BYU-Idaho Preschool Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan #18

Lab #5
String Instruments

Date: Monday, November 9, 2015

Supervisor: Christabel Ethridge
Lead Teacher: Ali Wilcox

Children and Learning/Development Goals:

1. Olive Olive has a goal to reach across her body. Olive will work on her goal as she
uses her arms to throw or roll the bowling ball to the pins in the outside activity.
2. Lizzie Lizzie has a goal to have more social interaction with the other children. Lizzie
will work on her goal at the dramatic play area where we will prompt her to engage in
parallel or cooperative play with the other children. We will play with her and ask
another child to join us.
3. Jefferson Jefferson has a goal to count numbers 1-10. Jefferson will work on counting
his numbers as we string the guitars. We will count how many pieces of yarn he is
using. We will also count the number of strings on the violin, guitar, and cello.
4. Isaac- Isaac has a goal to identify more of the ABCs. Isaac will work on his goal as
we help him write his name on his paper for creative art. In the block area I will also
embed letters that we will work on with him.
5. Clark- Clark has a goal to recognize more colors. Clark will work on his goal as he
explores the different colors he will use at the creative art table. Teachers will ask him
what colors he is using.
6. Logan- Logan has a goal to initiate play/social interaction. Logan will work on his goal
at the block area. Teachers will prompt him to play with others by playing with Logan
and then talking to the other children around to bring them over as well.

Preassessment and Findings:

As I was talking with the children about what they were doing during self selected, I tried to
preasses them on what they knew about music and instruments. I asked Brady what his
favorite type of music was and he told me that he liked rock and roll. He told me I wish I
could play music When I am 60 I will. I asked Zetta if she knew what an instrument was.
She said, My mom has one. I asked her what the instrument was that her mom had and
she said, I dont know. I asked Max what an instrument was and he told me It is like a
guitar. When I asked Jaiden what an instrument was, I do not know, I think it saves
people.
I asked Jane what her favorite instrument was and she told me the drums. I also asked her if
she knew what happened to an instrument when it was out of tune and she said that she did
not know.
The children have been very interested in the piano recently. Sophie went over to open the
piano and pressed the keys. Logan also was interested in the piano and opened it to try and
play for a while. Kennley found a piano book and brought it over to the piano to try and play
a song. She said, This my book to play a song. Brandon also opened the piano and played
a song.

Ideas to be Emphasized:
1. Violins, guitars, and cellos are string instruments. You can pluck, strum or use a bow
to play some or most string instruments.
2. String instruments need to be tuned in order to have the right notes to play.
3. An instrument makes higher and lower sounds which make up a song.
Preschool Concepts or Skills:
1. Counting
2. High and Low notes
3. Social Interaction
 BYU-Idaho Preschool Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan #18
Lab #5
String Instruments
Date: Monday, November 9, 2015
Supervisor: Christabel Ethridge
Lead Teacher: Ali Wilcox

Ideas to be Emphasized:
4. Violins, guitars, and cellos are string instruments. You can pluck, strum or use a bow
to play string instruments.
5. String instruments need to be tuned in order to have the right notes to play.
6. An instrument can make higher and lower sounds that can make up a song.

Preschool Concepts or Skills:

1. Counting
2. High and Low notes
3. Social Interaction

Assignments:
___________________ Self-Selected _______________ Floater/Runner/Snack
___________________ Small/Focus Groups _________ /_________ Booth/ Photographer
___________________ Outdoor play _______________ Greeter/Walkie (Lead Teacher)
_________ /_________ Snack _______________ Data Collector

Special instructions for the day: There will be classical music playing throughout the day
so the children can hear the different string instruments.

SELF-SELECTED ACTIVITIES 1:20 - 2:50 p.m.

Literacy Activities/ Books:
Fall Leaves Fall by Zoe Hall (H2)
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (C6)
Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle (C3)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (C4)

Literacy activity embedded in block area

Activity Name Description/Activity Objective Materials, Special Set-up
*Creative Art: Activity Description: The children will put Cookie Sheets (IWP)
SNAP PAINTING paint on a piece of paper and slide it into the White Paper (Art Cart)
@ (6) tray with rubber bands on it. The children will Rubber Bands (IWP)
try a variety of ways to get the paint on the Small Paint Brushes (RR1
rubber bands and discover which way works O15)
best for them. The children can also add a Tempera Paint (RR1)
paintbrush to add paint to the bands if needed. Art Smocks (Laundry Room)
The children will pluck the strings, which will
create an effect on the white paper. Teachers
will tell the children that when they are
plucking the rubber bands, that is also what
you do when you play the guitar and other
string instruments.
 Child Objective: Children will have the hands
on experience of plucking the rubber bands as
if they were strings on a guitar. The children
will listen to the sound it makes when the
rubber bands hit against the cookie sheet.
They will also see the effect it has as the pant
is splattered onto the cookie sheet (D4 G47
CI5) This relates to my ideas to be emphasized
because they will pluck or strum the strings
(rubber bands).

