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Fudge
truffles
caramels
Do It Yourself Rainstorm
Author: Bill Chapman and Dawn Novak
email: chapman@atmos.uiuc.edu
Grade Levels:
second
third
fourth
Subjects:
music
phyical education
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Themes or Keywords : rain, critical listening

Objectives :

Use movement to create the sounds of a heavy rainstorm.

Introductory Activity :

Lead a brief discussion about rain and the sounds it makes.

Body :

Tell the students we are going to create the sounds of a rainstorm in the classroom. Ask the students how they think we could do this. Have the class sit in a semi-circle and then divide them into three sections. Explain that the activity you are going to do will be done in a "round-like" fashion. The teacher will lead the activity by having the first section rub their hands together. Then the second section will join them, and then finally the third section. Next, the teacher goes back to the first section and asks them to start snapping their fingers, while the second and third sections are still rubbing their hands. Then the second snaps their fingers, and finally the third section joins in. During the next round, the first section will begin by patting their legs, and then the second and third sections will join when it is their turn.

For the peak of the thunderstorm, the students will stomp their feet, section by section. As the thunderstorm subsides, the students will make all the sounds in reverse order, section by section. That is, pat legs, snap fingers, then rub hands.

Conclusion Activity :

Hold a short discussion about how the activity sounded like a rainstorm. For example, "what things about the activity made it sound like a rainstorm?". This excercise could lead into a lesson about rainstorms.


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