Submitted by Briana Gresko, Arnold, Maryland

Idea posted January 26, 2010

Inspired by the great minds of the Music K-8 Mailing List, I borrowed the concept of the Click, Clack, Moo lesson using classroom instruments and adapted it for the book Froggy Plays in the Band. The kindergarteners that I worked with last week loved both the book and the opportunity to play with the instruments!

Goals:

  • Students play simple classroom instruments.
  • Students will accompany the reading of a story with music.

Materials:

  • Book - Froggy Plays in the Band
  • Classroom instruments (preset in a circle, or handed out in class; suggested instruments: claves/maracas, hand drums, jingle bells, slide whistle, finger cymbals, triangle, cowbell, etc.)

Procedure:

1) Assign instruments (whatever you have) to each character's noises:

Froggy's saxophone/horn [Honk! Bleep! Screeeech!]:

Max's Drums [Ka-BOOM!]:

Leah's Triangle [Ting-a-ling!]:

Emma's Recorder [Tweedle-dee!]:

Hannah's Cymbals [CLASH!]:

The Parade Mishap [Oof! Clang! Crash!]: (everyone!)

2) After the opening class activity (e.g., movement, singing, etc.), the teacher and the kindergarteners sit in a circle on the floor. Hand out the instruments, explaining how to respect and properly play each instrument. Explain that improper treatment of an instrument will result in the loss of the instrument for the class time. (What worked best for me was placing the instruments in front of them while reminding the Ks to keep their hands in their lap until they were given permission to play!)

3) Depending on class size, students may have to share an instrument (in small groups) which they pass off after they have a turn to use it, or students may each have their own. Students should be instructed not to play until permission is given. (When explaining proper playing, demonstrate and let the students play, too - on an individual basis.)

4) Explain that we are going to read a story and each of them has a special part! Then, by groups of instruments, assign them the phrase at which they are to play. Do a practice round. Explain that you will also look/point to them when it is their turn. (Changing the names of the instrument in the story may be helpful for the children to remember when they play, i.e. Froggy's saxophone becomes Froggy's cowbell.)

5) Read the story with expression and vitality, pausing at each special phrase to indicate to the students when it is their turn. Show the pictures! Monitor the playing of the instruments (a gentle but firm reminder may be necessary ;-) ).