"Trepak" from The Nutcracker

Fourth and Fifth grade students are focusing on form this month with a study of "The Nutcracker" by Tchaikovsky. We learned about the composer and then listened to several of the pieces from the Nutcracker Suite. I love how the students get so excited when they recognize a piece that we are studying and can't wait to come tell me if they've heard it on the radio or a commercial. A favorite this year was the very familiar "Trepak" or "Russian Dance."

First, we watched a clip from the ballet:

Then, they figured out the form:

Next, they learned the following fun (and energetic) choreography from the Gameplan Curriculum - Grade 4:

This is the perfect activity to keep very excited students engaged in music during the month of December! It kept my students thinking and moving and they were begging to do it again! :) Check out some pictures of the 4th and 5th grade classes in action:

 

"March" from the Nutcracker

As a young girl, I watched in wonderment when our family would attend a performance of "The Nutcracker Ballet."  I absolutely loved the music, dancing, costumes, and scenery!  And now... I get to teach it to my students!  It has become one of my favorite units to teach.

This year, I focused on teaching the Nutcracker to second grade.  After reading the story of the Nutcracker and talking about it's origins, we watched and listened to some of the most famous pieces, including the "March."  The students got so excited when they recognized this piece!

Next, we listened to the song again and discovered it's form.  Second grade classes have been talking a lot about form this year, so they figured it out very quickly!  After studying the varying sections, the students learned that this is called Rondo Form (when the A section - or refrain - alternates with contrasting themes). 

 

The students were then introduced to our new movement prop, Mr. Stretchy Band!

 

 

Using a lesson plan from Artie Almeida's "Parachutes and Ribbons and Scarves, Oh My!" we used Mr. Stretchy to move to the various sections of the March.  During the A sections, students used the stretchy band to form a circle and marched to the music.

 

 

 

 

During the contrasting sections, the students stopped marching and faced the middle of the circle.  Holding the stretchy band above their heads, they listened as I called out different colors. When their color was called, they had to run under the stretchy band and quickly switch places with somebody else.  Of course, they thought this was so much fun! 

 

 

 

 

 Learning while having fun... my favorite combination! ツ