Lesson Plan for Bilingual K-2nd Music Class (English / Spanish)
I love having the opportunity to work with bilingual students. The lesson plan below
contains activities and songs that are ideal for a bilingual group of young musicians.
K-2nd Grade Bilingual Music Lesson Plan - 45-60 minutes
Materials:
Optional (ukulele or other instrument to accompany songs)
If no projector: lyrics poster of "Al tambor" and "De colores."
Set up:
Students should sit at their desks or on the floor in a semi circle
Class Greeting
A class greeting with an instrument helps establish music time. Sing "Time for music" with a doorbell "ding-dong" melody.
Quick song(s)
they probably know: if you are able to find out a song from their
regular repertoire that you can lead, great! My favorite“If You’re
Happy and You Know It" but beginning with a question in Spanish. Announce that you are going to ask a question en español and go through the sentence asking the students to translate it for you: "Buenos días, amiguites cómo están?" If they are feeling good, they can answer "Muy bien" which means what? Yes, "very good"!
Drum Dream Girl: Share the book Drum Dream Girlwith the class and try to use big motions and add "sound effects" as you read to keep students' attention.
"Al tambor": Using a djembe or similar drum, announce that we'll now be singing a song about a happy drum.
"Can you say tambor? I'm going to say
Al tambor,
Al tambor,
Al tambor de-la-legría
Which means the happy drum en Español."
Start
by playing a steady beat on the drum, then singing the chorus of the
song. After singing it a couple of times, go up to each student and
have them tap the drum while you sing the verse of the song contatining
their name (Maya, o, Maya, Maya amiga mía).Here is the recording I learned it from by José Luis Orozco:
Once everyone has had a turn, encourage the students to give themselves an applause.
Transition: distribute one colorful scarf per student.
Then do a "roll call" with the names of the colors in English and Spanish
(this will depend on what color scarves you have).
Movement with Scarves: Depending on the time of year you can use different music selections, but this is my go-to song for moving with scarves:
Folding the scarves: This song is encourages slower legato (connected) movement and instructs students to fold the scarf before putting it back.
Sing along song: "De colores" is a great choice after the students see the rainbow in the "Al tambor" video and play with colors using their scarves.
Another quick song
they probably know: "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" in English and Spanish!
La arana pequeñita subió, subió, subió.
Cayó la lluvia y se la llevó.
Salió el sol y todo lo secó.
Y la araña pequeñita subió, subió, subió.
Goodbye Song: You can sing "Music Time is Over" in the same ding-dong (sol mi) melody you used at the beginning of class or the song of your choice. Here is an example:
During
the goodbye song, you can distribute hand sanitizer to students and
other teachers present. Finally, encourage the class to give themselves
an applause for doing so well in Music Class.
Elementary Music Lesson - Nonverbal Special Education
Special Education students who are nonverbal or have limited speech abilities can learn, participate, enjoy, and reap the many benefits of elementary music class. Even when students don't sing along or repeat the poems you teach out loud, they are still learning them and enjoying the experience of making music as a class. Adding movements and sign language to the songs you want to teach is a great way for students to participate and enjoy various selections. The lesson plan below
contains activities my students have not only participated in and
enjoyed, but that do not require a musical background to lead.
Special Education Music Lesson Plan - 30 minutes
Materials:
Instrument (such as a tambourine or glockenspiel)
Bluetooth speaker
One beanbag per student
One tambourine (or other shaky instrument) per student
Hand sanitizer
Set up:
Students should sit in chairs in a semi circle
Block easy access to your instruments (i.e. with a desk)
Class Greeting
A class greeting with an instrument helps establish music time. Sing "Time for music" with a doorbell "ding-dong" melody.
Hello Song: Have
students play along with an instrument such as a drum or tambourine
while you sing/lead all the singers in the room in a "Hello" song using their name. Hello song suggestion: "We've Been
Waiting for You" which can be sung a capella (with no background music)
and include everyone's name.
"Hey There, Friend"
Announce that we are going to play a fun game called "Hey There Friend." You will be reciting the poem and teaching the movements.
First we say "Hey there, friend!" and wave.
"What do you say?" with question mark arms
"It's gonna be a marvelous day" clapping your hands (in, out, in, out, in, out, in out)
"Shake my hand and boogie on down"
"Jump jump jump and turn around!"
Practice the full poem a couple of times, then begin calling volunteers to be your partner in front of the class. Not all students will want to come up, but they will enjoy watching their peers participate.
"Seven Jumps" with Bean Bags: Model
the movements before distributing one bean bag to each student. Give them a
choice of two colors.
Humpty Dumpty: Students
love this activity that challenges them to keep the bean bag on their
head until we recite the word "fall!" and they lean their head forward
to catch it. Below is a wonderful example using egg shakers (this is more challenging and I would recommend it for a longer class).
Transition: collect bean bags and distribute a shaky instrument.
Shake and stop + Freeze dance: This song is fun and challenges students to freeze / follow
along, and can also be played as a freeze dance game with or without
the recording.
"Carnavlito": This recording has two sections that are easy to follow with a tambourine. Encourage students to tap the rhythm in the first section, then "party" (shake) during the B section.
Goodbye Song: You can sing "Music Time is Over" in the same ding-dong (sol mi) melody you used at the beginning of class or the song of your choice. Here is an example:
During
the goodbye song, you can distribute hand sanitizer to students and
other teachers present. Finally, encourage the class to give themselves
an applause for doing so well in Music Class.
There is a dire need for culturally responsive materials for elementary music education. Ms. Cosquilla is an award-winning songwriter who has a Certificate of Achievement in music with Mariachi Specialization from Southwestern College, a BA in Latin American Studies from Harvard University, is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Music - Music Education, and 19 years experience in music education that includes curriculum writing and arts integration with a focus on Social Emotional Learning. She currently teaches general music in Los Angeles and works closely with Chicx Rockerxs South East Los Angeles and the Mariachi Women’s Foundation.
