Easter Egg Rhythm Worksheet

This is a Easter Egg Worksheet is just like my Pot of Gold Game.  I got a request to make different themed worksheet that would go with my Rhythm Addition Cards.  I made some different colors so that you could play this in a group game as well or just choose you favorite color.

To play you fill up the easter egg with tokens: bingo chips, pennies, M&M's or Jellybeans.

You use the Rhythm Addition Cards and add up the correct amount of tokens to place in the Easter Egg.  I have different levels of cards to fit most students.  The first one to fill up their egg wins!

I also used this in a regular classroom setting for math concepts.  For Kindergartners I just had them simply recognize the number in different forms: 3, three,  * * *.  For older students you could do math addition or subtraction flashcards.

Google Docs: Easter Egg Rhythm Game Green, Pink, Yellow, Blue

Easter Egg Rhythm Game Green

Easter Egg Rhythm Game Yellow

Easter Egg Rhythm Game Blue

Easter Egg Rhythm Game Pink

New Chord Cards

I created some Chord Cards to go with just about any game that use note names.  Students identify can identify the chord's root and say the quality of the chord: Major or Minor.  The cards include all major and minor chords on the white keys.  There are some blank cards if you would like to make your own version.

Google Docs: Chord Cards

Chord Cards

Spring Songs

It is that time of year again.  You can hear the birds sing and the see the flowers blooming.  It is a great time of new beginnings.  Enjoy the nicer weather and these fun songs.

Spring is All Around Me (The Wheels on the Bus)
Above my head I see the sun, see the sun, see the sun.
Above my head I see the sun. Spring is all around me. 

Below my feet I see the grass...
Above my head I see a bird...
Below my feet I see a bug....
Above my head I see a cloud...
Below my feet I see a worm....

Teaching Ideas:

1. Brainstorm with the kids about what things you see in spring that would be above your head and below your feet.  

2. Ask the children to use their hands to point to where you see these signs of spring.  A bird (the children would point up) The grass (The children would point down)

Spring Time Sung to: "Did you Ever see a Lassie?"

My- eyes can see it's spring-time, it's spring-time, it's spring-time.
my- eyes can see it's spring-time, the grass is so green!
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine and showers
My- eyes can see it's spring-time and I am so glad.

My-ears can hear it's spring time, it's spring time, it's spring time.
My- ears can hear it's spring-time, the birds sweetly sing.
The birds sing, the lambs bleat, the frogs croak, the bees buzz.
My- ears can hear it's spring time, and I am so glad.

My-body can feel's it's spring time, it's spring time, it's spring time.
My-body can feel its spring time, the air is so warm.
The warm air, the breez-es, no frost and no freez-es.
My- body can feel it's spring time, and I am so glad! 

My nose can smell it's spring time, it's spring time, it's spring time.

My nose can smell it's spring time, the flowers smell sweet

The green grass, the flowers, the barnyard, the showers

My nose can smell it's spring time, the flowers smell so sweet.

Teaching Ideas:

1. Discuss the five senses 

2. Name things you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell in springtime.

Marching into Spring

March into spring one step at a time

March into spring with words that rhyme

Clap your hands together up high in the air

Look our for raindrops that land in your hair

Jump over puddles, Skip over ground

Walk back in your house and quietly sit down

Teaching Ideas:

1. Act out the poem.

2. Come up with words that rhyme with signs of spring: flower, bee, green

Daffodils fingerplay 

One little daffodil had nothing much to do,
Out popped another one, then there were two.
Two little daffodils were smiling at a bee,
Out popped another one, then there were three.
Three little daffodils were growing by the door,
Out popped another one, then there were four.
Four little daffodils were glad to be alive,
Out popped another one, then there were five.
Five little daffodils were wearing golden crowns,

They danced in the breeze in green satin gowns.

Teaching Idea:

1. Have the children pretend to be the flowers, popping up

2. Talk about what flowers need to grow.

Daffodils fingerplay Alternative Addition Version                  

One little daffodil smiling at a bee
Out popped two more and then there were three.
Three little daffodils were glad to be alive
Out popped another two more and  then there were five.
Five little daffodils looking up toward heaven
Out popped another two more and then there were seven
Seven little daffodils growing in a line                                                                    
Out popped another two more and then there were nine.
Nine little daffodils blowing in the wind

Pick them up and take them home and they can be your friends.

