This semester, in addition to singing, playing instruments, and large movement, the three year olds will be learning about different instruments and the sounds they make. We began by reading the book “Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin.” One instrument is added at a time in the book so we enjoyed counting them. I encourage you to watch the book being read on the Reading Rainbow episode below so you can also hear the sounds the instruments in the book make.
We Are Marching in the Light of God and This Little Light of Mine are songs we will explore in several different ways this semester. They are lovely simple songs to sing together. The lyrics can easily be changed for a fun large movement activity. Simple change march to another activity or “this little light” to “these dancing feet” and enjoy experiencing large movement to the beat. Both of these songs have been recorded in different styles which make them engaging to play instruments along to as well.
Hey Diddle Diddle is a song based on the nursery rhyme. Exposing children to nursery rhymes helps build literacy and phonemic awareness skills. This song helps foster both literacy and rhythm skills simultaneously. Nursery rhymes all have a structure to them that should allow you to fit any one of them into this song. See what other nursery rhymes you know and can fit to the beat.
La Marmotteuse is a fun song to put the beat in our whole bodies to. Ask the kids about jumping, clapping, walking, and tapping their toes to this song. What other words do you know for walk? How does it change the way you move when you say stroll, saunter, promenade, trudge, or roam?
Music can help us be excited, move, and play and it can also help us calm down. We end each class with a calm song. Singing calm songs at home can help both adults and children relax and calm down before bed, a nap, or anytime you may need a calm moment. (Kione has a fun version of this song you can look up but since we are using it to help calm down I’m going to include a calm version here.)
