When we talk, we use the tone and the mood of how we say the words to convey our feelings. Sometimes we use the same exact words but we change their meaning by changing our tone. When we answer the question, "How are you?" We may answer "I'm fine." If we say it with a smile on our face and in a pleasant way, it will mean we are happy. If we say it sarcastically or angrily it will convey that something is wrong and we are really feeling the opposite of fine. Singing is just like speaking. We can change the emotions of the words by changing the emotions and moods of our singing voice. Pick a song everyone knows such as Jingle Bells; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; or Happy Birthday Have everyone sing the song using different moods. I have a die I found from an old game that has emotions on it and I have my students roll to see how we are going to sing the song. Emotion ideas: Happy - it is your birthday and you have a pile of presents to open Sad - your pet has just run away from home Laughing - everyone loves to laugh their way through a song! Goofy - sing as silly as possible Angry - you are really mad because someone has just kicked your dog! Scared - you are afraid of the monster under your bed In love - you are very much in love and feel wonderful Gross or weird - this is another popular one, especially with the boys! The whole point of this exercise is to show that it doesn't matter what words you are singing but you can control the mood of a song by thinking of that mood and making your voice match your ideas and thoughts.
Children can remember just about anything if they learn it in a song! I love to make up songs to help my students remember the names and beats of musical notes. Watch the videoto hear my Whole Note Song!
Today is Finger Play Fun Day and we are doing a children's song that everyone knows - The Alphabet Song!
But the reason I am featuring this well known children's song is to emphasize the sign language that can be taught to children as they sing the song.
Many children learn by doing an action with their body. Making finger signs for each letter helps them learn the alphabet that much quicker and easier.
All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in a Children's Song
Today, I have listed 10 skills that children can learn through a children's song. There are certainly more than 10 but I thought this was a great place to start. I actually wrote this post for Dandelion Magazine's Blog over at GoDandelion.com and hope you will go there to read the list of skills and song ideas.
Today's Finger Play Fun Day is a fun song with lots of animals sounds! The Good Day Song, is also known as When Cats Get Up in the Morning.
In the video I sing about a cat, a dog and a bee but you can sing about all kinds of animals and what they say when they get up in the morning. I used finger puppets but this is another great song for making hand signs for different animals.
After my girls and I sing about a bunch of animals, we often start putting family members' names in the verses and make up what each person says in the morning.
Today's theme is all about the Tooth Fairy! The mysterious creature who comes at night to take our baby teeth and leaves money in it's place.
Loosing a tooth is an important passage that every child goes through. It seems every family has a different tradition concerning what and how much the tooth fairy leaves behind. But every child gets excited about the arrival of the tooth fairy.
There aren't many simple songs about the tooth fairy so I wrote and performed one that everyone can learn and sing.
Scientists say that hearing begins at 19-20 weeks
gestation.That means babies can hear
talking, singing, and musical instruments before they are even born!Singing songs lays groundwork for language
growth, reading, speaking and self-expression.The best advantage is the potential of music to convey feelings of love,
delight and security to baby and the ability to bond the family together. For
more advantages of music read The
Benefits of Music.
Nursery rhymes and lullabies are used in every corner of the
world to teach, calm and soothe babies.The repetition, rhyming words and stories in these songs teach babies
language skills, cultural history and beginning math.To learn more about how to use nursery rhymes
and children’s songs read Teach
Your Child Using Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs.
Listening and creating real music helps baby figure out his
place in space and time, organize his movements and gain control of his body.
Newborns:Sing
lullabies to your newborn baby.She will
not care what you sound like but she will be soothed and comforted by your
voice and the vibration you make while she lies on your chest.
Lullaby ideas:Rock a Bye Baby
Hush
Little Baby
Jesus
Loves Me
You
are My Sunshine
Angels
Watching Over Me
Amazing
Grace
Ready to Play:One of the best ways to engage little ones is through songs and finger
plays.You are teaching them about their
bodies and the world round them.
Finger play
ideas:This Little Piggy
1,
2, 3, 4, 5, I Caught a Fish Alive
Peek-a-Boo – not
technically a song but you do sing-song when you say “Peek-a-Boo” and that is
teaching pitch and timing!
Ready to Sing:These little ones are ready to join in the fun.There are great songs to help teach and
develop gross motor skills and body coordination.This is also a great time to make music using
big fat rhythm sticks, rattles and bells!
