Submitted by Elizabeth Tore, Toledo, Ohio
Idea posted August 4, 2003
I use it for rhythm and movement with all grades. The little kids love to watch and imitate what they see, and it is a great springboard for discussions about instrument families, as well as what qualifies as music. I love to use it to discuss how music and rhythm is all around us, whether made in a formal or informal fashion. As a follow-up to this for grades 1 through 3, I introduced clapping/rhythm games like Miss Mary Mack, Double Double, and Concentration.
Last year, the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades not only watched Stomp Out Loud, but worked in small groups to create their own rhythmic performances. This included Special Ed classes with SBH and DD students. The SBH class was particularly successful in creating a cohesive performance with all six students working together and supporting each other. That in itself was an amazing accomplishment!
For my first experiment with this project, students used only their bodies, basketballs, and hockey sticks to create sounds. I found that limiting the items was necessary as, initially, the desire to use the props was interfering with creating the rhythms. Next time, students will notate the rhythms first, then add props and modify as necessary.
Both the boys and girls loved this assignment. It was hands-on percussion that they could do anywhere, using whatever items they had around. Special equipment was not needed, and my students are always tapping out rhythms with pens and pencils (driving all the teachers crazy). This allowed them to make those rhythms big, real, and terrific.
Our Phys Ed teacher and I cooperated on the project. She worked with the students primarily on choreography and movement, while I focused on rhythm patterns, meter, etc. Our collaboration worked well, and the students benefited from having two of us involved.
In the end, groups had to turn in written notation of their music (the number of required measures was determined by grade level) and perform the piece on stage. The entire school (K-6) was invited to the performances. It was awesome. My older students gained confidence; my younger students were inspired by the show and can't wait for their turn.
I should add that my school is 70% poverty level. If I do activities they think are "lame" or unimportant to them, they let me know it. This was a winner.