Last week’s blog highlighted ideas that you could add into a “Music in a Box” lesson with literature based on a transportation theme. This week- a sample lesson is included.
Young children love trains. Add a great story with musical elements, and you will have a highly interactive Musical Storytelling time.
Book Title: Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo
Appropriate Audience: Family Story time
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Lewis, Daniel Kirk
Literacy Goals:
- Phonological Awareness: The rhythm and rhyme of this story is very appealing. Many opportunities for vocal play and keeping steady beat patterns can be found.
- Print Motivation: Colorful illustrations
- Vocabulary: Many train sounds, prepositions (under/over)
- Print Awareness: Repetition of “Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo” throughout the story
- Letter Knowledge: “Ch” sound and “W” sound
- Narrative: The journey that the train takes
Activities/Extensions with Music:
- Encourage vocal play with the sounds “Choo-Choo” and “Whooo-Whooo”!
- Chant with rhythm sticks or parachute to “Engine, Engine Number Nine” going fast and slow.
- Rub rhythm sticks or hands together to make a “Choo-Choo” sound.
- Make a scarf train and sing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” while musically moving with the scarf train throughout designated areas in the library.
- Scarf dance to a favorite train listening selection.
Materials:
- Parachute
- Colored Scarves
- Rhythm Sticks or hands to make sounds
- Train Whistle
Parent Education Tips:
- Encourage vocal play at home. Pretend “singing” like a train, or making other transportation sounds like a car horn, car engine, train whistle, wheel rotation sounds.
- Find the rhythm of a story and read this story with a beat. Encourage playing along with the rhythm of the story by clapping to the rhythm, or patting on a smooth surface or drum-like material.
©MacPhail Center for Music, 2010