WE'LL CATCH A LITTLE FOX AND PUT HIM IN A ...- JANUARY 19TH

FIRST GRADE: Mrs. Bingham's

This morning I got to kick off the Morning with Mrs. Bingham's first grade class. She has told me time and time again that she is not a singer and struggles to add in creativity to her classroom, but I beg to differ. She began class with what she calls the brain dance, where the students excercised to music. It was really cute and the kids were engaged, the only thing missing was her confidence. Before I knew it was time to meet Miss Robb. They all came to join me on the matt. We began our vocal exercises with a song where the kids get to sing their name when it is their turn and then the entire class sings it back. They all just kind of stared at me with big eyes, but by the time I showed them how many goofy different ways we could sing Miss Robb, everyone wanted to try their name. It was not only neat to see their creativity, but their imagination and teamwork as well. There were the occasion students that just straight up said their name, and rather than trying to pressure them into singing it, other students around them would sing an idea, we all sang it together and then just watched as their face lit up.

Lesson Objectives: Rhyming

How? A huntin' we will go! And don't forget about poor old Michael Finnegan

We began with the verses suggested in the song, but the best part was when their creativity popped out. We would sing something like "we'll catch a little lizzard and put him in a ...." and their faces would beam as they thought through and called out different words, and someone would yell, BLIZZARD! and we'd finish the song.

The best part about today was that when I got home later and routinely checked my email I found this:

"Thanks again for today. I thought what you did was really fun. I am excited to learn new things!"

-Cynthia

With this project, I care so much about these kids embracing the concepts and activities, but just as much I want so badly for the teacher's to love it too so that it can continue to be a part of their class room and learning environment, and so this email simply made my day.

2nd Grade: The Highlights

Head and Shoulders Baby: One, Two, Three

What better way to learn about Africa and the body then with a traditional folk song?

We had lots of fun doing it through disguised repetition as we varied the speed from rabbit to cheetah, or they style from cool kid to granny.

A hunting we will go - Stuffed animal style

It just so happend to be a pajama party for the students today and many of them had their favorite stuffed animals so we threw them in for a fun new twist to the song. Some even resulted in us inventing new words like a Biraffe for the Giraffe.

I can't wait until next week!