The following are ideas for using
I See a Song in the classroom.

• Submitted by Nicole

  I am a music teacher. I asked my 5 4th grade classes to compose music for each picture in I See A Song. They set the monologue at the beginning to music and used it as a theme. Each picture uses a different compositional strategy. Once the music was finished, movements were created by the children to accompany the music. They then added interesting costumes. The final product will be performed on April 8, 2000 for the PTA Spring Carnival concert series, which has a theme of children’s literature. What a unique opportunity to submerge kids in composition!

• Submitted by Lisa

  For the book I See A Song, I have students look at the book and react verbally to it. Then I play some classical music on the radio and we draw in the hallway on very large rolls of paper. For our gross motor activity, we use ribbon streamers and dance to the music, either fast or slow according to the feeling of the music.

• Submitted by Heather Posnack

  For the book I See A Song, I created a tape of my own to go along with the pages of the book. I looked at each page and chose a clip from a classical piece that best fit the page. Then, I gathered the students on the rug. I showed them the pages of the book and asked if it gives off a happy feeling or a sad feeling or other. Then I played the song that goes with each page and the students moved to the music. If the song was happy, they danced in an upbeat way. If the song was slow they moved slowly. I showed the picture with song that played. The children enjoyed moving around the rug and they were able to see how the songs connected to the pictures.

• Submitted by Bez

  For the book I See A Song, I have the children PLAY it. We look at the pictures and imagine what the story is about, and then in groups we choose instruments and make the music that is suggested to us by our particular page. We then play the entire book as a class.

• Submitted by Anne Marie Free

  For the book I See A Song, I had my students listen to the song once, then I played it again and had them close there eyes and imagine pictures. After that, we discussed what we saw. Some saw people, places and things. I played the song again and had them close their eyes. When the song was finished they went back to their desks (with a picture in mind) and made a collage (out of tissue paper) of the picture they were thinking of. I did this activity with a grade one class and they loved it.

• Submitted by Lori Geels

  For the book I See A Song, I have my students use the pictures to write a story. The students are always very imaginative in their interpretations!

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