Since my 1st graders are super busy with the music for their Winter Program, this year my Kinders (yes, Kinders - they are doing so well) are working with Thanksgiving Rhythms (you can find this activity and other lessons and printables in this download from my TPT store): First, we discuss each food you see below: Then, we sit in a circle and chant (while keeping the steady beat): We will eat your dinner, Whatever you might pick, But we won't eat those monkey brains 'Cause that will make us sick! We pass around a little stuffed turkey while we chant this. Whatever child the turkey lands on chooses a food, and then we figure out the rhythm that goes with the food. (The kiddos are pretty solid on "ta" and "titi", so now we're working on combining them into two or four beat phrases) So: Quarter Note: corn, bread Eighth Note Pair: gravy, turkey Eighth Note Pair and Quarter Note: casserole, pumpkin pie Once we know what the rhythm of the food is, we turn it over and it is "eaten". The kiddos enjoy it and the whole activity doesn't take too long to complete. With my 1st graders, we usually complete this worksheet: I don't know about you, but cutting and pasting with kinders is just not something I want to do. To practice the rhythms this year, we're using Amy Abbott's wonderful set of "Thanksgiving Dinner Rhythms". The kinders are only using "corn" and "turkey" but they're having fun creating the rhythms. Then, we move them to high and low pitch levels (prepping for so and mi) and use our singing voice. Lots of fun!
