Thursday, December 23, 2010

Fall Semester Memories!

The end of Fall 2010 Kindermusik has come.  What a GREAT semester it has been!  Here is a look back at what we did during the 2nd half of Fall Kindermusik.  (A HUGE shout out to Steph Fitzgerald who shared pictures she took in class!)

BALL PLAY!
Those first few minutes of class are oh so much fun....a nice way to start the session and it provides a good time to practice sharing, cooperating, and interacting with one another. 

What a collection!

This one has an interesting texture!

Who's Open?!

Working on Sharing


I have a feeling this is going to turn into DODGE BALL!

I was right!!
SINGING and DANCING

Singing Hello!  Starting each class with the same ritual helps little learners to get into the mode of the class.  Being able to predict how the class starts helps build a sense of safety and trust.  Getting to pick their own motion or action gives them independence and choice!

Hello, Hello!
Let's Jump Together!
Hello, Hello!
Let's Jump Hello!

These "characters" are CRAWLING hello!


Toddler Classes:
  This semester we worked on singing in the interval of a 3rd.  Remember that this is the interval that sounds like a doorbell!  Do you remember singing, "Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Who's at the Door?"  Use your class book to continue to sing this at home.

Remember "Toast, Toast", "Rise Sugar Rise", "Go Into the Kitchen and Take a Peek", and "The Shakin' Shakin' Dance"?  These are songs you can continue to sing and dance to during our break!


Toast, Toast!.....I Like it a LOT!
Toast, Toast!.....When will it POP?
Toast, Toast!.....I Like it a LOT!
Toast, Toast!.....TIME TO POP!!!

 
Sitting Here Together, Two By Two!
Sitting Here Together, Two By Two!
Sitting Here Together, Two By Two!
RISE, SUGAR RISE!

Go Into The Kitchen and Take A Peek!
Go Out of the Kitchen and Tap Your Feet...
Go Into the Kitchen and Take a Peek!
Go Out of the Kitchen and Swing Your Sweet!

Shake Those 'Simmons, Shake Them! Shake Them!
Shake Those 'Simmons, Shake Them! Shake Them!
Shake Those 'Simmons, Shake Them! Shake Them!
Shake Those 'Simmons DOWN!

Shake, Shake, Shake Your Hands!
Shake them Way Down LOW!
Shake. Shake. Shake Your Hands
NOW UP WE GO!
INSTRUMENTS!
We worked a lot on steady beat, as well as STARTING and STOPPING together!  What wonderful listeners we had!  (I think they liked the CHEERING after we broke from our rest the BEST!)  Find something that shakes or taps at home and continue to sing our little instrument songs!

Shake Your Eggs:
Shake, Shake, Shake Your Eggs
Shake, Shake, Shake Your Eggs

Shake, Shake, Shake Your Eggs
And NOW Let's STOP!

Tap, Tap, Tap Your Eggs!

And NOW Let's STOP!


Ssssshhhhhhhh!!!



Roly Poly:
Roly Poly, Roly Poly
UP UP UP!
Roly Poly, Roly Poly
OUT OUT OUT!
Roly Poly, Roly Poly
TAP TAP TAP!
Roly Poly, Roly Poly
Lay them in your LAP!


Roly, Poly....

Roly, Poly....

TAP TAP TAP!

A Different Way to TAP!!

Instrument Share:
It is fun to get out our mix of instruments and experiment with sounds.  It is also just another chance to work on sharing with others!





Taking Turns
Sometimes we take turns with a special instrument. Here are some Montessori Kindermusik students using a "silly tube" that makes a funny sound as the tube is turned from one side to the other side. 








Instrument Houses
Our Preschoolers at Montessori learned how to organize many instruments into an "instrument house" so that as they wait to use each instrument, it has a place to rest.  We play follow the leader, using different sounds and methods to accompany our music.


It became popular to have an instrument house "neighbor"
....the sandblocks created a sidewalk that connected two instrument houses.

Once they start hugging....

They ALL hug!  :)


BOOKS
Through reading books in class, we work on early literacy skills such as concepts of print, rhyme, repetition, prediction, inflection and cadence.

Village Classes read Lullaby Babes and Zoom Buggy
Our Time Classes read A House For Me and Milk and Cookies
Imagine That and Evening Family Time Classes read Michael Finnegan, Hurry Home, Little Kittens, and The Mitten





Preschoolers as the characters of The Mitten, snuggling into their parachute "mitten" as they act out the story.
 
COOPERATION
It is meaningful to put young learners in situations where cooperating is key!  In the ball pass, we passed a cup-full of balls around the circle from one friend to the next.  This is working on hand-eye coordination, as well as cooperation and concentration!



HOOPS!
Preschoolers and Evening Family Time Classes did a unit about weather. Here they are using hoops to pretend to walk around, jump in, and splash around in mud puddles!




BOUNCY BALLS
Learning about steady beat, and feeling the smooth (Legato) sections and bouncy (Staccato) sections of music is so much fun on our bouncy balls!





GOOD BYE RITUALS:  Bubbles and Parachute
The end of each class is a time to celebrate!  The social aspect of the bubbles and the parachute is so important.





 Bubble Time!!



SINGING GOODBYE
Everybody Wave and Sing Goodbye
Everybody Wave and Sing Goodbye

Everybody Wave and Sing Goodbye
Sing Goodbye, Goodbye!

Shake somebody's hand and sing goodbye!

Give a little HUG and sing goodbye!


And the HUGS just keep on going....

And going....

Many wonderful friendships are made at Kindermusik!

Thank you for  your participation in Kindermusik this year!  You are the best families ever.  I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your precious little ones.  I look forward to seeing you again in February!