Teaching Notes, 20151028

The students are back, and it's also the class before Halloween - this of course meant that I was able to pull out my tried-and-tested Halloween lesson for kinders that I've used for a few years now.

1. Introduction: Fine Friends Are Here.  It's been three weeks since the previous class, so the students didn't all remember the hand signs, but I sang through this once through, reminded them about the hand signs, and had them sing one more time through.
2. Singing Costumes.  I asked the students what they were going to be for Halloween, and after the 3rd response, I then had the students sing their response in sol-mi; e.g. "I am _____".  Not all of the students sang loudly, but they mostly were able to respond in sol-mi.  This exercise can take a long time and so I did have to remind other students to remain quiet as their cohorts sang.
3. Halloween Surprise.  I asked the students what they would be seeing during Halloween, and it wasn't long before someone suggested pumpkins.  Following the lyrics of the song, I verbally walked the students through steps required to make a "pumpkin surprise" (aka a Jack-O-Lantern).  I reviewed this one time, and then I had the students echo me in song, while doing the hand motions.  After going through this one time, I taught the students the ASL sign for "surprise", and I had them shout "surprise" loudly as if one were, indeed, trying to surprise someone.  This is always a blast.
4. Bongo Joe.  I wanted to review at least one song that was only covered once before the break, and Bongo Joe was it.  I segued right into the song, having the students clap three times at the end of the each line.  Next, I had the students try to fill in the last word for each line, and just like past years, they got all but "grand".
5. 5 Little Pumpkins.  This is always a fun one, and before starting off, I reviewed 1 through 5 in ASL, emphasizing the sign for 3.  I then dropped the kids into the song.  A few students already knew the song, and so we did it one more time for additional fun.
6. It's A Very Good Day.  I had the students stand up, and then practice marching to the right.  The students had a little struggle trying to put it together (e.g. which way is "right"), but I found it simply easier to point each student (quickly) in the correct direction, and then have them take little steps.  I tried my best to get them stepping in a beat, and I then started to sing the song.  I stopped at "why" - and I got the students to use their arms and hands to ask "why?" - followed by the end of the song.  I noted that outside was wet a slightly rainy, so we sang about a rainy day - jumping instead of stepping as if we were jumping into puddles.  I then changed the song to "running through the wind", although instead of running I had the students take lots of tiny steps.
7. Leaves Are Red and Yellow.  With the students seated again, I then reviewed this song, with the second stanza where the air was crisp and colder.  It was now time to introduce "noisy crows" and the scarecrow that says "beware!"  I had the students practice their lowest, creepiest voice when saying "beware", and they seemed to enjoy it.
8. Victor Vito.  This wasn't really Halloween-related, but I had a few minutes left, and so I simply had the students clap at "rice" and "beans" while echoing the chorus.  To my mild surprise, no students knew this song, but no matter - we sang it anyway.
9. Exit: Goodbye My Friends Goodbye.  As I have been doing for the past few classes, I had the students walk back to their desks while singing this ending song.

There wasn't a big dance this time around, but I got to cover the usual holiday material, which the students always enjoy.  I might still review some of these even though next week is after Halloween.