Movement
song ideas:Head, Shoulders, Knees and
Toes –even if they can’t stand yet, you can place their hands on the correct
body parts!
If You’re Happy and You Know It
BINGO
– substitute your child’s name and he will soon be spelling his own name!
Music comes so naturally to babies.Lullabies can calm and soothe.Songs and finger plays can teach and
entertain.And singing together will
show love and create wonderful memories.
The finger play for today is In a Cabin in the Woods. There are many variations to this song but I shared the version I know!
The song has hand motions for each phrase. Each time you repeat the verse you stop singing the words for one phrase at a time but keep doing the motions. By the end you will "sing" the whole song silently while only using motions.
This activity teaches children listening skills, sequencing, motor skills and timing.
In a cabin in the woods,
Little old man by the window stood.
Saw a rabbit hopping by,
Knocking at his door.
"Help me! Help me! Help me!, he cried.
"Or the hunter will shoot me dead."
Come, o come and stay with me,
Safely, you will be.
Wise Owl Factory has shared a wonderful set of worksheets to go along with "In a Cabin in the Woods". Download the Free In a Cabin in the Woods PDF.
This finger play is a great counting song that teaches counting forward 1 to 10 and backward from 10 to 1.
It also works on fine motor skills as the children hold up their fingers as they count up and back. It seems like this should be easy to adults but it really takes a lot of coordination and finger dexterity!
10 Little Turtles
Author: This is my version of 10 Little Indians
1 little,
2 little,
3 little turtles.
4 little,
5 little,
6 little turtles.
7 little,
8 little,
9 little turtles.
10 little turtles in the pond.
Then they swim away!
10 little,
9 little,
8 little turtles.
7 little,
6 little,
5 little turtles.
4 little,
3 little,
2 little turtles.
1 little turtle in the pond.
Today, Carolyn Wilhelm from Wise Owl Factory has written a post all about turtles. This fun power point story has the children counting to 10 by ones and by twos!
Carolyn has also done a wonderful job reviewing a few children's turtle books. I have put the books she has reviewed into Our Music Store under Children's Books. And of course, you can always check them out from your local library!
We are in the middle of another week of Explore Music Camp so I had my music campers help me with this week's video! I used felt bee finger puppets that I had made but since I didn't have enough for the children, I just drew happy faces on all their fingers.
Here is the beehive
But where are all the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Watch and they will come out of the hive.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz
Here is another fun one about bees!
Five Little Bees
One little bee blew and flew.
He met a friend and that made two.
Two little bees, busy as could be
Along came another and that made three.
Three little bees, wanted one more,
Found one soon and that made four.
Four little bees, going to the hive.
Spied their little brother and that made five.
Five little bees working every hour
buzz away bess and find another flower.
Learn even more about bees at Buzz About Bees where there is all kinds of information about bees such as: "Did you know, there are about 25,000 types of bees in the world, with probably more species awaiting discovery?"
I have had a great time writing this series through the month of July with Angelique Felix at angeliquefelix.com.
We have written posts all month long to help you play with music.
Today I am going to remind you of 5 classic musical games that children love to play.
Children love to play simple games that they know the rules to and can easily play. But they also love a little twist to spice things up a bit.
1. London Bridge
Children love forming a bridge and going under each others arms. The twist: in this version the bridge keeps getting lower at each new verse so the ones going under have to crawl and wiggle their way under the bridge. Watch the video to see a variation to the classic London Bridge.
For this game you need to set up chairs in a circle for everyone minus one. Play some fun music as the children walk around the circle of chairs. When you stop the music all the children need to sit down in a chair. Since there is not enough chairs, one child will be left standing. Now for the twist- ask the child a question. This question can be about music theory or any subject you are studying. If the child answers the question correctly than she can go back into the game!
3. Freeze Dance
This game is similar to Musical Chairs since the children have to listen for the music to start and stop. Play some great dance music and have the children dance or hop around. Stop the music without warning. The children have to stop dancing when the music stops. The twist: call out different type dances for the children such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Break Dance.
4. The Farmer in the Dell
Stand in a large circle holding hands. Begin singing the song:
The farmer in the dell,
The farmer in the dell,
Hi-ho the dairy-o,
The farmer in the dell.
Pick a child to be the farmer and she gets to stand in the middle of the circle. Then sing:
The farmer picks a wife,
The farmer picks a wife,
Hi-ho the dairy-o,
The farmer picks a wife.
