Where the Wild Things Are By Maurice Sendak

Objective: Create a short composition to fill in picture only portion of book with no words~ what does a wild rumpus sound like?

      1. Ask the kids “what sounds would you hear at a wild rumpus?”
        • Growling
        • Sneering
        • Howling etc….
      2. How long would each sound last and would it be repeated?
        • Example 1) growling could be the length of the grey (we are in Phase 1 and so there is no beat counting. You simply drag your finger across while one makes a growling sound and it ends when your finger comes to the end of the Note Knacks block or magnet.)
        • Example 2) Same thing as above, but a student may choose several yellows in a row to represent sneering. Child makes sound while you drag your finger across the Note Knacks block or magnet.
        • Remember the sound needs to start when you cue and it continues until you come to the end of the Note Knack.
      3. Stack them to create a polyphonic A section
        • Next ask students what instruments are in the classroom that sound like growling, sneering, etc… and replace voice with instruments
        • Try it out and make adjustments as necessary.
        • Because there are many parts playing at once, use a rhythm stick to conduct. Lay it flat against page and drag it across all parts at same time. Parts will come in as needed.
        • This will become your A Section.
      2. Divide class into 4 groups and have each create a sound and choose a length for that sound
        • These will become your B, C, D and E Sections.
      3. Play the class composition in Rondo Form
      4. Have class record it by tracing Note Knacks on sentence strips to create a class piece!