In the Midnight Hour

Below is a sample video of an elementary lesson that I taught a fourth grade class. It was the first day doing the dance, and the second day singing In the Midnight Hour.  Our Michigan was the new song I introduced today.  After of before watching the video, please feel free to look at the lesson plan I provided below. 

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Topic: Fourth Grade Program

Literature: In the Midnight Hour; Our Michigan; Staff Game

Objective:

     The students will sing Midnight Hour and then learn all or part of a dance.

     The students will learn a new song Our Michigan

     The students will continue learning to read pitches by selecting the correct line on the staff.

Standards:

            4.1: Identify by genre or style aural examples of music from various historical

periods and cultures.

            3.3: Use appropriate terminology in explaining music, music notation, musical

instruments and voices, and music performances.

            1.7: Echo short rhythms and melodic patterns.

            1.9: Read whole, half, dotted half, quarter, and eighth notes and rests in double

and triple meter. 

            1.5: Sing and play in groups, blending timbres, matching dynamic levels, and

responding to the cues of a conductor.

Materials:

            Lyric Handouts

                        Midnight Hour

                        Our Michigan

            CD Recording for the dance

            Piano

            Stereo

            Carpet Staff

Procedure:

In the Midnight Hour (5 – 8 min.)

1.      Tell the students we are going to do a dance. Ask students to stand up and spread out.

2.      Teach all or part of the dance in sections.  (Please see Below)

a.       Slow first then up to tempo.

b.      If class doing really well put on CD and try a little bit with the song.

3.      Ask students to quietly return to their seats and pick up the white paper with Midnight Hour lyrics on it. 

4.      Set tape player and sing the song. 

Our Michigan (3 - 5 min)

1.      Ask the students to pick up the white paper with music notation. 

2.      Do a Rhythmic Reading Echo of the song. 

a.       Read a segment at a time in rhythm and have the students echo and read it back to me.

3.      Play and sing the song asking the students to follow along in the music.

4.      Ask the students to sit up to sing.  Echo the entire song, play the melody line on the piano as both groups sing it. 

5.      Sit up to sing. Sing the entire song once through.

6.      Ask the students to put the paper back under their chair.

Staff Game ( 5 min.)

1.      Ask the students in row 4 that would like to participate in the staff game to align themselves on the bottom of the carpet staff.

2.      Tell them first time is for practice.  Ask each line and each space.

3.      Go back and mix up practice.

4.      Clear all and start for the challenge. 

*** If time permits do another row.****

Fourth Grade Class Round 2.  We just made the first turn.  IMPRESSIVE!  They are waiting for me to count them off for round two.

Midnight Hour Dance:

Line Dance:  From the Memphis Cross

http://www.partydirectory.com/dance/d012.htm

1.Touch right heel forward
2.Step right back in place
3.Fan right toe out to right
4. Back right toe back to left

5. Touch left heel forward
6. Step left back in place
7. Fan left toe out to left
8. Back left toe back to right

9.Touch Front heel forward
10.Touch back right toe behind
11. Right stomp

      12.Turn ¼ turn to the left.

      13-14 down twist

      15-16 Up Twist

Concerns: I will have to really lay down the rules of the staff game.  The students may try to get away with talking and rambunctious play both on and off the staff carpet. 

The dance may be a little too much or too complicated for some classes. 

They will not like Our Michigan and in turn, not sing it.

January 31^st and February 1^st:  Both classes did extremely well on the dance.  I was very impressed.  They really enjoyed it and kept the beat well.  The only thing they got confused on is which foot to do certain moves.  Next time I will have to remember to insert the side accordingly.  The new song went very well, but I think the song is at an easier level and tomorrow I will not do the echoing.  Instead, I will sing it twice through with them.  Doing the staff game was quite different.  They tried to see what they could get away with, and as soon as one of them talked I made them sit down.  This routine quieted things down quickly and the students knew that what I said I meant.