The child/farmer gets to choose someone to be the wife. Then the wife and farmer stand together in the circle.
The rest of the verses are:
The wife picks a child.
The child picks a nurse.
The nurse picks a dog.
The dog picks a cat.
The cat picks a rat.
The rat picks the cheese.
The cheese stands alone.
Each child picked gets to pick the next child.
The twist: Use the animals from a different story such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
The order of animals for Brown Bear:
Brown Bear,
Red Bird,
Yellow Duck,
Blue Horse,
Green Frog,
Purple Cat,
White Dog,
Black Sheep,
Gold Fish,
Teacher
Children
5. Ring Around the Rosie
Hold hands and walk in a circle while singing this song. Then everyone falls to the ground when you get to that part in the song. Children love holding hands with their friends and being a part of the circle!
In case you don't know the words:
Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes, Ashes,
We all fall down.
The twist: Think of different movements to do in place of falling down.
Ideas: Jump up
Skip around
Hop on one foot
Clap our hands
Give a hug
Benefits of playing classic musical games:
Children get to socialize with friends.
Children learn to be part of a group.
Children learn to work together and act out a story especially in The Farmer and the Dell and London Bridge.
Games are a great way to be active and get moving.
Sing to the tune of Skip to My Lou
Written by Tonya Dirksen
Take, take, take care of yourself
Take, take, take care of yourself
Take, take, take care of yourself
Take care of yourself everyday.
Eat your veggies everyday
Eat your veggies everyday
Eat your veggies everyday
Take care of yourself everyday.
Run and jump and bike and play
Run and jump and bike and play
Run and jump and bike and play
Take care of yourself everyday.
Read a book or 2 or 3
Read a book or 2 or 3
Read a book or 2 or 3
Take care of yourself everyday.
Take, take, take care of yourself
Take, take, take care of yourself
Take, take, take care of yourself
Take care of yourself everyday
Carolyn at Wise Owl Factory has written a post all about the Olympics. Be sure to check out her book reviews and printables. She always provides awesome printables that children enjoy doing!
Here is another Olympic song displayed as a PowerPoint Storybook. Do the motions of the actions in each verse as you sing this song!
Be sure to read the review by Wise Owl Factory for Canoeing The Great Outdoors!
If you buy any book or resource through Our Music Store we will earn a few pennies!
Today we have more monkey fun for you. Last week was 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Be sure to check it out to get all the monkey goodies.
This week we will be singing 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree!
Plus, Carolyn from Wise Owl Factory has provided more monkey printables and power point books for us to enjoy!
We have been hosting Explore Music Camp all week so I had the students help me out with the video. I used felt finger puppets for the monkeys and alligator but you can just use your fingers or the monkey finger puppets from last week.
Then a long comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be and
He snaps that monkey right out of the tree.
4 little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can’t catch me!
Can’t catch me!
Then a long comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be and
He snaps that monkey right out of the tree.
3 little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can’t catch me!
Can’t catch me!
Then a long comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be and
He snaps that monkey right out of the tree.
2 little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can’t catch me!
Can’t catch me!
Then a long comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be and
He snaps that monkey right out of the tree.
1 little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator,
Can’t catch me!
Can’t catch me!
Then a long comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be and
He snaps that monkey right out of the tree.
No more monkeys swinging in the tree.
My favorite printables ever:
5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree is a great way to introduce math to young children. Carolyn, from Wise Owl Factory has made the cutest Monkey Math and Music printables. I plan on using the music printables this week with my music camp since we have been exploring a different instrument each day. We had a ball laughing at all the monkeys playing musical instruments.
Be sure to check out today's post at Wise Owl Factory for book reviews and printables based on monkeys and other baby animals that will all go perfectly with today's finger play.
I have placed several of the books she will be reviewing in Our Music Store. If you buy them through our link, we will earn a few pennies!
.jpg "Singing Emotions - A Simple Singing Game")
.jpg "Rock - a - Bye Rests - Learn the Names of Musical Rests")
.jpg "Learn About the Whole Note with an Easy and Fun Song")
.jpg "Finger Play Fun Day: The Good Day Song")
+(2).jpg "Finger Play Fun Day: Do You Know the Tooth Fairy?")
.jpg "Finger Play Fun Day: In a Cabin in the Woods")
.jpg "Finger Play Fun Day - Here is the Beehive!")
.jpg "5 Classic Musical Games")