Version 2

Two little daffodil were growing by the door
Out popped two more and then there were four.
Four little daffodils were playing lots of tricks
Out popped another two more and  then there were six.
Six little daffodils standing up straight
Out popped another two more and then there were eight
Eight little daffodils blowing in the wind
Out popped another two more and then there were ten.
Ten little daffodils blowing in the wind

Pick them up and take them home and they can be your friends.

Recommended Reading

1. It's Spring by Linda Glasser

2. Splish Splash Spring by Dorothy Donohue

3. Mouse's First Spring by Lauren Thompson

Help the Bee Find His Key: Note Names

Here is another version of Help the Bee Find His Key.  Once worksheet focuses on Middle C Position.  I also created one using Treble Clef Notes and Bass Clef Notes.  And last, but not least a Key Signature one.

Google Docs: Middle C Position
Help The Bee Find His Key Middle C Position

Google Docs: Treble Clef

Help The Bee Find His Key Treble Clef

Google Docs: Bass Clef
Help The Bee Find His Key Bass Clef

Google Docs: Key Signatures

Help The Bee Find His Key Signature

Help the Bee Find His Key: Accidentals

Here is another worksheet to help student recognize accidentals.  I love using the bee finger puppet to play these notes.  I also stick these in a page protector and use a dry erase marker to mark the answer.  A great paper and printer saver!

Google Doc: Help the Bee Find the Key: Sharps
Help The Bee Find His Key Sharp Version

Google Doc: Help the Bee Find the Key: Flats

Help The Bee Find His Key Flat Version

Google Doc: Help the Bee Find His Key: Accidentals

Help The Bee Find His Key Accidental Version

Help the Bee Find His Key

Here is a fun worksheet to help beginner students with key recognition on the keyboard.  A fun idea is to have them make the buzzing sound as the draw the line.  I have a fun little bee finger puppet that the students use to find and play the keys and the keyboard.

Google Doc: Help the Bee Find His Key

Help The Bee Find His Key

New Fun Pointers!

I found these pointers at our school's book fair put on by Scholastic Books.     I got a great dog and bird pointer.  The bird is especially fun because when you squeeze the head, the eyes pop out.       I use pointers to point along in the music mostly, but you could use them in games, rhythm cards and even tapping the rhythm.  The kids love them!

Here are some links to some pencil toppers sold on Amazon
Pop Eye Pens
Other Pencil Toppers

Group Lesson St. Patrick's Day Theme

Last week I held my group lessons with a St. Patrick's Day Theme.  My students had a blast and learned a lot too!  We played several games and had a sharing time where students played their favorite pieces. Here are some pictures of our games:

Playing Tic Tac Toe with the gold coins from the Pot of gold!

And we have a winner!

Two winners!

The students loved playing Lucky Penny

I adapted the Pot of Gold Game to work with different levels with different colored rhythm cards

Students playing the Lucky Leprechaun Game

Money Concepts Songs and Activities

Tooth Fairy Poem 
Last night I lost a tooth

Just like cousin Jenny

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a penny

Last night I lost a tooth

When I ate a pickle

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a nickel

Last night I lost a tooth

When I ate a lime

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a dime

Last night I lost a tooth

It was a little shorter

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a quarter

Last night I lost a tooth

I gave a big holler (Ouch!)

The tooth fairy came

And she left me a dollar

Money Rap

A penny is one cent (stomp)

A nickel is five (pat knees)

A dime is ten cent (clap hands)

A quarter twenty five (snap fingers)

Teaching Idea: Use the body percussion for an addition problem.  Clap, Clap Snap would be 10 +10+ 25 = .45 cents.

Coin Order Tune: Ten Little Indians

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters

Put them in that order.

Teaching Idea:

1. Have the some coins either plastic or cut out and have the students put them in order.  

2. Talk about how much each coin is worth and how much these coins add up to.

The Money Song Tune: Itsy, Bitsy Spider

1 cent is a penny,

10 cents is a dime,

5 cents is a nickel,

Now you know that I'm...

learning about the money,

and which coin is which.

Don't forget the quarter-

It's worth 25 cents!

Dr. Jean's Money Song Tune: Shortnin' Bread

Chorus:

I like money to buy things at the store.

Money, money, money, I always want more!

A penny's worth one cent.

A nickel's worth five.

