We are nearing the end of July, and most stores in this part of the world are clearing out the summer merchandise and bringing in the back-to-school supplies. Time to stock up on swim noodles - you know, those long flimsy towers of closed-cell foam so practical in the water.
If you are a classroom teacher, you need buy only half the number of students in your class because you will be cutting the noodles in half. If you are a parent, get at least one, cut it in half, and keep half for yourself!
Yes, there will be the greatest of temptations, especially among the boys, to immediately turn these into swords. It pays to have the noodles in sight but not yet available until you explain how "we use them at music time". (It also pays to have consequences for using them incorrectly, as in "Ooops. This noodle didn't learn the rule [or how to act] yet. Put one hand on each end 'til he can learn the rule.)
How do we use them?
1) Beat the floor with the rhythm of a recording. Progress from slow beats (1 for every 4 counts) to fast beats (one for every count) to "silly fast" ( as fast as they can possibly do it, just to get it out of their systems). By "progressing" I mean, play slow beats for a minute or two until most children aree hitting somewhere near the beat. Then go beating on counts 1 and count 3. Then, if most are getting that, try to beat on every count. (WARNING: Do not do this if there are children napping next door. It does get loud. Your neighboring teacher will not be happy with you!)
2) Beat the floor in different dynamics. LOUD soft soft LOUD soft soft or soft, louder, louder, louder, louder, LOUD (any combination of a beat pattern and/or a sound pattern.
3) If noise takes over, make the noodle a "unicorn", (make it a horn projecting from your forehead) or a "stinger" (make it stick out from your bottom). They will have to be watching, or they will get "caught"!
4) Older children who are learning to gallop can practice riding the noodle like a pony. The foot that stays behind becomes the pony's lame foot. (And a bandana suck in the top noodle hole becomes a mane, and one stuck in the bottom hole becomes a tail....) Any "cowboy" music will do! One of my favorites - Nickel Creek's "Little Cowpoke".
Have fun!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Safety Issues!
Before going much further with describing musical adventures to try with your children, let's address a few really important issues! Just as with all toys, props and activities for very young children, there are certain safety considerations in the vibrant music classroom. While many of these primarily apply to group situations, there are aspects that also apply on a one-to-one basis.
1) Teacher supervision - This means being attentive and watchful, and maintaining the same ratios of teacher/student as is appropriate for the children in a regular classroom. One must be vigilant for any child mis-using a prop, or for the excitement of the group overtaking what is safe.
2) Any props must be checked for choking hazards for children under the age of 3, and any others who may be less mature than the norm for the classroom. Note: Any hand-made shakers should be carefully sealed with glue and tape in order to be sure that small pieces don't come flying out!
3) Rhythm sticks made of wood should be checked periodically for splintering, and should have rounded ends or rounded edges just in case!
4) Streamers are best kept at a length not to exceed 2 - 3 feet. Some commercial streamers are very long, and require much more height and longer arms. If the streamers are too long, trim them so that the children can manipulate them more easily, and not trip over them.
5) Ideally, children should be spaced appropriately for large motor activities. If they are using streamers, they need enough for their movements plus the outreach of the streamer, if at all possible. PLEASE NOTE: If you have a child who refuses to adjust his space, or who refuses to participate, without making a huge issue of the refusal, just help the child move while explaining that he needs to be in a safe spot where he can watch and/or listen - and that he may rejoin the group for the next activity.
6) Last, but not least, ideally, all props/instruments should be sanitized at the end of the day according to childcare guidelines. If at all possible, it is helpful to have enough extras to where, if a child mouths the prop, it can be set aside and replaced with another while the mouthed prop is set aside.
1) Teacher supervision - This means being attentive and watchful, and maintaining the same ratios of teacher/student as is appropriate for the children in a regular classroom. One must be vigilant for any child mis-using a prop, or for the excitement of the group overtaking what is safe.
2) Any props must be checked for choking hazards for children under the age of 3, and any others who may be less mature than the norm for the classroom. Note: Any hand-made shakers should be carefully sealed with glue and tape in order to be sure that small pieces don't come flying out!
3) Rhythm sticks made of wood should be checked periodically for splintering, and should have rounded ends or rounded edges just in case!
4) Streamers are best kept at a length not to exceed 2 - 3 feet. Some commercial streamers are very long, and require much more height and longer arms. If the streamers are too long, trim them so that the children can manipulate them more easily, and not trip over them.
5) Ideally, children should be spaced appropriately for large motor activities. If they are using streamers, they need enough for their movements plus the outreach of the streamer, if at all possible. PLEASE NOTE: If you have a child who refuses to adjust his space, or who refuses to participate, without making a huge issue of the refusal, just help the child move while explaining that he needs to be in a safe spot where he can watch and/or listen - and that he may rejoin the group for the next activity.
6) Last, but not least, ideally, all props/instruments should be sanitized at the end of the day according to childcare guidelines. If at all possible, it is helpful to have enough extras to where, if a child mouths the prop, it can be set aside and replaced with another while the mouthed prop is set aside.
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