During the Twelve Days of Orff, I shared a little about this great story by Robert Munsch.

I am using this story with all my grades – K to 3, and they are loving it. I thought I would share my process and you can try it out for yourself.

• Read the story inserting the melody.

Robert Munsch’s use of patterns in his writing makes it perfect for the music classroom. I wrote this little melody for Jasmine’s song in the story. The lyrics are repetitive and really easy for the students to learn.

• Using the first set of lyrics, echo the melody.

When I am teaching a melody by rote, I use a cone puppet, When the puppet is inside the cone, they listen. When the puppet is out, they echo. Here is my little “Westy”.

• Intro the instrument parts using Body Percussion.
• Transfer Body Percussion to instruments.

My Orffestration changes for each grade level so it is developmentally appropriate.

For my K’s,  my focus is on playing a glissando going up after “Winter time is Fun”. My students face me and they mirror my movement moving from right to left across the front of my body. Of course, this is BACKWARDS for the teacher.

Grade 1’s add the rhythm “Winter time is fun” on the drum. (or the rhythm sticks, tambourine,maracas… whatever you have.) We clap the rhythm and use the body percussion above for the glissando. Transfer to the instruments is easy peasy.

Grade 2’s are more than ready for a broken bordun. Facing the students, alternate pats starting with your right hand first. We sing “D A D A” as we pat and then add the song. Transfer to the Bass Xylophone.  Add the drum and glissando.

Grade 3’s move the glockenspiel glissando to the word “beat” to add some colour to the Orffestration. A Vibraslap at the very end adds a bit of fun as well.

 

I don’t use rhythmic cards to teach the Orffestration but here are some flashcards in case you want them to meet your goals.

• Use the Orffestration with each set of lyrics. Insert into the story.
• Introduce Jasmine’s Dance.

I teach my kiddos a little “Jasmine Dance.” They perform it with the song

March 4 beats (Neat Neat Snowy Feet)

Tilt head back and forth 4 beats with their hands on their cheeks (Snowy Feet, Can’t be Beat)

March 4 beats (Neat Neat Snowy Feet)

Tilt head 4 beats (Snowy Feet Can’t be Beat)

Circle on the spot 4 beats (Wintertime is Fun)

Arms up and pose. 

• Assign Roles

Time to put it altogether. Here are the final roles to play and act it out. Jasmine, Mom, Caretaker, Dog, Nurse, Secretary, and the Principal. You can narrate the story and they act it out or they can improvise dialogue. Have students play the instrument parts and you have a little show. One more thing…

• Add Snowflake Music.

I like to add some glockenspiel improvisation and scarf movement to simulate the rising snow. The scarf dancers swirl around Jasmine and then pause at the depth of the snow. (Her feet, knees, bum, eyes, and head) The scarves just hang and give the illusion she is being covered. I have the glockenspiels set up in D pentatonic and they improvise while the dancers are swirling.

I hope this gives you some fun over the next couple of weeks. All the visuals are on the PDF page. Please, check it out.

Take care,

Syndi