Cities! Lesson 12

Hi folks, hope you had a good week. My kids went back to school this week, all three of them so it's peace and quiet in the house....alas! well, at least in the morning before Adam finishes kindy at noon. Most of you would have read the newsletter, about the music school moving to a new location. Most people naturally don't like changes but there are some changes that are for good and I believe this change of location is a good one. It is a more conducive and cosy environment. I know some parents will miss the convenience of shopping in the mall but look at it this way....we are helping you save money! :-) Seriously, when you come and have a look at the new place, I think you will give it a thumbs up!

I hope you have been reading the lesson plans that I faithfully prepare and write down each week. Actually looking at my site meter, there are people all over the world reading this blog and I know some of the Kindermusik sites have also linked this blog to theirs. It's really nice to know that people who are like minded are benefitting from this.

The kids had great fun writing and mailing their real letters last week. Hope that the letters have arrived in your post box this week and the kids get a thrill receiving their own letters. Do let me know!

Back to the lesson plan this week. It's already Lesson 12! I know I keep on saying this but time really do zoom pass so quickly.

We will introduce a new book today, Down Our Street. In this book, the kids will be introduced to people who lives in the city and the different jobs they have. The focus of this activity is musical ( as they learn the rhythmic phrases) and dramatic ( with hand movements) enactment as we go through the book. I quote:

Musical and dramatic enactment of a story is one way to expand children's creative experiences by bringing together elements of guided imagery, music and movement, and the visual arts. Creative enactment is an important process for developing self-awareness and self-expression. Through it you and your children can expand the imagination, develop skills in body movement, gesture, and practice verbal and nonverbal communication.

- The Creative Arts: A Process Approach for Teachers and Children, 2nd Ed, by Linda Carol Edwards

We are going visiting to three different shops this week; the cobbler, the baker and the barber. As we stop at each shop, we will be learning about what they do and learning the rhythm of the rap, the roll and the snip! Each of these song: Walk to the Cobbler's Shop, Down to the Baker's Shop, and Hippity Hop to the Barber Shop - are new to the kids so we will be taking our time to sing and understand what we are singing.

Last week I introduced the concept of accelerando ( going faster) to the kids as we Pass the Shoe to each other as we sit in a circle. We will repeat this activity again this week to reinforce the concept.

For parent sharing time, we will be dancing to a American fiddler tune called All Around the Town. Let me share with you about this song:

All Around the Town is an American fiddler tune. American square dance tunes, as played by fiddlers who have learned them by ear, have a distinctive type of rhythm. They differ from the jigs, reels and hornpipes of other countries. Most of the American tunes have a definite ending and repeat. The same class of dance tunes in other countries, especially Scotland and Ireland, play round and round ad libitum, or to the end of the dance.

- Traditional Music Of America by Ira W.Ford

Righty ho....I'll see you in class. Bye....