Autumn Leaves Song

Submitted by Erica Davis, Long Island, New York

Idea posted December 16, 2002

Question: I just found the nicest package of silk autumn leaves for under $2 with 80 in the bag. I took them to kindergarten, and the kids sang a real oldie with them. Any other ideas of what to do with the leaves?

Answer: I have them sing (descending scale song):

Down

Down

Yellow and

Brown, the

Leaves are

falling

over the

town.

The kids each hold leaves (like "trees") and the leaves rock to the ground and can't get there til the song is over. Then the wind blows them back up the hill (upward glissando on xylo).

The kids play the song and gliss on xylos. I use paper leaves to show melodic direction, magnets on board.