Author: Beth Thompson
First Day of School
On the first day of school, there are procedures I need to discuss, but I always want to open and close the class with fun musical experiences! Here are some ideas: Teach the school song Or if you don’t have ...
Specials Newsletters
One way to communicate with the families at your school is to pair up with the other “Specials” teachers in your building, such as the Art and P.E. teachers. For a few years, my colleagues and I sent out monthly ...
Music Survey
This half-sheet can be helpful to get to know your students. Survey (See download at bottom of page.) Music Survey (PDF) Download PDF
Musicals
Cinderella Quick facts Composer / Writer: Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II Premiered: 1957 on television (CBS) My Favorite Version: 1997 film Set: Long ago in a kingdom far away Synopsis: Based on the traditional story Worksheets / Assessment (See ...
Ethnomusicology-World Instruments
Lesson ideas I have used this lesson between the Orchestra Instruments unit (5th / 6th graders) and the Invented Instruments unit. Ethnomusicology = the study of world music Explain that they just finished reviewing 4 families of the orchestra, and ...
Grade Books
This is my gradebook: a binder that I leave on a music stand in the front of my room. For each class, I have an alphabetical list of students on one side and a seating chart on the other. Gradebook ...
Form Worksheets
Teaching Suggestions When your goal is to have the students fill out A,B,C, etc. on a form worksheet or assessment, they first need to be very familiar with the piece, or at least portions of the piece. For some students, ...
Alouette
Info “Alouette” is a popular French Canadian children’s song originating in France about plucking the feathers from a lark, in retribution for being woken up by its song. (source) Lyrics – French (Canadian folk song) Alouette, gentille AlouetteAlouette, je te ...
La cucaracha
Lyrics – Spanish (Mexican folk song) La cucaracha, la cucarachaYa no puede caminarPorque no tiene, porque le faltaPatas para caminar. English Translation – The cockroach The cockroach, the cockroach,Now he can’t walkBecause he doesn’t have, because he’s missingLegs to walk ...
Land of the Silver Birch
Lyrics (Canadian folk song) Land of the silver birch,Home of the beaver,Where still the mighty moose wanders at will.Blue lake and rocky shore,I will return once more.Boom di dee boom boom, Boom di dee boom boom,Boom di dee boom boom ...