Fourth Grade Specialist Update
Claxton Elementary
Art Update- Mr. Cassara
- Multiple Intelligences posters; “How I Am Smart”.
- Clay leaf bowls, and perspective drawing: The Biltmore Estate at Christmas
Drama Update- Mrs. Rigsby
Health & PE Update- Coach Swain
Music Update - Mr. Butler
Spanish Integration in Music Lessons
As part of the ongoing efforts to keep Spanish learning alive at Claxton, your child will be learning some Spanish songs this school year in music lessons that integrate language learning and music learning goals. Our 3rd and 4th grades have been learning El Grillo (The Cricket) and Buquecito de Papel (Little Paper Boat). You may enjoy asking your 3rd or 4th grader about the lyrics below. Other grades will enjoy Spanish language songs as the year continues!
El Grillo
Cuando más solo me siento
En la calma nocturnal
Una música trae el viento
Fina, fina – siempre iguál
Es el violin del grillito
Que vibrando siempre está
Le da voz al infinito
Y al silencio voz le da
Buquecito de Papel
Con la mitad de un periódico hice un buque de papel.
Y en la fuente de mi casa va navegando muy bién.
Mi hermana con su abanico sopla que sopla sobre él.
¡Muy buen viaje! ¡Muy buen viaje!
Buquecito de papel.
Playing the "Jumping Flea"
4th and 5th grades are heading into a unit of study with ukuleles. Did you know that the word ukulele is from the Hawaiian language and literally means "jumping flea?" We think the name references the life of the sailor musicians who needed a small instrument to take aboard their ships in the mid to late 1800's. The ukulele has had a recent revival, thanks in-part to Train's 2009 hit song "Hey, Soul Sister," and many Claxton students have ukuleles at home, which they are welcome to bring to music lessons. Thanks in part to grants from our Claxton PTO and the Asheville City Schools Foundation, our music program has a set of 17 ukuleles. We have to share them as partners in our classes, the largest of which are now 27 students, so having an extra one or two from home helps students get more hands-on practice during music lessons. These instruments help us learn basic skills and vocabulary which can apply to other stringed instruments, like guitars, violins, etc.