Activity 2

This session is geared towards preschool aged children, a music group leader and or classroom preschool teachers may implement this material.

The current identified needs for this classroom are the social-emotional growth and development (including self-regulation), academic development, and pre-writing fine motor skills. This activity addresses both needs using a variety of musical experiences. 

This is a 30 minute group with music based experiences for a preschool classroom with diverse identities and abilities. Music experiences planned hope to promote social-emotional, academic, and pre-writing fine motor skills development and growth for individuals. Students and teachers will engage with a variety of active and receptive musical experiences. Teachers and music group leader will have the opportunity to collaborate to learn best ways of implementing more music into everyday classroom activities. 

SEL:  Self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills incorporated through verbal encouragements (tell your neighbor nice job!, I'm so proud of you!, etc. following activities) and emotional expression and exploration (Come out Feelings)

UDL:  Multiple means of engagement (schedule, manipulatives), Multiple means of representation (visual aids, read/sing aloud and with book), Multiple means of expression (sing, say, show opportunities) 

PRIOR to group

1. • Leader should listen to and or prepare/practice each song for this activity

   • Leader should locate or create enough play, plastic food (fruits and vegetables) item for each student to have one. An alternative would be printed or drawn visual pictures of various fruits and vegetables. The foods should be able to be sorted into three distinct colors. The leader should also locate three small baskets, bins, hats, or similar containers and label them with three different colors. 

   • Leader should locate singable book– the book used in this step is interchangeable and can be adjusted to meet specific needs of group

   • Leader should create Music Schedule board to provide visual representation of order of experiences in music (see materials for example)

1. Hello Song 

   • Time: 1-2 minutes

   • Function: a greeting and transition from previous activities outside of the music group to the present music group. This allows processing time for the students to center their minds. 

   • Music group leader will use guitar, A cappella singing, or provided recording to sing "Music Time is Here" (Stroud 2022). 

     • • Link to recording provided in Materials section

   • Students are given the option to sing, say, or wave hello when prompted during song

3. Drip Drop Rain  

   • Time: 2-4 minutes

   • Function: an energizing experience that allows students an opportunity to feel connected and engaged with their bodies and the music. Provides opportunities for 1-step direction following, social awareness, and self-awareness.

   • Music group leader will sing through song a Cappella while performing movements

   • If needed, leader will project or play video recording of Drip Drop Rain 

     • Link to recording provided in Materials section

4. Fill the Basket 

   • Time: 7-10 minutes

   • Function: addresses fine motor, identification, sorting, and 2-step direction following skills. Song is also used to create group cohesion/peer support.

   • Music group leader will sing through "Fill the Basket" by Unknown one time while keeping a beat (pat) on their lap

     • Lyrics and melody attached in Materials section

   • Music group leader should encourage students to keep a beat (pat) on their own laps during first sing through

   • Music group leader will remind students that props/materials should be treated like our friends- kindly and safely

   • Music group leader will pass out 1 food (plastic, printed, drawn, etc) item to each student. 

   • Music group leader will place three containers (baskets, bins, hats, etc) in front of the group

   • Music group leader will sing through the song inserting all of the distributed food into the phrase "Who has the ______?'

   • Music group leader will ask the student with the chosen food to sort their item into the matching colored basket

   • Student should return to seat and song starts over, after 2–3 repetitions of this song, music group leader may want to encourage students to sing along and or keep beat (pat) on their laps

   • Repeat song until all food items are collected in the baskets

5. Singable Story- Singing in the Rain pictures by Tim Hopgood

   • Time: 5-6 minutes

   • Function: Familiar activity (reading popular book) combined with musical structure may encourage increased participation with task and generalization of some academic skills (pre-reading, structure, and order). 

   • Music group leader will present Singing in the Rain

   • Music group leader will use melody to sing through each page of the book 

     • Melody linked in materials section

   • ALTERNATIVE OR EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

     • Music group leader will pass out individual scarves, streamers, and or ribbons if desired. Adding these props allows students who may be shy or uncomfortable with unstructured movement to feel more confident or secure during the experience

     • Music group leader will use speaker to play linked original song and encourage students to move to the music

6. Come out Feelings

   • Time: 3-5 minutes (3 for song, 2 for discussion/breathing)

   • Function: Emotional Expression skill development, self-awareness, self-management

   • Begin with small, developmentally appropriate discussion of expressing feelings in safe ways and how that could make us feel

   • Music group leader will sing through Come out Feelings by Miss Katie Sings using guitar

     • Link to recording provided in Materials section

   • During choruses- leader will encourage students to sing along 

   • Link provided in Materials section includes Miss Katie Sings' introduction with discussion about expressing feelings- may be played as addition to the experience

   • Close experience with 3-5 deep breaths

7. Goodbye

   • Time: 1-2 minutes

   • Function: closure and transition from music group to their next classroom activity. This allows processing time for the students to center their minds. 

   • Music group leader will use guitar, A cappella singing, or provided recording to sing "Music Time is Over" (Stroud 2022). 

     • Link to recording provided in Materials section

   • Students are given the option to sing, say, or wave goodbye when prompted during song

Hello Song: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a48JJMMXHTRuA1B8vADUeannZ17kLUaN/view?usp=sharing 

Drip Drop Rain Movement: https://youtu.be/3WIF98ss2Tw 

Fill the Basket Melody: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N3Z6_IXpxWW0B0CZeX0Pkhr6ftRkI3ru/view?usp=sharing 

Singing in the Rain Story Time Video: https://youtu.be/TW87zw1NqOk 

"Singing in the Rain"- Gene Kelly Original Song: https://youtu.be/StB2WR4Hwdo 

Miss Katie Sings "Come out Feelings": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJFj0fBA4sw (Song starts at 1:08)

Goodbye Song: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aRj-AIHVcY9VlVjYwtaroPU2E44rYOlZ/view?usp=sharing 

Music Schedule Example: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mLC2dDe-Qd6ve4Kif5qJXDAySnCn6jnUBdxHlTxkZ7M/edit?usp=sharing 

Guitar

Fruits: plastic, printed, drawn, etc.

• Free printable fruits & veggies: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fruits-and-Vegetables-Flashcards-FREEBIE-2239692?st=948ec53a82a78eedd07602232e294102 

• Free printable fruits & veggies: http://mockeri.com/free-printable-vegetable-flash-cards-and-matching-cards/ 

3 containers with labeled colors: baskets, hats, containers, etc.

• Free printable color labels: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Labels-Editable-8-Colours-2067065?st=06ad04af6a8395e14caf8ec5f0b06ad4 

Singing in the Rain Book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250127709