Seventh and eighth graders split into different groups of singers, xylophone and glockenspiel players, and percussionists to practice the “Thanksgiving Song” for VIP day. They will continue to rehearse their newly created accompaniment this week to improve their skills.
This week, the 3rd and 4th graders will perform their mini choreographies for each other. 5th and 6th get ready to go to the Touhill to watch Pilobolus; we discuss concepts seen in modern dance, continuing to add to our discussion of percussive, swinging, sustained, and vibratory movement. 7th and 8th continue with dance concepts as well, along with theatre improv concepts. 1st and 2nd practice telling one word stories and take turns dancing solos–both improvised and mildly choreographed. JK and K dance to the opposite song, begin partner choreography through mirroring, and learn the Wobble. All grades will be introduced to West African dance as we get ready for the harvest!
As 3rd and 4th graders get ready to share with each other their dance creations using the concepts of swinging, sustained, vibratory and percussive movement, grades 5-8 explore these concepts and begin to apply them to other forms of dance. They are making some good connections! Here is a glimpse of them working on group choreography incorporating the four elements. 
As a dancer, as a student, as a person, it is important to reflect on how you are feeling, physically and mentally, before jumping into the next task. 7th graders reflected and wrote down their reflections on how their body and mind was feeling and why that might be the case. They shared with each other and then together we said, “I AM HERE!” Because no matter where you are, the best thing to be is present!
All classes grades 3 and higher have been practicing telling a one-word story. Everyone contributes one word that makes sense grammatically (though not necessarily logically!) in the context of the story. This way we practice thinking imaginatively and on our feet, and thinking as a group. It’s not easy! But we have come up with some fun, silly, and more or less cohesive stories 
Third and fourth graders worked in groups to create choreography using the following dance concepts: percussive, vibratory, sustained, and swinging. Then, they performed for the class their “rough drafts.” They will continue to refine and are working with me to create playlists for their choreography!
Fifth grade girls make a capoeira roda. The girls on the outside of the circle sing, clap, and play instruments to encourage the two girls playing capoeira in the middle. The girls are great at taking turns on the instruments.
First and second grade started learning a new song called “Peanut, Peanut Butter and Jelly”, and we talked about the different ways they used their voices in the song (piano, forte, speaking, whispering, singing). They then played two games, “Doggy, Doggy” and “Sally Go Round the Sun”. They are also sounding great on the Thanksgiving Song that they are starting to learn for VIP day!
Next week, first and second grade will continue learning the Thanksgiving Song. They will learn “I’ve Got a Loose Tooth” and try to find the quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes within the song. If time permits, they will play their new games again.
I wish I would have recorded this amazing class. The eighth graders created some amazing ostinatos through trial and error as an accompaniment with the Thanksgiving Song they’re learning for VIP day. They then played chords in class for the first time on the barred instruments that coincided with the pitches in the chorus section. I sang the last line of the song and asked them to find the pitches on their instruments and they did a great job finding the melody line. They put all of the sections together to create the first accompaniment to the Thanksgiving Song. Some of the classmates chose to sing verses by themselves while the rest of the class played.
Next week eighth grade will learn the rest of the Thanksgiving Song, and will continue to improve their accompaniment. They will put the final touches of their poster, and we will listen to music from that era of music.
Fifth graders found the C Major scale on their barred instruments and played the ascending scale while singing solfa syllables. They created their own composition using the C Major scale. They decided what notes to use and plotted the notes onto the staff. Then the class practiced their new composition by playing measure by measure until they grouped all the measures together to play the entire song. The composition in the picture was created in the 5th grade girls class.
Next week fifth graders will continue learning the Thanksgiving Song for VIP day. They will continue practicing on the barred instruments, and will put finishing touches to their posters.
