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| c.2015. Elsa Sreenivasam. Detail |
Songs, Resources and Apps
Ms. Brigid here, from Merit School of Music in Chicago, IL sharing summer
songs and a great resource for quintessential camp songs – Green Ghoulie. I
stumbled upon this site several years ago, and was instantly charmed with both the
collection and the endearingly goofy presentation by the two main perpetrators,
Pete Vingeant and Bryan (with no last name). Check out Baby Shark to see a hilarious progression of song styling and and
hairdos! I've included one of the two videos below. On the site, all videos appear above song lyrics.
Summer is a time for reflection, renewal and
collaboration. Which songs were sure fire hits and worthy of
carrying forward? How can connections to
classroom themes or curriucula be deepened? What extensions can be put in place, e.g., movement, instruments,
dramatizations, partnering with a story?, etc. I’m grateful that several times a year
our Merit EC and General Music teachers come together to discuss these issues.
The following are a few of the songs from our end–of–the–year sharing.
Sally Go Round the Sun
Sally go round the sun,
Sally go round the moon,
Sally go round the chimney pot
Every afternoon. Boom!
Hold hands
and walk in a circle. On “boom,” change
direction of circle. Practice the “boom”
change of direction separately before you start the dance – and walk lightly
with feet to the beat. There’s
nothing like plodding to make one feel they’re in music prison!
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| c.2013. Brigid Finucane |
This song is
also useful to reinforce days of the week. After the “boom,” we freeze as I rhythmically chant, “Sunday and Monday.” The kiddos echo, “Sunday and Monday.” We sing the song again, moving in a circle.
After each “boom”, I pause again,
adding another day: “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,”
until we cycle through the
days of the week. On the last repetition,
we walk four steps in and out of the circle – on the beat - and jump in place on
the “boom.” It’s fun to repeat it,
getting softer until it’s barely heard….from mp to p to pp.
After
children are confident with the succession, add two or more days at a time. Try
learning the days of the week in another language. Esperanto, anyone?
There are so
many fun ways to approach Sally Go Round
the Sun (of which there are MANY versions).
Some prefer to sing chimney top(s) rather
than chimney pot – an archaic term
that has fallen out of use. Although I prefer the archaic in all things, sing
what comes naturally to you!
This YouTube
shows dancing in concentric circles and singing the song in a round. Though three part rounds are waaaaaaayyyy
out of the realm of our K and Pre-K kiddos, two concentric circles are fun to
try. I often use a double circle for space reasons – so that we can move rather
than plod (the grownups plod a bit in this video – just sayin’).
BRIGIE TIP
for making a double circle lickity split: Make a large
circle. Drop hands. Count the children – aloud: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4, 1 – 2 – 3-
4, etc. Every fourth child goes into the center and makes a second, smaller
circle. The ratio works.
Frogs in the Meadow
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| Sound Touch icon |
Before singing the song, introduce your kiddos
to the wonder and variety of frogs – and the sounds they make – through these two marvelous iPad apps: Sound Touch and Video Touch Animals – made by the same
developer. Frogs do not say “ribbit”!
Sound
Touch Lite (FREE). 180 sounds and images great for
auditory discrimination.
SoundTouch ($4.99) offers 360
sounds and images. There are 6 high quality photos of different frog species in
Sound Touch. Each is accompanied by the sound the frog makes.
Video Touch - Animals
(1.99 – prices fluctuate) has48 fascinating video clips of animals, including four of different frog species My kiddos are
mesmerized!
Frogs in the meadow.
Can’t get them out. (Shake
finger on beat)
Take a little stick (Mime
holding stick.
And stir them about. Stir in wide circle with full body.)
Leap! Leap! Leap! (Leap
three times)
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| c.2015 Elsa Sreenivasam. Detail |
·
Sing the song while class listens. Pat the beat on knees while singing (I
like to hold a beanie frog in my hand and bounce it on my knee). Jump your frog forward (on floor) while chanting “Leap!
Leap! Leap!” Ask – “How many ‘leaps”
did my frog take?” (three) Invite
kiddos to sing, using their fists for frogs.
·
Stand up. Sing the song with suggested motions, or what you determine is
best. Jump
in place the first time, then model leaping into the circle the second time.
Extensions:
·
Line up kiddos, 4 at a time (mas o menos) and
have a leaping contest.
o Speed
version: Stand on the perimeter of your classroom rug. Designate 4 sides of
square and choose which side will leap first (one side at a time). Proceed to
next side, until everyone has a turn.
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·
With parachute. Place beanie frogs on parachute.
Ask participants to sway side to side while singing song (move parachute side to side. On each “Leap” – bounce
parachute so the frogs go flying up into the air. Retrieve frogs from the floor,
and do again. Many options: Sitting, standing, children under parachute or not, etc.
Using comparative voices and movements is also fun.
NOTE: There are many versions of
this song, and many melodies. I even found a chase game – for lack of a better
word – that I’ll try next year with older kiddos. For now, I’ll use this
version that has been a sure-fire hit ever since I learned it from Ms.
Stephanie at Ronald Knox Montessori School twenty years ago!
Thanks for reading! I hope you’ll join me next month for more summer
songs.
Until then, happy singing!
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| c. Brigid Finucane |
Call Me For Your Professional Development!
I’d love to help your school or community blossom
musically! My specialty is music
and literacy teacher training (with a dose of technology), singing games and
dances from around the world, and more! If you’re local (Chicago), I’m Gateways
registered and IAC approved – at least for the next three years! See my contact
info below. Please look for my
workshops through Illinois Children’s Home and Aid.
Merit School of Music, Chicago
…Call on Merit School of Music! Our onsite school
is in the West Loop. We work in the schools throughout the area providing band,
orchestra, percussion, choir, early childhood, and general music instruction
with project based units including Recorder, Music and Storytelling and
Songwriting. We do great work! YoYo Ma is a supporter!
Chicago Families
Please come to Merit’s Storytime sessions – the 2nd
and 4th Mondays of the month. It’s free, fun, and facilitated by
singers and storytellers Amy Lowe, Irica Baurer & me. Stories and songs
start at 11am, and we end with instrument exploration and family
networking. Breaking news:
Storytime will continue through the summer months, so come on down!
The next session is June 22.
And in the End
My posts are historically archived
below. Click a link to read about Chinese New Year, Pete Seeger, Music and
Literacy, Listening Locally to Musicians from the Midwest, Great Lakes and
Ontario! Then Pass It On!
I am continually inspired by The Children’s Music Network (CMN) community. an
international group of socially conscious musicians, educators, librarians,
families, songwriters and good people, who “celebrate the positive power of
music in the lives of children by sharing songs, exchanging ideas, and creating
community.” Please visit CMN, and find a gathering in your region.
©2015 Brigid Finucane *
847-213-0713 * gardengoddess1@comcast.net
http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com
http://brigidfinucane.blogspot.com
@booksinger1
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