Robert Munsch

The Grade 1s have been working really hard to learn instrument parts for the song "Clang Clang" from the famous Robert Munsch story, Mortimer.

Check out Robert Munsch telling the story!

Build a Burrito

This week, the Grade 2/3 classes were learning some Spanish and having some fun making a musical burrito on the instruments.  Lesson suggestions from Artie Almeida in Mallet Madness Strikes Again.

Here's a little video to practice counting from 1-10 in Spanish (Uno, Dos, Tres):

We also had spent some time in December learning songs from South America, including several Spanish songs.  Here's a fun one with some choreography called My Amigos from Plank Road Publishing.  What kind of flavour is the music?  Can you identify the Latin American instruments in the song?

Colored Days

On Thursday, the kindergartens were identifying their emotions.  They came up with a great list of feelings we have.  We talked about what color they are sometimes attached to.  We read this fun story "My Many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss and then we listened to music with it and each student got to act out the part of their animal character according to what the music sounded like.  

Puppets we used to express the feelings in the music

Sometimes the music is fast and sometimes slow.  Sometimes its loud and sometimes it quiet. Sometimes its high and sometimes it low.  Depending on what we hear, it can change the way we feel.   Sometimes music can help us relax and be calm.  Other music can make us feel happy or excited.  When we watch a scary movie, the music we hear can make us feel frightened.  

Listen to the pieces of music below.  As you listen, think about how the music makes you feel

 Choose a face that matches the feeling of the music.

Old Mother Hubbard Songs

The Grade 2/3 classes have been making couplet poems that we are turning into songs.  Wow!  I am amazed at how well they are turning out and we're excited to sing you some.  Right now we're in the process of writing lyric drafts.

PART A

 PART B (students wrote these)

Yo Winnipeg! Word! Room 14's in the House!

Every time I head to Mrs. Hamm's room to pick up these kids for music, they have learned a new fun song.  This one, Yo Winnipeg, is one of my favs.  Word!

Aboriginal Drumming

Teaching us about the circle shape

Today Mrs. McGurry, our Aboriginal Education Teacher for St. James-Assiniboia SD came and taught one of our Kindergarten classes about the aboriginal drum.   We learned that the skins are made of elk, moose and deer.  We learned that a drum is a living thing and should be respected.  The sound of the drum is the heart beat of life.  Mrs. Rempel learned it is important to take care of our drums by 'watering' them.  Mrs. McGurry even taught us the friendship dance and the meaning of the circle shape.  Thank-you so much for sharing this wonderful gift.

Showing us how a drum is created

Trying out the drums

Trying to keep the beat with the rattles and drums

Here are a few beautiful songs and story that we can listen to that share this beautiful culture.

Anishinaabe Spirit Bear Song

Anishinaabek Turtle song 

The Drum Calls Softly

Reading is Music to our Ears

This month, Kinder to Grade 3 classes are using literature to inspire us, spark our imaginations, work as a team, explore sounds and create musical stories.  

Congratulations to the Kindergartens on their performances at our "I Love to Read" assembly at the beginning of February.

Mrs. Grant's class performed "Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes" by Eric Litman.

Mrs. Lowe's class performed "When It Rains It Rains" by Bill Martin, Jr.

These are the 5 stories Room 11, 12, 17 and 18 have been exploring.  We look forward to sharing our performances with you in a few weeks.