This week, among many other things, we continued to work on developing an understanding of repeating pattern. We have practiced pattern making in many ways, including using objects such as counters, stamps and stickers, and have also used 'body percussion' to create patterns such as 'clap, stamp, clap, stamp'. This time we decided to take advantage of our inquiry's connection with music, and invite the children to create patterns using instruments. First we reminded ourselves what a pattern is; i.e. that it repeats. The children were asked to join in with body-percussion patterns and following this, to see if they could name and continue patterns made from colourful counters (e.g. red, blue, red, blue and so on). We then presented the children with a selection of simple instruments including rhythm sticks, an egg-maraca and a tambourine. I first demonstrated how it was possible to create a simple a,b pattern using two instruments before asking the children to have a go for themselves. This activity proved popular and was an interesting one to observe, because it required not only an understanding of pattern, but also the motor skills and organisational skills necessary to operate first one, then another instrument, which meant sometimes having to pick one up, play it, then put it down and pick up another and play it before repeating again with the first. I was impressed with how the children focused on this challenge, and were determined to master it.
Cookie Swap Thank you to all of you for sending in cookies for the cookie swap today. The children were so excited to be wearing pyjamas, and then to have the opportunity to choose lots of different cookies to take home to share with families. It was such a busy and exciting time that I'm afraid we were unable to take photographs but you will, at least, be able to sample the cookies! I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you very much to you all for your support so far this school year, and to wish you a wonderful holiday together with family and friends. For those celebrating, a very Happy Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you all. See you in 2020!
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Today we listened to The Marriage of Figaro, by composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The children quickly identified it as happy-sounding music. When we got up to move to the music, there were smiles all around, and the dancing was upbeat and faster than when we had responded to 'scary' music such as Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky, or 'sad' music such Borodin's Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major. which accompanies this version of the story of The Little Match Girl The children talked about what the music made them think about and while listening together, they used whiteboards and pens to respond with mark-making. During smaller group sessions the children once again listened to the music, and chose a colour that they felt best represented the music; something that represented 'happy' to them. Finally, they again shared what the music made them think about and feel, and then drew while listening. The responses tended to be party-related, to match the lively and happy-sounding music. |
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