Elementary Music

The school year is quickly drawing to a close. April and May will be the busiest months this semester. The elementary students are busy with music integrations that support their units of inquiry, as well as standalone units that will be a featured part of the concert.

Kindergarten is learning the song “Day and Night” which draws a great connection to their UOI theme.  In their standalone unit, they are learning how to imitate the sounds they hear by playing the percussion instruments.

The first graders are focusing on instruments that are played using a pushing or a pulling motion, making a connection to their UOI. They are exploring the band instruments and are finding out which instruments are played by pushing or pulling. They have also learned whether the movement of the melody is repeated or leaping.

The second grade UOI focuses on “light and sound”. They are making their own guitars from boxes and rolled paper.  To finish their guitars, they will color their guitars and add the strings by using rubber bands.

The third graders have been practicing to master their recorders. They have learned how to read music scores as well as the mechanics of playing the recorder. They have to be able to control their hands and do the correct blowing to make a good sound with the recorder.

The fourth graders are learning the mechanics of playing the classical guitar. They are also learning how to read music scores for the guitar. Good hand coordination will produce good sound. They are also work on “Garage Band” to compose their jingle for their advertisement, a music integration with their current UOI.

Grade 5 students are focusing on their exhibition next month. They started learning the introduction of playing in a band. At the end of the quarter they will perform at their exhibition on May 3.  They will also perform at the ES music concert which is May 16, 2019.

I look forward to the upcoming ES music concert next month.

ES PE

This is a busy time for the PE department, and the same is true for our elementary students.  This quarter, the Elementary school PE classes are focusing on “Kickball”. Students are learning the mechanics of playing kickball, as well as the rules of the game.  The classes have been introduced to the basic movements of the game and are further developing their running, kicking and catching skills.

After the kickball season is over, the badminton season will begin.  Students are also developing skills for running relay, sprinting, baseball throw, hurdles, running long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, hammer throw, and running long distances as they prepare for our Elementary Sports Day on May 9, 2019.

In swimming classes students are learning breaststroke. The IISSAC swimming competition will be on 26-28 April in our school pool.