Blog Posts

Groundhog Day Composing Activity

Denise Gagne

I should have written this newsletter on Sunday, but inspiration hits when it hits, so I'm sending this out in hopes that it will be useful to some of you tomorrow!

Song #87 Groundhog in Musicplay for Kindergarten is an echo song about Groundhog Day. I wrote this as an echo song because Groundhog Day always sneaks up on me (like this year) and I want to recognize it, but won't build a performance around it. Echo songs are always easy to teach and help students develop their vocabulary and language skills without having to learn a lot of lyrics - they just have to remember one phrase. Echo songs also help students learn to match pitch. Here is verse one of the song. (verse two explains that on a sunny day groundhog sees his shadow and winter stays)

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In the composing activity, I've created two patterns.

Cloudy Day Patterns

Cloudy Day (ti-ti ta) spring is coming (ti-ti ti-ti)

AND

Sunny Day

Patterns Sunshine (ta ta) winter stays (ti-ti ta)

Students choose one set of patterns and write them in the boxes to create a word chain. For example: cloudy day cloudy day cloudy day spring is coming. Arrange the set any way you wish. Choose body percussion or non-pitched instruments and decide how to play your pattern.

If you would like to create a rondo use the first two phrases of this song as your theme and the student word chains as the variations. You can access the song at www.musicplayonline.com. It’s free to use!

Your theme would be: “Groundhog won’t you come outside? There’s no reason for you to hide!” The B C D sections would be the student word chains.

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If this doesn't print well for you, I've posted the PDF in the Musicplay Teacher's Group on Facebook.

Apologies for getting my inspiration for this lesson so late --- but hope it's one you can use! If you use it, send me videos of your student's creations!