Music and Movement

 

                  What are music, movement, and drama in early childcare? 

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• Music and movement have numerous advantages for children. They aid in developing skills such as cognitive growth, problem-solving, self-expression, and social development in children. Children can learn new words and concepts through music and movement activities such as chanting rhymes, making sounds with household items, and singing alphabet songs. Many music and movement activities involve group learning, which allows children to improve their social skills, practice taking turns, and cooperate. This also teaches children how to express their emotions and communicate messages through actions. Numerous studies have shown that music positively affects children's reading, math, and science learning, as well as their teamwork skills and mastery of spatial relationships. A child's learning is incomplete without music and movement in early childhood education.

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•  Article: Music, Movement, and Make-Believe in the Preschool Classroom 

• 4 out of 5 tambourines

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  This article is extremely beneficial to teachers. It provides excellent suggestions for incorporating music and movement into the classroom.

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• Extension activity for Science

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• Choose songs that encourage participation. For example, "My Hand Says Hello" (sung to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell") asks your child to demonstrate and sing about various ways he can use his body to say hello: "My hand says hello, My hand says hello. My hand greets my friend every time I see him." Second verse: "My [fill in the blank with a child's body part] says hello," and so on.

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  Video: Nature Jam’s Preschool Prodigies Pilot-Sweet Beets-Rhythm Lesson and Song for Kids

3 out of 5 tambourines

The video is catchy and has excellent imagery to accompany the song. I believe that the motion he makes with his hands to demonstrate the beat may be confusing to some children when he sings the song.

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• Extension Lesson
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•  Begin by asking children to sit in a circle and explain that in today's lesson, they are going to learn about the musical concepts of beat and rhythm, using the song "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star". Children will learn to recognize the beat in various pieces of music. Children will understand what a steady beat is. First, recite the song's lyrics several times before playing it for the children to become acquainted with the music and lyrics. Request that children place their hands over their hearts to feel the pulse of their heartbeats.  Explain that there is a steady beat in music that remains constant throughout and sets the tempo (pace/time) for the music. Explain to the children what the beat (heartbeat of music) is and how to locate it in music by locating the underlying pulse in a piece. Allow the students to pat their legs or clap to the beat (start the beat and they can copy what you do). Once they understand the beat, sing or play "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" to them. Request that the children practice keeping the beat of the song. Pay close attention to the beat.

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• Book: Violet’s Music

5 out of 5 tambourines

The book was a sweet story. I love the message to kids to never give up and to always follow their dreams. The illustration was vibrant and eye-catching.

Extention Lesson

Music Is... (Read-Aloud) - YouTube

Sources:

Rangaswamy, G. (2020, January 29). The importance of music and movement in preschool. The Importance of Music and Movement in Preschool. https://www.whitelodge.education/blog/music-and-movement