Friday, March 4, 2011

Montessori Kindermusik-February 2011

Kindermusik at Montessori has begun for the Spring session. It is wonderful to have my old friends back for more fun and learning through music! 

Young Preschoolers
Our younger preschoolers are working on a unit called FIDDLE DEE DEE!  We have learned a new WHOLE BODY POEM called "Tall as a TREE!"

Here are the words:
Tall as a TREE!!!  (Stand on tip toes, arms stretched HIGH!)
Wide as a HOUSE!!  (Stand with legs spread, arms stretched WIDE!)
Thin as a PIN!!  (Snap arms to side and legs together--like a "soldier")
Small as a MOUSE!!  (Crouch down low, balls of feet balancing weight, knees out front, fannies off the ground.  --we also pretend to nibble on cheese so our arms are not used to balance any weight.)

Here's how it looks:
TALL AS A TREE!!!!

WIDE AS A HOUSE!

SMALL AS A MOUSE!
(Nibbling Cheese!)
 Pitch Play
We have also been listening for different pitches:  HIGH sounds and LOW sounds!  We used our jingles to play along with the music, using HIGH motions for the sections of the music that featured the piccolo, flute, and bells.  We used LOW motions for the sections that featured the cello, bass, and timpani drums.






Little Bo Peep
We also played a game with our scarves, pretending that they were sheep from Little Bo Peep!  On cue, they hide their scarves and on another cue, they pull them out!  Here are the words:
(Start with Scarves balled up like a sheep)
Little Bo Peep has LOST her Sheep!  (Hide scarves)
And doesn't know where to find them!  (Hold out hands)
Leave them alone, and they'll COME HOME! (Pull out scarves)
Wagging their tails behind them!  (Wave scarves)



Circle Dance
We did a dance called "Go Round the Mountain".  We practiced moving in different ways...Walking, running, tip toe-ing, and stomping!


Listening for Dynamics 
And here we are shaking eggs.  We did played loudly during the sections that were FORTE!  (LOUD) and played quietly on the floor for the sections that were PIANO! (SOFT)







Preschoolers
Our Older Preschool Group has been busy talking about the BUSY CITY!!  Here we are doing a song called "GO and STOP....in the City!"  We do arm motions, stopping when the music stops.  Then we do leg motions, and then we move our whole bodies around...each time it is harder to STOP with the music! (This works on "inhibitory control", the ability to stop motion!)


Tools of the Trade! 
This week, we talked about the different kinds of JOBS in the City.  We did a song called "Son Serani" which highlights the COBBLER, the BAKER, and the BARBER.  We pretended our sticks were the tools that each job would use.  First our sticks were a hammer and nail, then a rolling pin, then a pair of pretend scissors!


City Sounds Listening Game
We played a listening game where city sounds are played and the children worked in groups to find the "source" of the sounds they heard!




We have SO much fun planned for this semester! 
'Til next time.......