October music is nearing its end –next week look at November ideas!
There are so many wonderful Halloween songs to try … its a short season squeezed in between Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day, so don’t overlook the classics Five Little Pumpkins and Old Mrs. Witch . Two new songs on the site —There Was An Old Witch and Skin and Bones (? too scary for Grade 3 ?) Twinkle Bat explores variations on Twinkle Twinkle. Try these or use your own favourites –the most important thing in teaching a song is that your real enjoyment of the song will be contagious.
There are parts of Halloween that meld beautifully with music curriculum, without actually being Halloween! Dressing-up, let’s pretend fantasies, acting in theatre, miming to music, teaching minor keys, harvest foods (including turnips and pumpkins). I’m Gonna Be A … (2 versions of this, one for Halloween, one just for “let’s pretend” or “when I grow-up”) which can be paired with the Role Playing Music ; or try dancing to Fossils; or singing Humpkin Pumpkin; and Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. Satisfy those cravings for sweets by making a Making A Purple Stew or chanting I Never Saw A Purple Cow.
Next week: Remembrance Day and Songs about Peace Making