*Manipulatives: Activity Description: The children will use String Instrument

GUITAR LACING the laminated sheets to lace yarn through the Laminated Sheets (IWP)
(4) holes on the pictures. There will be guitars, Yarn (RR1 09)
violins, and Cellos. Teachers will emphasize the
idea to be emphasized that string instruments Put tape around the edges
have strings and they can be plucked or of the yarn.
strummed and some can be used with a bow.
Child Objective: Children will use their fine
motor skills to string the yarn through the
holes on the string instrument laminated
sheets. This relates to my ideas to be
emphasized because teachers can discuss with
the children the differences between the
different string instruments and also count the
strings.
Math: Activity Description: The children will look at Legos (RR1 W37)
LEGO COUNTING the laminated cards I set on the table that Laminated sheets (IWP)
show them a certain number of legos. The
children will stack their legos to the same
number that is on the laminated cards. They
can also match the colors used on the
laminated cards.
Child Objective: Children will use the pictures
on the laminated sheets and the legos to work
on their counting. They will visually see the
numbers and how tall the lego tower is with
that many legos. Teachers will give the children
(4)
the opportunity to compare and learn less and
more.
Science: Activity Description: Children will explore Tray (RR1 Art Supplies)
RAINBOW LEMON what happens to the Epson salt when lemon Epson Salt (IWP)
ERUPTIONS juice is added to it. They will spray the lemon Baking soda (K)
juice with liquid watering color in it or they will Lemon juice (IWP)
use the droppers on the salt. Liquid water colors (RR1
Child Objective: The children will discover Paint)
what happens when lemon juice is added to Eyedroppers (RR1 Art
Epson salt. They will explore with the Supplies 11)
@ (4) eyedroppers and squirt bottles the effect that it Squirt bottles (RR1 Art
has on the Epson salt (D4 G42 CI9). Supplies 7)FI
Sensory Table: Activity Description: Children will look for Potting Soil (RR2 G138)
BUG EXPLORATION bugs that are buried in the potting soil with the Bug Jars (RR1 P72)
(5) magnifying glasses and tweezers. They will Magnifying Glasses (RR1
collect the bugs and put them in the bug jars. P74)
Child Objective: Children will explore the Bug Tweezers (RR1 P72)
 sensory table by touching, pouring, and Buckets (small shed)
digging. They will also use their fine motor Shovel (small shed)
skills as they use the bug tweezers to grab the Bug Collection (RR1 P72)
bugs and put them in the bug jars. Pretend Bugs (IWP)

A teacher will go outside

and shake the willow hut to
collect some real bugs.
Blocks: Activity Description: The children will use Wooden Furniture (RR2
MAKING A TOWN the blocks in the classroom to make houses for B185)
(6) the wooden people. The children will use the Wooden Community (RR2
alphabet blocks to find the letters of their B182)
name and to spell out names. The children can Alphabet Blocks (RR2 B183)
also make labels for what they build and tape Tape (artcart)
it. Paper (artcart)
Child Objective: The children will lay out the Markers (artcart)
alphabet blocks to discover the different letters
in the alphabet and find them in their names or
the names of the other children.
*Dramatic Play: Activity Description: Children will explore Cash Registers (RR2 O211)
MUSIC SHOP the different instruments in the music shop. Costumes
(5) They will dress up in the costumes and play Shoes (RR2 Y217)
and buy the instruments in the music shop. Cloth hats (RR2
Teachers can ask the children what they can do Y226)
with the different instruments. Children will Purses (RR2 Y221)
pretend to be a cashier and customer. They will Boas (RR2 Y244)
use the pretend money to buy the items.
Instruments
Teachers will encourage the children to count
Guitar (WR 9&10
the money.
Child Objective: Children will use their social Shelf 1)
and emotional skills as they use the different Pretend guitars
props and pretend they are in a music shop. (IWP)
The teachers will encourage the children to Pretend violins (IWP)
participate in parallel or cooperative play with Rain sticks (WR C
the other children. (D1 G15 CI3) This relates to 7&8 Shelf 2)
my ideas to be emphasized because the Noise makers (WR C
children can play with the different instruments 9&10 Sheft 2)
I made as well as see the different instruments Blank money slips
in the pictures as they are hung up. The (IWP)
children can pluck, strum, or use the bow to Colored Pencils
play with the pretend instruments. (artcart)
Pictures of instruments and
prices (IWP)

