GAME 1: Fill the Frame • Players: Up to 5 players • Materials: Note Knacks Dice and One Note Knacks Set per small group How to Play 1. Each small group receives a Note Knacks Set. 2. Roll the Time Signature Die to determine which time signature frame everyone will use. 3. Player 1 chooses […]
When I was in graduate school, I did my student teaching in a first- and second-grade looped class. This meant that students would have the same teacher for both first and second grades. Although this teaching model has both positives and negatives, I learned a great deal about how to accommodate multiple learning levels. I […]
Building on our “Simple Halloween Compositions” activity, there are so many creative possibilities to explore! What starts out as a simple 1-measure composition can grow into a variety of musical experiences. With a little imagination, this single activity becomes the springboard for endless opportunities where students can create, explore, and truly make music their own. […]
When I was a teacher, I was always looking for new ways to practice the steady beat with my students. And while kids LOVE the Freeze game, even our favorite activities can start to feel a little predictable after a while!
So why not combine the two?
For Lesson 2, I was excited to build on what we created in lesson 1 and to add on what we could in the time frame we had (15 minutes). The beauty of this lesson is that you can add as many movements (calls) as the kids would like or as many as you have time for; it is up to you! This may also be a lesson that a class revisits throughout the year, as they learn new calls and rhythms.
For many kids our classes are a much-needed break from the regular classroom. With us, they can move around and be creative. They can tap into that part of the brain that let’s them communicate their thoughts and feelings in a different way. This is my very favorite thing about teaching music to young children. There is no limit to their imaginations!!
Last week I went to the GA music educators conference in Athens. I was lucky enough to hear Dr. Boonshaft speak about our profession and how our job was to make kids curious (I encourage you to check out his work. Here is Part 1 and Part 2 of an interview he did on YouTube.) I love that, as this is what we are all about at Note Knacks Music! We love to give kids the tools for them to explore and discover what is possible in music!!