If you’re looking for a multi-lesson flexible unit that includes a fun round with an Orff arrangement, this is it!
This low-prep resource can be used for
I remember my older brother playing (on guitar and recordings) José Feliciano songs. I instantly fell in love with Feliciano’s sound and cool vibe and have followed him for years.
Laura
José Feliciano is a musician, singer, and composer. His greatest hits include “Feliz Navidad” and “Light My Fire.” “Feliz Navidad“, was written in 1970. Feliciano said the feeling behind the song was what he felt in his home country of Puerto Rico, celebrating Noche Buena, Christmas Eve, eating pasteles and lechon, and caroling in parrandas.
José Feliciano, one of 11 children (all boys), was born in 1945 in Puerto Rico and moved with his family to New York City when he was 5. He was born blind from congenital glaucoma.
By the age of 9, he was performing in theaters. One of his first instruments was a concertina but then he switched to guitar.
He continued to perform and gain in popularity because of his ability to play the guitar (virtuoso) and sing, and how he arranged the songs to make them sound so unique. He became popular in the 60s and still tours today. (2020s)
This shows his incredible guitar and arranging skills.
This resource of the Thanksgiving classic, Over the River and Through the Wood, includes parts for Boomwhackers, bells, and ukulele. Each part has audio and video files to support student learning AND in two different tempos-lento and adagio. Students learn about beats per minute (bpm) as they play their parts.
Play and learn in class or use it as a wonderful performance piece for winter concerts!
Music objectives include:
I’m always ok with exchanging a seven chord for a triad. If a song has G7 and you know G, substitute.
In 1981, the UN (United Nations) General Assembly established the International Day of Peace. Annually, it is observed around the world on September 21. The 2021 theme is “RECOVERING BETTER FOR AN EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD.”
Themes through the years include climate action, human rights, education for all, human dignity, peace and democracy, and many more.
Participating in International Day of Peace can be as simple as a lesson in your classroom the week of the event. It could be a school-wide program with songs, dancing, speeches, poetry, etc. It could be community-wide with a peace walk in the neighborhood.
The lesson could be a presentation from you about the history of the day and the theme for the year. You could sing a song about peace or watch videos of musicians who have used their artistry as a platform to promote peace or raise awareness. Sing “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” as a class and then get into groups and create a new verse. The song relates peace, joy, and love to a river, ocean, fountain. How is peace related to joy and love? Continue with the water theme or make the theme nature. What in nature makes you feel peaceful, joyful, and loving. Share with the class. Older students could learn the chords and play on ukulele or recorder.
My school programs involved each grade level performing one song, poem, speech piece and older classrooms would be in charge of the speeches and narration. One year every grade level performed a peace poem because the emphasis was on living together harmoniously. Another year, every grade level performed a song from another part of the world because the emphasis was on global awareness and diversity. My older students introduced each grade level and had speeches, narrations, and poems to read. Some of the poems were student created and some were ones that I found. We had a moment of silence and we spoke a pledge.
Making the day of peace community-wide involved a peace walk. Our PE teacher had worked with the police department for other events so contacted them so that they would provide safe crossings when we crossed busy streets. I was always able to find a nearby park that was our destination and we would have our programs at those locations. We would invite families and the community and they would walk with us. I asked grade levels to consider being a part with special peace themes. Some participated and some didn’t but some of their ideas were: Grade K-1 made tie-dye shirts to wear that day, make and carry origami peace cranes, make peace signs to carry on the walk, make peace necklaces to wear, create chalk drawings on the sidewalk route, and many more. Our school has a dress code and students were allowed to wear peace-themed shirts that day. If you don’t have a park nearby, just creating a peace walk around the school area will work. Because of COVID, having a program outside would be ideal. But if that won’t work, perhaps a peace walk and then back to the classrooms to watch a presentation put together with each class having been recorded doing something special. Family and the community could be invited to this Zoom or Teams meeting.
Blooket game on identifying the chords C, F, G7, C7, and Am from diagrams and images of fingers. My kids LOVE this game. Here’s an entire blog post about the game!
(No login needed for students, just click “join a game” and it will take you to the game pin screen. Teachers need to create a free account.)
NEW! Blog page with ukulele storage ideas for HANGING, CART, and SHELVING. Also, common hardware and resource needs to get the job done!
WITH—–How to Play G video
Songs: Low Rider (G), Dreams, (F, G) Ho Hey (C, F, Am, G) Long Drives by BoyWithUke (C, F, G, Am) Columbia, Mi Encanto (C, F, G), Earth Day (C, F, Am, G), Walking On Sunshine (C, F, G), Let It Be (C, F, G, Am), Bring U Down (G, F, Am, Dm), Another Brick In the Wall (C, Dm, F, G) Counting Stars (C, F, G, Am, Dm), Someone You Loved (C, G, Am, F, Dm), If I Didn’t Love You (F, G, Am, C), You Belong With Me (G, D, Am, C) MORE COMING SOON-THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
