Candy Hearts Game: Tempo and Expression

I wanted to focus on tempo and expression, so I came up with a game that uses those cute little candy hearts for Valentine's Day.

I created heart cards with musical expressions on them and tempos.  Students will pick a expression card and perform the correct expression or tempo with the candy heart.  You can purchase the candy hearts or conversation hearts they sell at the store or use the ones I made below.

The student then reads the candy heart with the correct tempo (you can use a metronome) or expression.  I found it helpful to have the student say the words on the candy heart three times.  So, they would say "Be Mine, Be Mine, Be Mine" with a ritardando or  stacatto or a mezzo forte voice.  Afterwards I let the students eat their candy hearts, which they throughly enjoyed.

Goggle Docs: Candy Hearts Game

Candy Heart Game

Valentine Letter Game

In this Valentine Game, students pretend to mail letters or valentines out while matching staff cards to their letter name.

Take some envelopes and write a letter on it from A to G.  Pass out the Staff cards so that each student has an equal amount of cards.  Place the envelopes face down.  Turn over the first enevelope and whatever letter is on the envelope, is the one the student must place in the envelope to mail.  If they do not have a card that matches the letter, then they don't get to play.  The first student(s) to get rid of all their cards win. 

A fun idea I had was to put the notes on foam Valentine's.  I got these last year at a great discount after Valentine's Day.  Be on the look out and you may find a good deal on these as well.  I used my labels and stuck the notes on them.
As we played this game this week, we tried to think of exciting places that the letter was going to.  A for "Atlanta" or D for "Dallas."  You could even add these places to the envelope if you wanted.

You could also play this with keyboard cards, chord cards and key cards.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

 

Valentine Songs

Five little valentines

Five little valentines, I bought at the store.
gave one to Mother, now I have _____.

Four little valentines, pretty as can be.
I gave one to Daddy, now I have _____.

Three little valentines, red, white and blue.
I gave one to brother, now I have _____.

Two little valentines, enough for everyone.
I gave one to sister, now I have ______.

One little valentine, what should I do?

I know what, I'll give this one to you!

Teaching Idea: 

1. Have Hearts cut out or foam ones to give to five children.  During the song they give their valentine to a fellow classmate.

2.  Ask the children who else could they give a Valentine to and put it in the song.

If you Love me and you know it Sung to: "If your happy and you know it"

If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands.
If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands.
If you love me and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it.
If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands.

Other Verses: Say "I Love you" Blow me a kiss, Give me a hug

The Postman Brings a Valentine Sung to: "Mulberry Bush"

The postman brings a Valentine, a Valentine, a Valentine.
The postman Brings a Valentine, It says that I love you!

Teaching Idea:

1. Play a game similar to "Duck, Duck, Goose"  the children sit in a circle with their eyes closed and the postman walks around with a valentine or letter.  One the word "you" the postman drops the letter behind someone.  That person opens their eyes and runs after the postman.  If the postman can get back to the same spot and sit down they win. 

Counting Valentines Sung to: "Ten Little Indians"

One red, two red, three red Valentines
Four red, five red, six red Valentines
Seven red, eight red, nine red Valentines
Ten red Valentines.
Ten red, nine red, eight red Valentines
Seven red, six red, five red Valentines
Four red, three red, two red Valentines
One red Valentine.

Teaching Idea:

1. Have ten red hearts to count

2. Write the numbers or number words on the hearts to help with word association

H-E-A-R-T Sung to: "B-I-N-G-O"

To show you like your special friends,
Just give them each a heart.
H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T
Each heart says I like you!

Clap on the X

To show you like your special friends

Just give them each a heart

X-E-A-R-T, X-E-A-R-T, X-E-A-R-T

Each heart says I like you!

Keep taking away letters and clapping them.

You are my Valentine Sung to: "You are my Sunshine"

You are my Valentine, My special Valentine,
And I love you, yes I do.
You are my Valentine, My Special Valentine,
Please say you love me, too!

A Valentine....Sung to: "Skip to my Lou"

I have a Valentine just for you.
I wrote on the card, I love you true.
I wrapped it and mailed it yesterday
Close to your heart I hope it will stay.

Love, Love, Love Sung to: "3 Blind Mice"

Love, Love, Love Love, Love, Love (Clap hands on love)
See how it grows, See how it grows. (Point to eyes on 'see' then hands up on 'grow')
I love my friends and they love me, (Hands out then cross hands over heart on 'me')
We love others and then, you see, (Hands out then cross hands over heart on 'see')
There's more than enough for a big family (Hands out then cross hands over heart on 'family')
Love, love, love, Love, love, love (Clap hands on love)