Performing
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Reading and Writing
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The younger kids do a lot of singing and vocalizing to find their singing voices.
By the 2nd grade, they are ready to sing fun songs and explore their voices further. Some are sure of their singing voices and are eager to show them off with a solo.
Second grade students also get a music book. While they are singing, they are not only practicing their musical voices, they are also practicing language arts. Singing gives rhythm to the voice, which helps students read fluently and with expression.
Using question and answer songs, also called Call and Response, students can divide into smaller groups, which lets them practice independent singing. Also, having a puppet to help you sing can give you courage to sing a solo.
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Second grade students continue to learn the names of lines and spaces, practicing them by playing xylophones and Boomwhackers. After learning a new song, students add instruments to accompany the song. They are excited when they hear the finished product.
In the 2nd grade, students also practice reading rhythms from the board and in songs. They create rhythms and write them on the floor using straws or coffee stirrers. A fun game to play with straws is a relay in which the students must write the rhythm that the teacher says. Like spelling, the notes must be right and in the right order, or the team doesn't get a point.
By the end of the year, 2nd graders have written a short song, using rhythms they created and notes of their own choosing. |
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| Partnering with a Puppet |
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| Making Rhythm with Straws |
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