MUSIC
The kindergartners have been very busy musicians! For the month of December, we had a blast learning the story of The Nutcracker, reading the book, and listening to the music that accompanies each of the varied dances. Students participated in some guided movement using scarves, ribbons and parachutes, reenacting each of the dances, such as The Russian Dance, The Chinese Acrobats, The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, The Arabian Dance, and Waltz of the Flowers, to name a few.
I told the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as well as the song with motions. They had a blast learning it! I especially love the story of Rudolph because it's a character I feel every student can relate to and some point in his or her life. We talked about name-calling, feeling left out, how to be inclusive of people/beings that may have something "different" about them and brainstormed ways in which we could help a friend who might have been left out by their peers. We also talked about how the one thing that may make a person or being stand out can end of being their greatest asset.
I love working with the concept of light and darkness during the months of December and January. The kids learned how to sing "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star" using American Sign Language. We also learned how to sing "This Little Light of Mine" and improvised various verses.
I love incorporating stories and books into our music lessons. I read to the children a wonderful fairytale called "The Elves and the Shoemaker" which is beautifully illustrated and retold by the local Santa Cruz author Jim LaMarche. We then learned the accompanying song and did an adorable folk dance in partners that helps to tell the story. The kids are becoming comfortable dancing together in pairs and seem to delight in it.
In honor of African-American history month, January and February will be spent exploring the rich array of musical material that has supported everything from the transport of slaves via the Underground Railroad, to the songs that inspired millions in the Civil Rights era. We will be learning singing games such as "Down in the Valley" and "Pour me a Bucket of Water" as well as hand jive games such as "Juba." As we learn songs and musical material, I enjoy reading books to the children that are pertinent to deepening their understanding of this important part of our American history. Some books we will be touching upon include, "This is the Dream" by Diane Shore and Jessica Alexander, "Rosa" by Nikki Giovanni, "Follow the Drinking Gourd" by Jeanette Winter and "Jazz on a Saturday Night" by Leo and Diane Dillion.