Group Time October 18

Teacher Question: What is music like in other parts of the world?

Child's Question: What is music like in Trinidad?

Rocco's family is from Trinidad, he still remember the house and all the toys he had there. Rocco described what it was like to live there as we watched a video showing scenes from rural Trinidad. The children noticed the trees were very different there.

We watched a video from a Children's Festival in Trinidad. The children thought the costumes were beautiful. Adyson expressed that the music made her feel happy and the others agreed. Natalya wondered who was singing. Byron started dancing in his seat which initiated the idea for everyone to get up and dance to the music!

Next, we watched some street musicians playing on the streets of Trinidad. The children identified some of the instruments that were being played; a guitar, maracas, and rhythm sticks

The children were given maraca's and rhythm sticks and played along with the street musicians!

The children are familiar with the song Hot Cross Buns. I introduced the idea of 'beat' and we used the rhythm sticks to show our understanding of beat. We watched a video of a young girl playing Hot Cross Buns on the clarinet. The children saw links to other instruments and we listened to Hot Cross Buns on the saxophone, recorder, guitar, tuba, and trumpet. The children noticed some sounds were high and some were low.

At the end of group time I took some time to write this blog while the children played and they've all expressed that they want me to send this blog to all of you "Even Nana and Papa", said Julia. Sharing these blogs with your child at home is a wonderful way to snuggle up together and talk about their day!