Submitted by Connie Herbon, Iowa

Idea posted December 16, 2002

Using my many stuffed animals, beanies, and puppets for class greetings and pitch exploration is standard procedure in my primary-level classes, but I found a new (at least to me!) extension today. It worked great with my K's, who know and use "echo" regularly, but it also worked well with my pre-K's.

Materials needed: owl (beanie, stuffed animal, puppet, or picture)
Procedure:
  • Teach or review sign for "owl." ("O" shape both hands. Place in front of eyes and twist inward slightly several times.)
  • Make owl "hoooos" together at a pitch level that is comfortable for your students, while making sign.
  • Tell students your owl wants to have a conversation with their owls. (I tucked my beanie owl into the neck of my jumper so I could have free hands for signing. My students know that our furry friends listen and make judgments about what is sung.)
  • Teacher sing short patterns for students to echo in "owl talk." We worked mostly around C'A, and I noticed an improvement in the already high percentage of students using light, high sounds in K. Making the sign while singing is a gimmick to take little minds off what is coming out of the mouth.
  • Extension: On another day, have solo conversations around the class and/or let students initiate the patterns with each other.