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