Ready for another game, and, it is now
time to introduce how the beats, representing time, become pitches.
To do this we MUST introduce the "staff."
As the student reads with
the class, or, participates in a center activity, the symbols
introduced or reinforced through relay races, will become associated
with the concept or meaning. Relay races work so well because
each student is actively engaged in the game, views examples
of the symbol, draws the symbols, hears the symbols name repeated
by each member, and, evaluates the symbols for scoring the game;
repetition is the name of the game!
We will come back to Relay
Races as we introduce notes and their values. Our next game
will be Tic-Tac-Toe. As preparation for this game, we will learn
NINE SYMBOLS, using Relay Races.
You are now
going to come to the board and draw a staff from the bottom
up, counting each line. We will do this playing a relay race.
This half of the room will play this half.* You will race
to the board, draw your staff from the bottom up, counting
1,2,3,4,5 then run back and tag the next person saying
"STAFF". The team that finishes first wins a point.
Then we are going to check and see which side has the best
examples and that team will get a point. Hold out your hand...tag
yourself and say STAFF. (play game)
* When naming the teams;
"this 1/2" and "this 1/2" - ask what is
another way to read the fraction 1 over 2? (1 over 2 can also
be read as one OF THE two. This can be demonstrated with the
team divisions, indicating that this 1/2 is one of the two
halves, or one of the two. Thus another way to read the division
line in English would be - "of the." 3/4 = three
of the four, 6/8 = six of the eight.)
RULES FOR
RACE:
ASK CLASS
THESE QUESTIONS-
Do we correct
mistakes? NO.
Do we shout? NO.
Do we quietly encourage our teammates? YES.
At the end of
the race:
1) Give a point to the winning team, or award each team a point
in a tie.
2) Check each staff for quality; even lines, even spaces.
3) Count number correct for each team and award a point for
the team with
the most correct.
(Remember to mark incorrect any staff that was drawn from the
top down.) For
added reinforcement - We have already introduced the rest and the beat,
now would be a good time to play Relay Races using these symbols,
as a reward for singing their first PITCH WARMUP!
