Lincoln Elementary with Kimberly Graff

Today I stopped by  Lincoln Elementary for an 'end of the year visit' with Kimberly Graff.  Lincoln Elementary is lucky to have Kimberly as a music teacher.  Today I saw her review a previously learned song with the kids (Don Gato) and then introduce a new song to them.  Through this new song she wanted to teach or reinforce the concept of dynamics and moving from soft to slow.  This is a lesson she found in the 3rd Grade Making Music Book (page 7, CD 1 track 3) and one that I have seen a few others of you use as well.  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Kimberly began by having the kids identify the dynamic markings found in the chorus of this familiar song  (p, mp, mf, and f).  The outline for this lesson suggests that the students identify the different levels of dynamics by using their body.


 Sitting = piano
squatting = mezzo piano
standing = mezzo forte
standing with hands over head = forte. 


The students sang through this song a few times practicing the different levels of dynamics with their voices and their bodies.  It was fantastic!


Kimberly moved on to the next activity which was a partner clapping game.  The rhyme goes like this..

Double, double this this

double, double that that

double this double that

double, double this that.

Mrs. Graff had the students partner up and practice this game which they had previously learned.  She walked around the classroom checking in with the student pairs to see if they were proficient.  Here's what I loved best!  When she wanted their attention she played a rhythm on her hand drum and the kids echoed it back....and then it was silent!  Obviously a management tool she has used many times and practiced with them over and over so they know what she expects.  Next, she asked for volunteers to show the class how good they were at this new game.  She set a limit (3 partners) and each partnership performed independently.   After the 3 partnerships were finished, Kimberly tapped a few students on the head and told them they had 10 seconds to find a new partner.  I really liked how she handled this.  It wasn't the whole class scrambling, just a select few (or 10).  It took less time and was less confusing for the students when everyone didn't have to move around.  The students practiced again and a few more partnerships performed.  The kids loved it! 

With just a few minutes left in class Kimberly introduced a new clapping game, Peter Pan is the Man.  She had the kids stand in two long rows facing their partners and then modeled the game for them.  They caught on so quickly and when the bell rang they were excited to hear that next week they will start with that game. 

Clapping games are a great way to reinforce rhythmic practice and performance.  Great job Mrs. Graff!  The kids at Lincoln are learning so much in music and enjoying every minute of it!