Language Arts K-2

Rhyming words: As students listen to the CD, ask them to pick out the rhyming words. For K and 1st grades, do the activity as a whole group lesson, writing the words on the board.

Discuss how some rhyming words are spelled differently, and how some have the same spelling, but different beginning consonants.

Pick out two rhyming words that have the same endings. Show how these are word chunks or word families. Ex: fame-aim

Brainstorm with the students for other words that end with –ame: came, game, name, same, etc.

Create a word family guide on chart paper. Invite the students to practice reading this list, reinforcing beginning letter sounds, and word chunk phonemic awareness.

Vocabulary: Discuss the definitions of words: weathered, kaput, quartet, felines, choir, duet, elation, harmony, harmonic, symphony.

Language Arts 3-5

Rhyming words: As students listen to the CD, ask them to pick out the rhyming words. Discuss the rhyming words that have different spellings. Ex: choir, hire

Discuss how different spellings are based upon different word origins, as English is a combination of Germanic, Old English, Greek, and Latin languages.

Meter: Discuss how some phrases have similar syllabic meter, allowing for the phrasing of rhyme. Discuss different kinds of meter: iambic pentameter, showing how rhyme and rhythm are connected.

Invite the students to create their own rhymes about favorite things. Students can illustrate their rhymes and a class book can be created.

Vocabulary: Have the students look up the definitions of words: weathered, kaput, quartet, felines, choir, duet, elation, harmony, harmonic, symphony.

Math K-5th

When creating the props, such as, the tambourines and maracas, have the students design AB, ABB, AAB patterns. For upper grades, have students design ABBC, AABC, and more intricate patterns. As children create their designs, make them use rulers to know how to space the patterns out precisely.

Rhythm: Explain how rhythm is a mathematical concept. Practice clapping to the beat of each song. Explain that rhythm is just like fractions: some beats are longer, some beats are shorter, but they are all fractions (parts) of one musical phrase.

 
Science

Give students a mini lesson on sound, explaining how the maracas and tambourine are percussion instruments. Discuss sound waves and vibration. Discuss acoustics (how the paper plates are closer together creating a different wavelength than the paper cups).

Discuss wind instruments and stringed instruments.

Music Theory

Explain how the scale and music tones originated in Italy. The origin of the word duet, comes from due (pronounced doo-ay) meaning "two" in Italian. Explain how the Italian language derives from Latin, as do Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The word, quartet, originates from the word, quattro, meaning four, in Latin. Illustrate how the words, "quart" and "quarter" mean "four" or "one-fourth of".