Submitted by Debbie Reed, Salem, Ohio
Idea posted December 18, 2003
I love to use the song "Ring A Little Bell" with my second graders at Christmas. The first week, we have the words in front of us and just listen to the song. I show the class the instruments mentioned and how they are played. The next week, I give everyone a rhythm stick which "magically" turns into the different instruments (e.g. we hold it by the top and pretend it's a bell, we play a drum, bow a violin, etc.). For the line "Christmas is the time for making music," I show them how to conduct in two. For "let the band begin," we hold the stick as a drum major's baton and march a ta-ta-ti-ti-ta pattern. The kids really enjoy singing this song. It keeps their hands busy while teaching them a little bit of how instruments are played.