Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)

As we welcome spring, this lesson includes using children’s literature that is based on a popular folk song, “Inch by Inch.” The book selection also has the song and music, including guitar chords, available at the end of the story. Children enjoy singing along with this story, providing opportunities for attending behavior and word fluency.

Favorite spring themes for young children’s literature include the weather, planting and growing, and baby animals.  This spring we have highlighted specific Music in a Box  musical storytelling lesson plans that you can use during Library Story Times.  This week we will highlight the “baby animal” theme by going down to the farm.

Springtime is here, and much early childhood literature abounds with themes of planting, gardens, and flowers growing. You can supplement your favorite literature with this theme, as we share a “Music in a Box” idea for your Library Story Time. The format we use for “Music in a Box” will reflect a more inclusive approach for your Library Story Time.

In 2004, Minnesota musician Dennis Warner composed and performed his song, “Beads on One String” for a captivated audience. Impelled by his music and the message of “we’re more alike than we are different” this song became the springboard for a beautifully illustrated children’s book, Beads on One String. The book is so appealing to all viewers, as the music, repetition of the chorus, and colorful illustrations reinforce the great themes that “bead” the listening audience together. The message of the story teaches about diversity, disability, and provides opportunities for anti-bullying and character education that the youngest elementary student can appreciate.

Spring is here and what child is not fascinated by the sounds of nature? This blog post will highlight adding percussive sounds to your Library Story Time to implement the rhythms of a rainstorm and the glorious sights of a colorful rainbow at the end of the storm. Describing what happens during a rainstorm and utilizing socio-dramatic play to narrate the events of a rainstorm will also help children cope with weather changes and understand the sounds they are hearing around them, and increase their vocabulary.

Young children should be exposed to many different vocal qualities and music genres. Young children are not only developing their unique listening abilities, even prenatally, but also their listening preferences and “setting the stage” for future music development and literacy development. The ability for young children to recognize a favorite singer or a musical instrument from a listening selection demonstrates listening in other areas of literacy learning such as phonemic development.

The foundation for literacy begins with listening. Exactly what is listening, and how does it impact literacy? How does music impact listening abilities for young children?

Spring is finally on the horizon, and a great way to celebrate spring is through music. Spring is for baseball, kite flying, bicycle rides, baby animals, raindrops, rainbows, sunshine and planting. This blog with feature children’s folksongs sung throughout the world that entice us all to “feel good” about the sunshine!