games that teach korcos 2011 elizabeth caldwell (seoul foreign school)

GAMES THAT TEACH

KORCOS 2011

Elizabeth Caldwell (Seoul Foreign School)

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A LOT

Anything can become a “game” if you present it that

way- for children, a game tends to be active, it has rules,

and people are “out” or penalized for not doing well.

For older students, a “game” is much more attractive

than a “dance”. For younger students, a “game” is much

more attractive than an “assessment”.

RHYTHMIC NOTATION

Spell The Word : show a set of rhythms on the board, each

measure labeled with a letter, spell words by clapping rhythms

in different orders without pause.

Rhythm Battle : show class one measure at a time (flashcards

or SmartBoard), clap rhythms successively with the beat of the

music.

Forbidden Rhythm : show/teach one rhythm pattern, students

echo rhythmic patterns unless it is the “forbidden” one.

Who Has…? : each student gets a card with 2

rhythms- one “theirs” and one “question”, say “I

have a _____, who has a _____?”

Pizza Rhythms : choose toppings, size, crust names

and perform those rhythms (variation- ice cream

sundaes)

SOLFEGE

Salami Game : students echo 3-note patterns

unless it is sol-la-mi (extensions- with hand signs, no

syllable; no hands, no syllable; other patterns; longer

patterns containing sol-la-mi)

Mystery Tune : students identify the notes on the

board, solfege names on the board, pattern shown by

teacher’s hand signs

INSTRUMENTS

Recorder Fingerings : students race to place tokens on drawing

of recorder for covered holes of note name that is called

Mallet Baseball : “batter” faces away from “pitcher”, who plays

C and then another note, “batter” gets bases according to how

many tries it takes to match

Ring Around Percussion : students sit in circle, each with

different percussion instrument in front of them, play for 10

seconds, then stand up and move to next instrument (out if play

incorrectly)

MOVEMENT

That’s The Beat : follow teacher’s movements to keep the

steady beat with music (extension: students take turns leading)

Disco Duel : students follow cards on board to move with the

beat, counting 8 for each motion, in canon with other teams

Every Bunny Rabbit : one student moves one body part with

beat while others copy and sing “Every Bunny Rabbit” song

and fill in last word with body part that is moved

4-Square : 4 students stand in diamond shape facing same

direction, person at front leads dance moves, turns to left when

ready to switch, keep rotating until song is over

Going Downtown : students stand in 2 rows, one from each row

goes down between rows while one copies the other’s movement

Show Me : students close eyes and “show the music” with their

bodies- high vs. low, loud vs. soft, tone colors, mood, fast vs. slow

etc.

TRIVIA

Bingo : each square contains picture of instrument,

rhythmic notation, solfege pattern, composer picture,

country map etc.

Jeopardy : teams answer questions to earn points

Race : one student from each team goes to board, race to

write correct answer

Baseball : correct answer gets base hit, extension

questions get additional bases

MISCELLANEOUS

John The Rabbit : students sing “oh yes” after each line

(extensions: students sing into “microphone”, only sing with

“mic”)

Apple Tree : students sing “Apple Tree”, fall asleep, wake up

when hear singing voice (extension: student does voices)

Clef Stories : write stories with some words spelled in note letter

names (extension: audience tries to guess words by listening)

Ms. Julie Ann Johnson : make story to sing with class

STAY IN TOUCH!

ecaldwell@seoulforeign.org

If you’re interested in being a part of a

music educator’s association, please

sign the interest survey!!