In the primary grades, we begin the year with focus on singing with our head voice using Pitch Exploration (a vocal warmup activity), Song Fragments (singing echo songs and call/response songs), and singing Simple Songs. We also use a variety of songs and games for movement and beat. Here are some songs we have learned:

• Kindergarten: No More Pie, Wise Old Owl, I Met a Bear, Frog in the Meadow, Pitter Patter

• First Grade: In the Woods, Hang About, Peep Squirrel, Au Clair De La Lune

• Second Grade: Miss Mary Mack, There Was an Old Woman, Did You Feed My Cow, Go Round the Mountain, Ridin’ in a Buggy

In grades 3-5, we further develop pitch through music literacy in addition to our singing. The focus of our music literacy in pitch begins with Do, Re, Mi patterns and songs. Here are songs we have used and will begin to use:

• Grade 3: Closet Key, Let Us Chase the Squirrel, Down Came the Leaves, Sailor Sailor, Snail Snail

• Grade 4: Closet Key, Let Us Chase the Squirrel, Fall is Here, Sailor Sailor, Snail Snail

• Grade 5: Closet Key, Let Us Chase the Squirrel, We Are Back, Sailor Sailor, Fais Do Do

4TH AND 5TH GRADE CHORUS

Our chorus continues rehearsing on Day 2 (grade 4) and Day 3 (grade 5) to prepare for our first performance at the school’s sing along in December. Chorus members check our Seesaw class for a schedule and lyrics to our songs.

Finger and Hand Strength

Fine motor skills involve the use of the fingers, hands, and arms for reaching, grasping, and manipulating objects. Fine motor skills are used when a child plays, engages in many leisure activities, performs daily self-help tasks, writes, or participates at school as a student.

Try some of these activities to build finger and hand strength at home:

*Play dough & Clay – mold, squeeze, roll, tear, and pinch

*Resistive tools – given help as needed, art projects using a hole punch, basting tool, eye droppers

*Fine motor flicking games – use index finger to flick a marble cottons, small pom poms, coins, or balls of paper at a target. Use your imagination!

*Use Legos, Duplo, K’Nex, Tinker toys, or similar building blocks

*Clothespins – squeeze onto the edge of a can or clothesline