Water Music!

What could be more fun than playing in water on a hot summer day? Making music AND playing in water! I came across a video at Child’s Play Music and just had to try this with our children. We’re only on day two, but the activity is so open ended that I’m sure it will be out for the rest of the summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We began by rounding up all the colored plastic items we use for our light unit and put those in water tubs with some utensils including chopsticks and wooden spoons to use as strikers. The colors in the bright morning sun were beautiful and attracted the kids to the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children began exploring sounds by pouring water from different heights to hear loud and soft sounds as well as fast and slow sounds. They also learned about high and low sounds. They experimented making sounds with containers both above and below water. Comparisons were also made with filled and empty containers. Differences between metal, plastic, and wood sounds were also discovered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metal objects including pan lids and several sizes of mixing bowls were added to the table this morning. The children loved the sounds from the mixing bowls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m sure the children will make more discoveries about sound and water throughout the summer as we add other objects to the water center.

Little Pandas Preschool

Music & Chinese Circle Time

I upgraded my blog to include video and just had to share a few clips of our kids during circle time.  Amber sent pics of Spooky Loo to me last week (above), but it’s much better on video.  I keep writing that the kids are learning Chinese while participating in other activities, but seeing what Gloria has accomplished is even more impressive.  She has changed the words to the song that lets the kids know it’s  circle time.

Amber is very passionate about music and enjoys singing with the kids.  She’s holding one of our new children so you don’t see her in this video, but she and Gloria both taught the kids Spooky Loo.   Even with a few mishaps the kids are having a great time.

This is the kids favorite Halloween song.

I hope everyone enjoys the videos.

Little Pandas Preschool

Musikgarten at the Baby Home

We have really been enjoying the new Musikgarten classes with Amber. The children love dancing, shaking bells, and using the rhythm sticks. Its very cute to watch the babies shaking their heads to the beat of the music and clapping along with a song. We are very excited to have this a part of our daily program.

Teacher Kimberly

Music & Literacy

Our curriculum has always focused on language and literacy skills, but this year we want to expand this to include cultural literacy through music. I’ve been doing some internet research about this and have found many sites arguing the pros and cons of cultural literacy. One site argued very well for the use of music in the classroom to promote academic excellence. Some interesting reading has been linked below. While I’ve never read E.D. Hirsch’s book about cultural literacy I thought the argument for cultural literacy was excellent. However, what each of us would deem necessary to be culturally literate would be up for debate. Reading this also made me ask if my own children were culturally literate and what gaps need to be filled in their educations.

I’m using the book Rise Up Singing edited by Peter Blood and Annie Patterson as a place to begin. For parents that want to purchase the book for use at home with your kids the ISBN is 0-9626704-9-9. I’ve created a play list on my iTunes application and am searching iTunes for the songs in the book. Children in all classes will get to listen to this music daily. We’ll also learn some of the songs that relate to this year’s curriculum theme. We’ll begin the year learning “All I Really Need” from Raffi’s album “Songs of the World.” We’re also going to learn “Love Grows One by One” from Stuart Stott’s album “Celebrate.” It’s been fun listening to songs I learned as a child and to new ones I’ve never heard.

I would encourage everyone to search “Shenandoah” in iTunes. There were so many beautiful renditions. I bought 4 of them! I’m sure all the kids will enjoy listening to folk music and have fun learning some new songs.

http://www.songsforteaching.com/lb/literacymusic.htm

http://www.menc.org/resources/view/why-music-education-2007

http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/spring2004/literacyroacks.html

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:7neeZvEVw7sJ:rememberit.org/Documents/music as literacy.doc+music+an+avenue+for+cultural+literacy&cd=22&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

Musikgarten Comes to Little Pandas Playschool!

The girls and I have spent our vacation week in Seattle where Amber has been attending a Musikgarten conference.When she is finished tomorrow she will become a certified Musikgarten instructor. She’s very excited about all the new information she has learned and is ready to share the music and movement activities with the children.

She completed Musikgarten’s Family Music for Babies and Toddlers as well as the Cycle of Seasons for preschoolers classes.Amber will teach music in both homes and intends to begin a Musikgarten program outside of the daycare.She will also teach Little Mozarts keyboard classes for older children.