We have really been enjoying our free Quaver trial this semester! Today in Kindergarten, we celebrated Earth Day by learning the song "Save the Planet." Then, we added a quick, easy, and fun accompaniment with Boomwhackers.
We discussed some of the different ways that they could take care of the planet. Some of their ideas were pick up trash, don't litter, plant a tree, and reuse our things. Each student wrote their idea on the provided worksheet and enjoyed coloring the sheet as well.
At the end of class, the students took turns singing their ideas as a "solo" in the song.
Third, fourth, and fifth grade students really enjoy our month composer studies! The first week of our study, we read a biography about the famous composer and discuss facts about their life. In the following weeks, we listen to and learn about the most famous and important pieces by the composer. Many times, I show the students a video of the piece being performed but my favorite way to introduce a piece is to show a listening map. Our most recent study was about Beethoven. Here are a few of the listening maps that my students enjoyed watching throughout our study.
At the end of our study, we usually play a game to review the information they've learned about the composer. Their favorite game is Kahoot! and they beg me to play it all the time. :) After we play Kahoot, I usually have another computer game or activity for them to do related to that composer. Since we studied about Beethoven this month, they enjoyed playing with the Beethoven Google Doodle where students had to help Beethoven get to the symphony concert by putting his music in the right order. It was a great way to reinforce identifying the most famous Beethoven melodies!
Third graders at HSES have been reviewing notes and rests. We reviewed the rhythms we learned earlier in the year and just added in sixteenth notes. I've recently gotten a trial of Quaver to use in my classroom and so I looked to see what was available for teaching sixteenth notes. Quaver's "Sixteenth Note Samba" is SO catchy and my students LOVED it.
Also, I don't think I've ever had a group of students catch on so quickly to counting sixteenths. :) Here they are working with partners to create, notate, and perform rhythms with sixteenth notes.
