Family Favorites® Family Event Sample Lesson Plan

Family Favorites

Family Event Sample Lesson Plan

Materials: pitch pipe, MT Family Songbooks, play-along instruments, sticks (to supplement

play-along instruments), eggs, CD, CD player

Ask classroom teachers for any favorite songs or chants. Consider adding them to your plan.

Below is a sample lesson plan using the Family Favorites collection.

Included below each song is a Parent Education Moment (PEM) you may share. You do NOT

have to do a PEM for every song. These PEMs are examples you can use or you can create your

own. Remember, this is a sample; feel free to create your own plan or to tailor this one to fit the

needs of your Family Event.

Song Name

Tonality

Meter

Activity/Notes

Hello Song

C Major

Duple

Ritual—sing names, tap macrobeat on knees. (Sillies.)

Vocal play.

Introduction

Introduce yourself as the Music Together Music

Specialist who works with their children. Explain that

the classroom teachers use the music throughout the

week Show CD and songbook. Explain both go home

with the children during the semester.

PEM

We always begin our classes with the “Hello Song.” It

is a song that sets this time apart for doing music. This

is called a ritual song. Children need to have this

structure and like the repetition of hearing this song at

every music class. Once they hear this song they know

to expect to be making music for the next 30–45

minutes.

Splishing and

Splashing

—

Duple/triple

Chant. Model splishing and splashing with your hands,

and feet, bark like a dog at end. RP

PEM

Children learn what something is by learning what

something isn’t. In this chant, by juxtaposing the two

meters, they are able to feel the difference between

duple and triple.

Biddy Biddy

C Major

Duple

Eggs. Tap the eggs on the macro and micro beats. Tap

head, shoulder, knees and toes; vary speeds; Sing on

different vocables and have fun. TP

PEM

Explain how much fun it is to sing songs on vocables or

songs without words. By using songs without words it

encourages children to just listen to the movement of

the notes without getting bogged down by the language.

Palo, Palo

D Major

Duple

Large movement. Keep the egg shakers and stand up

and dance. Try making a conga line and moving

through the room.

Song Name

Tonality

Meter

Activity/Notes

PEM

The children are experiencing songs from other

cultures, fast songs, slow songs, songs with and without

words. We like to immerse their children in a wide

array of musical experiences. As you can see,

everything we do, we do through play because that is

what is developmentally appropriate for children. We

know children learn through play.

One Little Owl

d minor

Duple

Small/Focus. Songbook. Have the children and families

give you ideas for what to put into the tree.

PEM

By using the songbook, we are helping children get

acquainted with print materials, while helping to

support pre-literacy skills. By playing with word

substitutions, we are helping children build their

vocabulary and it’s just plain fun.

Goin’ for

Coffee

C blues

Swing

Instrument Play/Play-along. CD. (Use sticks as well if

not enough instruments for everyone.)

PEM

We do instrument play or play-alongs with children to

give them an opportunity to improvise and have a high-

energy moment with the music.

May All

Children

F Major

Duple

Lullaby. Ritual—blow out lights. Invite parents to join

their children and have the parents rock with them.

Make sure there is a teacher present to rock any child

who does not have a parent present.

PEM

Lullabies provide a time for parents to have an

emotional connection with their child. They can use

them at home as part of a bedtime ritual. In school,

lullabies can give children a time to relax and also help

them to self-regulate.

Goodbye, So

Long, Farewell

D Major

Triple

Ritual—goodbye to boys and girls, tap microbeat on

knees.

PEM

Like the Hello Song, this is a ritual song. Children need

ritual songs to help them with transitions.

When you conclude a parent event, always thank the parents for sharing their time with you. Let

them know that if they have any questions, you are available to talk with them. Explain to the

parents that when we make music with children we are working on a number of different areas

developmentally. It is important to stress that we are NOT saying, “music makes you smarter.”

Music can, however, help children get ready to be more receptive to learning in school.