Submitted by Judith A. Schneider, Ohio

Idea posted March 14, 2003

I got out "Autumn Leaf" (from Music K-8, Vol. 11, No. 1) to work on those nice descending phrases in the refrain with my little kiddles this week and came up with several activities to leave for my sub while I go to Vegas. Hope somebody else can use them, too.

Objectives: Singing descending melodies, analyzing form, tone color of flute, rhythmic passing game, phrase length, improvised movement
1. "Listen and tell me what the song is about."
2. "Listen and show me with your hand when you hear tunes that go downward." "How many times do you hear that section?" (3)
3. Lay silk leaves numbered 1, 2, and 3 on the floor to represent the refrain. Pass out individual silk leaves to each child and have them move them from high to low as they sing each downward phrase of the refrain. While they are doing that, they should listen and see if they can tell where the flute solo comes. (Show poster.)
4. Kids decide the flute part comes between refrain 2 and 3. Put poster between those leaves. Sing again, move leaves, and pantomime playing flute during the solo verse.
5. "Are there any parts we haven't talked about yet?" (Verses) "Where do they happen?" (before refrain 1 and refrain 2) I put small stuffed pumpkins in the correct places in the pattern on the floor. Label ABABCB (I know, I know C is technically A', but hey! these are primary kids!)
6. Passing game - Children move to a seated circle, knees touching. Instead of moving their leaf down to the floor in front of themselves, they place it on the floor in front of the person on their right. It is SOOOOO nice because they can make a big arch with the leaf as they pick it up and move it over to their neighbor. Use the verse part to make sure everyone has a leaf. On the flute solo, they stand and do a "leaf dance," but they have to be sure to be back in their spot, sitting, by the end of the solo (I gave a warning) to be ready to pass for the last refrain. At the end, we gently threw the leaves up and let them just float down. Neat!