Themes & Variations

Author: Artie Almeida
Format: Book with Media Online (Digital Book PDF, Audio, PowerPoints, Visuals & Reproducibles)
Subject: Classroom Materials

"I am very excited to bring you this second volume of song-based lessons. I grew up in a singing family and singing has brought me joy my entire life. During my thirty-eight years as an elementary music instructor, each day was brighter because I got to sing with children. Whether it was happy songs that we sang, somber songs that helped us work through challenging events, or silly songs created by the little folks... singing was the heart of the program.

Song-based lessons can provide a wealth of learning in many academic areas, both musical and non-musical. The diverse collection in this resource book contains some of my students' favourite songs and activities. I was grateful for the happiness they brought and the musical elements that could be illuminated in an active and engaging fashion." - Artie Almeida, Ph. D

This book comes with four song-based instructional units. The unique delivery models include the following categories:

Unit 1: The Singing Scarf

These lessons are activated with a motivational class-sized prop and provide you with an exciting way to add a wealth of new songs to the children's repertoire. They also present students with visual reinforcement of melodic details, while they sing out joyfully. Ten songs are included in this unit of instruction, and you can add or substitute songs as you repeat the lesson throughout the school year.

Unit 2: Beat Buddy Songs and Poems

Beat Buddies (small stuffed toys) are a powerful tool for promoting engagement with singing for young children. Even if the kiddos are having a challenging day, the Beat Buddies help sing their worries away! Nine songs are provided for your Beat Buddy events, and you can add or substitute songs as you repeat the lesson throughout the school year.

Unit 3: Little Melody Walk

Grab your microphones, put on your walking shoes, and join together as a class with this fun and active singing unit. The collage of eleven songs gets the children up and moving around the room, then stopping to sing songs together. Eleven songs are in the initial recording, and you can add or substitute songs as you repeat the lesson throughout the school year.

Unit 4: Songs for Movement and Fun

These twelve songs address a wealth of musical concepts and topics of interest to children. Catchy melodies, props, movement, and manipulatives all make for lots of learning and lots of fun! Children love these songs and will ask for them throughout the year.

Resource Index:

• The Singing Scarf
  • Starlight Starbright
  • Hot Cross Buns
  • Buns Cross Hot
  • High Harmony Buns
  • Original Hot Cross Buns
  • Mary Had a Little Lamb
  • Frere Jacques
  • Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
  • Row, Row, Row Your Boat
  • Elevator Song
• Beat Buddy Songs and Poems
  • Beat is Steady
  • Jack and Jill
  • Humpty Dumpty
  • Itsy Bitsy Spider
  • Little Miss Muffet
  • Beat Buddy Family Reunion!
  • To Market To Market
  • Do Not Let the Bedbugs Bite!
  • Pease Porridge Hot
• Little Melody Walk
  • Little Melody Walk
  • Engine Engine #9
  • Mary Had a Little Lamb
  • Starlight
  • Row Your Boat
  • Rain Rain Go Away
  • Black Snake
  • Bee Bee Bumblebee
  • A Tisket A Tasket
  • Humpty Dumpty
  • Teddy Bear
• Songs for Movement and Fun
  • Pass the Friendship Beanbag
  • Pass the Music Beanbag
  • Move to the Colors
  • Lost My Shamrock
  • What's Cookin?
  • Open Shut Them
  • One Finger Kept Moving
  • Walk Old Joe
  • Shoe a Little Horse
  • Black Snake
  • Old Gray Cat
  • The Green Grass Grew All Around
  • Scotland's Burning