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Students at Telpochcalli School had so much fun during our Animals and Music program. We met on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each session was 2 hours long. Our sessions consisted of students grade kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Our students concentrated on learning about the history of world music through the study of animals in different parts of the world. We also looked at rhythms used in traditional songs which we learned how to play using our hands and feet, and other instruments such as ukeleles, marimba and even boomwhackers. Another aspect we looked at were the verses and the imagery used in the different songs. Students were given an opportunity to change the lyrics to the songs thus creating a sense of ownership to these songs. We delved deeper into the songs by studying the animals mentioned in the songs by reading non-fiction as well as fiction books about the animals through online read-aloud videos using apps such as YouTube, EPIC and RAZkids. Students learned about myths, legends, fables from around the world. Throughout the program we reviewed the differences between these types of stories and how these have been passed on orally for generations.
OCTOBER: OWLS, BUTTERFLIES, CATS AND BARRILETES
ANIMALS AND THE CELEBRATION OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
STUDENTS LEARNED OF THE DIFFERENT SONES ASSOCIATED WITH MYSTERIOUS ANIMALS TIED TO DIA DE LOS MUERTOS SEEN AS MESSENGERS FROM THIS LIFE TO THE NEXT.
THE STUDENT BELOW DEMONSTRATES HER PERSONAL PAPALOTE OR BARRILETE (KITE) WITH SPECIAL SYMBOLS THAT REPRESENT A LOVED ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
STUDENTS ALSO WROTE PERSONAL LYRICS TO SON LA BRUJA (THE WITCH), LEARNED TO ACCOMPANY THE SON PLAYING UKELELE AND THE BASIC DANCE STEP TO THE SON DEL TECOLOTE AND LA BRUJA
NOVEMBER: TIBURONES (SHARKS). Students learned about sharks and other ocean animals. They learned stories, songs and dances from around the world. Yes we even learned the Baby Shark song : )
DECEMBER: SONES DE BURRO AROUND THE WORLD
Students asked for the song El Burrito Sabanero and love repeating the chorus over and over and over again. We go with the student flow (agency) so December was all about this song. Special request by our students.
January: The Hummingbird
January: The Hummingbird
Students requested we learn about this small and mysterious bird. So we did! We learned about hummingbirds. They learned stories, songs and dances from around the world. Students also drew hummingbirds and made origami hummingbirds. We also begin the class with animal yoga and meditation. Breathing like a whale can me so calming. Our students come into class and kick their shoes off and leave them off the rest of the time they are in class. Getting comfy!
FEBRUARY: LUNAR NEW YEAR Students learned about the Lunar New Year celebration. Students explored rhythms through pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.
March: EWWWWWW Bugs!
Students wanted to skip learning about insects. However with spring right around the corner we always love teaching about insects especially the ones students think are icky. We blasted through some misconceptions about insects such as praying mantis, spiders, cockroaches and yes even lice. They learned stories, songs and dances from around the world like La Tarantella from Italy and El Piojo y la Pulga from Mexico. Students also learned to play songs that talk about bugs.
April/May. Students Explored pitch. Using their voices as an instrument and learning to use technology to record, draw a visual representation of pitch and then uploading their pitch projects. We also used boomwhackers to play songs such as itsy bitsy spider. In the program study of animals in music throughout the year we decided to create habitat dioramas.
Exploring pitch
Fun with Boomwhackers®
twinkle, twinkle...
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