A dime's worth ten cents.

A quarter's twenty-five.

Chorus

Lincoln's on one cent.

Jefferson's on five.

Roosevelt's on ten cents.

Washington's on twenty-five.

Chorus 

A building's on one cent.

A building's on five.

A torch is on ten cents.

An eagle's on twenty-five.

Three Little Nickels A Fingerplay

Three little nickels in a pocketbook new,

(hold up three fingers)

One bought a peppermint, and then there were two,

(bend down one finger)

Two little nickels before the day was done,

One bought an ice cream cone, and then there was one

(bend down another finger)

One little nickel I heard it plainly say,

"I'm going into the piggy bank for a rainy day!"

Three Shiny Quarters 

Three shiny quarters in a pocketbook new (Hold up three fingers)

One bought a gumball, then there were two (Bend down one finger)

Two shiny quarters, before the day was done

One bought a sticker, then there was one. (Bend down another finger)

One little quarter, I heard it plainly say,

"I'm going in the piggy bank for a rainy day!"

Teaching Ideas

1. Brainstorm with the students about different things you can buy with the coin.

2. Change the coin to different amounts and add up how many three of them makes

Found a Penny Tune: Oh My Darlin'

Found a penny,

Found a penny,

Found a penny just now.

Just now I found a penny.

Found a penny just now.

It's worth 1 cent.

It's worth 1 cent.

It's worth 1 cent just now.

Just now, it's work 1 cent.

It's worth 1 cent just now.

Change the penny to different coins and different amounts.

Wonderful Websites:

1. Money Instructor: Printable worksheets, custom worksheets, printable play money, lesson plans

2. Four Fun Games for Money Recognition: Fun games like bingo and a printable die

Favorite Money Books

1. The Penny Pot by Stuart J. Murphy

2. Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Lanczak Williams

3. A Quarter From the Tooth Fairy by Caren Holtzman

Lucky Leprechaun Game: Key Signature

The Lucky Leprechaun Game is played like "Old Maid" except the goal is to be the last player holding the Lucky Leprechaun. 


Goggle Doc: Shamrock Key Signature Cards

Shamrock Key Signature  Cards

1. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals out all the cards to the players. It doesn’t matter if they don’t come out evenly.

2. Each player picks up his cards and holds them so that other players cannot see them. Players may want to organize their cards so that like notes are together.

3. Next, players take out of their hands any pairs they have. For example, if a player has two A's, the player takes that pair out. All the pairs from all the players’ hands go into a pile, face down, in the center of the table. However, if a player has, for example, three C's, he can only put down the pair.  Depending on the level, pairs do not have to be the exact same note.  For instance you can have a Middle C and a Bass C be a pair.

4. The player to the left of the dealer (Joel) spreads out his hand, face down, on the table. The player to his left (Amy) picks up one of those cards. If she can make a pair by using that card, she removes the pair and puts it in the pile at the center of the table. Otherwise, Amy just keeps that card.

5. Now, Amy spreads her cards on the table, face down, so that the player to her left can pick up one card out of her hand.

6.  Play continues in this way. Eventually, one player will be left with card "The Lucky Leprechaun" and that players wins.  You can also see who has the most pairs and they can be the winner as well.

Can also be played with Shamrock Keyboard Cards

Shamrock Key Staff Cards

Tic Tac Toe Levels 1-3

Tic Tac Toe is a classic game that can be played with just about anything. When playing at an individual lesson, I play one side of the board and the student plays the other.   I then pick an Alphabet card and mark the corresponding note on the Tic Tac Toe board.  You may only mark one note at a time.  The first player to get three in a row wins.  Another way to play with the boards is to make the player have to cover all notes on their board for a 'wipe out' of all notes.

Level One covers all the notes in Middle C Position.  Here are instructions for a group lesson
Also try Tic Tac Toe for the Keyboard

Google Docs: Tic Tac Toe Level One

Tic Tac Toe Level One: Middle C Position


Google Doc: Tic Tac Toe Level Two: C position

Tic Tac Toe Level Two


Google Docs: Tic Tac Toe Level 3: Add space notes in Treble Clef

Tic Tac Toe Level Three

Try your luck at some St. Patrick's Day Group Games

I am having group lessons this week and we are playing some of my St. Patrick's Day Games:
Pot of Gold Game
Lucky Leprechaun Game
Lucky Penny Game
Tic Tac Toe:

To make Tic Tac Toe in line with the St. Patrick's Day theme,  I have the students use the lucky coins to cover their boards.  You could also use some foam shamrocks :).

