Is
SOOOO much fun! (echo)
MOVEMENTS:
Head ball – stretch arms overhead,
fingertips touching
Belly ball – swing arms down to
cradle tummy
Bottom ball - drop hands to floor
Done! – Straighten up, clap hands
once.
Building a snowman – roll hands in
front of body
Is SOOO much fun – wave hands wildly
overhead!
We can never do this just once in my classes – there’s always “again!”
The second time around, you might build a SNOWGIRL! We do!
I've just returned from Dallas and this year's NAEYC Conference! It was a stupendous experience - hugs to the hundreds of teachers who made my workshop one for the memory books! Can't wait til next year!
Stay warm - keep moving - and singing!Yours for an-awfully-early Winter-y Song!
Miss Carole
MacaroniSoup.com
Great post, Ms. Carole! We're thankful for you - and your great ideas that will
ReplyDeletesoon be invigorating classrooms everywhere - and make us not mind (as much) that it's cold
outside!!!
Since you're probably seeing the same snowflakes that I am, Brigid, I know you'll be singing about it this week!
DeleteThank you for posting these wonderful ideas. Kids are going to enjoy this activites.
ReplyDelete