Music and Play: Snow and Valentines

Last Friday I brought songs, a poem and games from Kodaly in Kindergarten, and celebrated the tiny bit of snow that had fallen that morning by singing about snowflakes and mittens.

I also introduced Kodaly hand signs from Do to Sol.  We started with our pitch warm-up, which is matching pitches, rising and crouching depending on how high or low the note is.  Then I had everyone sit and watch me sing the scale Do- Re- Mi- Fa- Sol, showing the hand shapes and encouraging them to copy and sing along.  I was amazed at their unison singing!  All the classes did wonderfully and I am sure we will continue with hand signs.

Mitten
Thumbs in the thumb place,
Fingers all together.
This is the song we
Sing in mitten weather.

When it is cold it
Doesn't matter whether
Mittens are wool or
Made of finest leather.

This is the song we
Sing in mitten weather,
Thumbs in the thumb place,
Fingers all together.

See the Pretty Snow Flakes
See the pretty snowflakes
Falling from the sky,
On the walls and house-tops
Soft and thick they lie.


We talked about the Groundhog's prediction and I read this poem:

A Good Day for Groundhogs
by Ivy Eastwick

The funny little groundhog
left his funny little hole
Without a word to Porcupine
To Weasel or to Mole.

He sniffed at the air which
was very cold and chill.
He stared at the sky which
was wild above the hill.

He kicked up his hind legs,
made a happy little sound,
And danced a merry jig upon
the icy winter ground.

Then he called to his family
"The Winter's almost done!
Spring is round the corner,
Let's have fun!"

Then, of course, we sang a groundhog song!

Ground Hog Song
Winter goodbye, Blue is the sky.
You can't stay round this place,
Groundhog has shown his face,
Winter goodbye, Blue is the sky.

We talked about Valentine's Day, which is coming up, and sang a Valentine's song, learning about rests and walking in time to the beat.

Valentine
Valentine, Valentine, red and blue,
Valentine, Valentine, I love you.