Week of February 7

Keep those Arts in Action volunteer ideas coming!  They are very much appreciated.

If you anticipate looking for something to do the weekend of March 5-6, anyone is welcome to attend a concert I participate in each year at Stevenson High School.  I sing with the BG Singers in Buffalo Grove, and we perform a large concert each March.  This year's show is called "That's Love!" and features all styles of music, including pop, jazz, Broadway, and many more.  There are songs for people of all ages.  Feel free to take a look at the flyer for information on how to get tickets:  BG Singers Concert

This week Kindergarteners in the afternoon class sang a song in call and response form called "Lemonade."  This song focused on having them sing alone and in small groups.  They also discovered that they can play rhythm sticks to sound like the rain when they begin soft and gradually get louder.  Students in the morning class did a dance with partners while singing a Valentine's Day song.

First graders finished watching "Peter and the Wolf” this week.  They really enjoyed figuring out which instrument played each character's musical theme.  Students completed an instrument family worksheet and learned about the conductor's role in the orchestra.

Second graders sight-sang "Daisy Chain" and played a singing game with this song.  Each student was recorded singing "Mouse, Mousie."  Students began listening to their recordings and assessing themselves, then having short conferences with me to compare our assessments of the recordings.  This will be an ongoing activity at the beginning of class until all students have assessed their own recordings.

Third and Fourth graders learned movement for their first Spring Sing song.  They seem to really enjoy this song; I've noticed several groups of students singing and dancing to this song during indoor recess!  Students also began working on their second song, which is about cars that run on biodiesel fuel.  We talked lots about biodiesel and other alternative fuel sources.

Fifth graders finished their recorder unit this week.  There were 25 fifth grade students who worked all the way up to the level of earning their black belts.  This is quite an accomplishment for them.  Congratulations!  Many others worked very hard and ended up on their red or brown belts.  Excellent job, fifth graders!