I love doing stations at my group lessons and it helps me get my different leveled students grouped together.  Most games lend themselves to having different levels.  I just have the students choose from a different stack of cards.  I separate them into color groups and then write the color on a post it note and attach it to the stack of cards I want them to choose from.  Sometimes I have an older student help a younger one as well.

The one game that has to be separated into levels is the Lucky Leprechaun Game.  I have some pre readers that couldn't play the staff game and you have to mix the cards all together.  So I separate the group by their level of notes they have learned on the staff.

Below are the directions for the games.  I leave the directions at each station and I monitor the groups by walking around and helping when needed.

Tic Tac Toe Instructions
Tic Tac Toe Instructions

Lucky Leprechaun Instructions
Lucky Leprechaun Instructions

Lucky Penny Game Instructions
Lucky Penny Game Instructions

Pot Gold Game
Pot of Gold Instructions

Lucky Leprechaun Game with Keyboard Cards

Here is the same Lucky Leprechaun Game with Keyboard Cards.  I am having a lot of fun playing this game.  The kids enjoy seeing who has the Leprechaun at the end.


Goggle Docs: Shamrock Keyboard Cards
Shamrock Keyboard Cards
Instructions:

1. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals out all the cards to the players. It doesn’t matter if they don’t come out evenly.

2. Each player picks up his cards and holds them so that other players cannot see them. Players may want to organize their cards so that like notes are together.

3. Next, players take out of their hands any pairs they have. For example, if a player has two A's, the player takes that pair out. All the pairs from all the players’ hands go into a pile, face down, in the center of the table. However, if a player has, for example, three C's, he can only put down the pair.  Depending on the level, pairs do not have to be the exact same note.  For instance you can have a Middle C and a Bass C be a pair.

4. The player to the left of the dealer (Joel) spreads out his hand, face down, on the table. The player to his left (Amy) picks up one of those cards. If she can make a pair by using that card, she removes the pair and puts it in the pile at the center of the table. Otherwise, Amy just keeps that card.

5. Now, Amy spreads her cards on the table, face down, so that the player to her left can pick up one card out of her hand.

6.  Play continues in this way. Eventually, one player will be left with card "The Lucky Leprechaun" and that players wins.  You can also see who has the most pairs and they can be the winner as well.


Can also be played with Shamrock Staff Cards
Shamrock Key Signature Cards

A Great Half Step, Whole Step Game

A Wonderful game to reinforce the difference between half steps and whole steps called Crazy Keys.  The thing I love the most about this game is the wiggly worms.  Great manipulative item, that is fun, especially for boys.  Jen's Piano Studio has some other wonderful ideas.  She has put a lot of time and effort into creating some great resources.  Check it out!

Lucky Leprechaun Game

The Lucky Leprechaun Game is played like "Old Maid" except the goal is to be the last player holding the Lucky Leprechaun. 

How to Play:  Use the Shamrock Staff Playing Cards

Google Docs: Shamrock Staff Playing Cards

Shamrock Staff Cards
1. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals out all the cards to the players. It doesn’t matter if they don’t come out evenly.

2. Each player picks up his cards and holds them so that other players cannot see them. Players may want to organize their cards so that like notes are together.

3. Next, players take out of their hands any pairs they have. For example, if a player has two A's, the player takes that pair out. All the pairs from all the players’ hands go into a pile, face down, in the center of the table. However, if a player has, for example, three C's, he can only put down the pair.  Depending on the level, pairs do not have to be the exact same note.  For instance you can have a Middle C and a Bass C be a pair.

4. The player to the left of the dealer (Joel) spreads out his hand, face down, on the table. The player to his left (Amy) picks up one of those cards. If she can make a pair by using that card, she removes the pair and puts it in the pile at the center of the table. Otherwise, Amy just keeps that card.

5. Now, Amy spreads her cards on the table, face down, so that the player to her left can pick up one card out of her hand.

6.  Play continues in this way. Eventually, one player will be left with card "The Lucky Leprechaun" and that players wins.  You can also see who has the most pairs and they can be the winner as well.


Can also be played with Shamrock Keyboard Cards

Shamrock Key Signature Cards