Music
Mole Music by David M. McPhail is a great story about the power of music.
Mole orders a violin when he sees a man playing one on the TV. He begins practicing--as time goes by he gets better and better -- farmers on the land find joy in the music they hear coming from "somewhere." When a war begins on the land over mole's home the troops hear the music and listen and put down their arms.
Mole wonders about what would happen if people could hear him play--but he thinks he is being foolish--no one can hear him.
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I found a link to the St Louis Symphony Orchestra that combines a 6-part
video lesson (26 minutes total) on stringed instruments and how music makes
you feel with a reading of Mole Music, complete with violin accompaniment at
It is geared to 2-3rd grade.
An online lesson plan can be found at <
I'm thinking of using this as a substitute lesson plan....would probably use
only section 5 (the story) and six of the video, then have the children
complete parts of the online lesson plan (the story board and learning Ode
to Joy in English ? with a discussion of the words of the song (pretty UU!):
Come and sing a joy-ful cho-rus, Lift your voic-es to the sky.
Help-ing hands now join in friend-ship, Keep-ing hearts and spir-its high.
Sis-ter, broth-er, care for each oth-er, Care for the world and keep it
free.
Come to-geth-er, sing to-geth-er, As a peace-ful fam-i-ly.
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One of our family's all-time favorites from when our kids were little is "Musical Max," by Robert Krause. Fun story and illustrations. Synopsis:
When the neighbors start complaining, Max, a hippo, stops practicing his trombone, bass, xylophone, flute, harmonica, cymbals and synthesizer -- until everyone starts to miss the noise!
While searching just now for the author for you, I stumbled upon this lesson
plan:
Have fun! Maybe you can post some of your lesson plans to the rec-room site.
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Try 'The Remarkable Farkle McBride' - by John Lithgow
Rhythmic, great illustrations about a boy trying to find 'his one true instrument' - he tries on for size a variety - with great vocal sound effects as you read each section - until he finally discovers where his musical love lives.
I love this book.
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A favorite of mine is "The First Song Ever Sung" by Laura Krauss Melmed,
with splendid illustrations by Ed Young. A little boy asks a variety of
people and creatures "What was the first song ever sung?", and they each
answer from their perspective. For example, his sister relies "a rope
song, a swing song, a jumping, twirling, leap song", while he dog
replies "a moon song, a howl song, a lone song, a bone song".
What a wonderful idea!
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