Easter Egg Listening Game

I have to say, this is not my idea at all, but I saw it on the Music Teacher board on Facebook and had to share it! 

Rosemarie Gates Speich is the person who posted the game below (give credit where it is due!):

"Easter Egg Game - with Easter coming up, I'd thought I'd share a cute game that I play with grades 2+3 each year at this time. ( My 4th graders ask for it too!).
* Purchase the large size plastic easter eggs in solid colors.
*Fill pairs of eggs with identical objects. I've used macaroni, pennies, bobby pins, paper clips, pebbles, thumb tacks etc.
*Tape the eggs shut.
*Use a wide sharpie to number the eggs on the bottom. (no two eggs should have the same number). *Make a list for yourself of which eggs are matched pairs.
*To play the game: Give each child an egg. When the game begins, the kids must wander and try to find their match based on the sound their egg makes when they shake it. Hint: Tell the kids they can NOT use their voices. They must nod their heads to communicate with their friends. When they find their match, they sit down with their partner. When the class is seated, they announce their egg #'s and teacher checks to see if they have found their match. If correct, I ask them to shake their eggs for the class and the kids try to guess what's inside. Those who do not match correctly the first time get a second chance. The kids love this game. It's a great listening activity. Enjoy!"

Catch you next time I have something Noteworthy!

FREE Instrument Family iPad Activity

     I'm really excited to do this activity with my students!  We just recently got iPads and were checking out some of the great education apps when I ran across Chatterpix Kids.

     Chatterpix Kids is a FREE app for iPads and iPhones that allows your students to take pictures of anything they want, add a mouth to it, and make it speak!  Even the teachers had fun with it when we had our professional development.  I made a really funny video of my principal, but since I value my job, I won't post it here :)  Anyway, here is the instrument activity!

Step-by-Step Chatterpix Kids Instrument Activity:

1.  Have your students choose an instrument of the orchestra to focus on.  You could give them a cheat sheet with some info, or have them look on the web (be careful with that!).

2.  Have them write a short script about the instrument that includes some of the following:
Name of the instrument.
Family it is in and why.
How it is played.
Something special about the instrument.
How to tell it apart from other instruments in it's family.

They only get 30 seconds to record, so they have to keep it short!

3.  Have students open Chatterpix.  Choose "take photo." 

4.  Have your students take a picture of their instrument.  You don't actually have to own the instrument, they can just take a picture of a picture :)  

5.  Then you will see this flash across the screen:

This hand is showing students how to draw a "mouth" on their picture.  Let them pick where they think the mouth is most appropriate!  They can always go back a step and do it again if they don't like how it turned out the first time.

6.  Next they push the record button and record their speech.  It's really easy to re-record if needed, and there's a timer showing them how much time they have left.

 
7.  Add fun stuff!!  Students can add filters, stickers, frames, and text to their picture.  I put a few things on, but you may want to limit it so they can still see the instrument!
Filter:

Stickers:

 Frame:

 Text:

 8.  Students will get a kick out of their final product.  Have them set their iPads up around the room and rotate to hear what other students have learned and created!
Here's mine:

Catch you next time I have something noteworthy!