Children will use the blank

money slips and colored
pencils to write the amount
of money that they think
the instrument will cost.
*Music: Description: Children will use the piano in the Piano (In classroom)
PIANO NOTES classroom as well as the Blue Man Group Piano Blue Man Group Piano (WR
@ (3) to play the low and high sounds. Children will Cabinet 9&10 Shelf 2)
also read the sheet music I provide to play Music sheets (IWP)
songs on the piano. The music will show the Colored Stickers (IWP)
 notes by color and I will put stickers on the
piano keys so the children can follow the
pattern to play the music.
Child Objective: The children will use their
cognitive skills to play the music by following
the color pattern I made with the music sheets.
This activity relates to my ideas to be
emphasized because the children will
understand that different notes make up a
song and they can hear the high and low notes
on the piano.
Alternatives:
Creative Art: Description: Children will use the stamps as Rolling Stamps (RR1
STAMPS! they place them on their paper. The children Cabinet E Drawer 2)
will also use the markers to draw or write what Foam Stamps (RR1 Cabinet
they would like on their papers. E Drawer 2)
Letter Stamps (RR1 Cabinet
E Drawer 2)
Stamp Pads (RR1 Cabinet E
Drawer 2)
Paper (Art Cart)
Markers (Art Cart)
2nd: PLAY DOUGH Description: Children will use the play dough Play dough (In closet)
to mold it in to whatever they want. They will Play dough toys (RR2 G124)
use the play dough toys to help them cut,
flatten, etc.

ROTATING SNACK 1:00-1:50 p.m.

Fruit Smoothie, crackers

OUTDOOR PLAY 1:10-1:50 p.m. Location: South

Playground
Gross Motor: Description: The children will throw or roll the Bowling Set (GG)
BOWLING ball towards the bowling pins. Teachers will
prompt the children to count how many
bowling pins the children knocked over.
Objective: The children will use their gross
motor skills when the throw or roll the ball
towards the bowling pins (D2 G17 CI5).
*2nd: LADY BUG Description: The mallets will be placed Ladybug Mallets (Suannes
MALLETS outside around the ladybug drum. They can be Office)
used to strike the drum and make music. The
children will see the high and low sounds that
the ladybug will make. Teachers will show the
children that they can strike the different
letters on there. If they make a pattern with
the letters then it becomes a song.
Objective: The children will use their gross
motor skills as they use the mallets to strike
the ladybug drum. This relates to my ideas to
be emphasized because the children are able
to hear the high and low notes as they strike
 the ladybug drum with the mallets.
3rd: HULA HOOPS Description: Children will use the hula-hoops Jump ropes (GG)
AND JUMP ROPES and jump ropes outside as they experiment Hula hoops (GG)
how to use them both.
Objective: The children will use their gross
motor skills on the hula-hoops and jump ropes.
They will experiment the different ways they
have to move to keep the hula hoop off the
ground. The children will also work on their
timing as they jump with the jump ropes.

CLEAN UP 1:50-1:55 p.m.

Its Clean Up Time in Preschool (2X)

GATHERING TIME 2:55-3:10 p.m.

Transition:
The teacher will take out her violin and play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. When the children come
over the support teachers will give the children a star as they sing the song while the lead teacher
plays it on her violin.
Activity Name Description Materials
1. FELT BOARD OF The teacher will put a picture of a piano, violin, Felt board instrument (IWP)
DIFFERENT guitar, and cello on the felt board. The teacher Recording of sounds of the
INSTRUMENTS will ask the children what instruments they are. instruments (IWP)
The teacher will also ask the children the
different similarities they all have between
each other. Tell the children that all of these
instruments have strings. They are called
string instruments.

The teacher will play sounds of each of the

instruments as she tells them what each
instrument is called.
2. VIOLIN SHOW The teacher will bring her violin out to show Violin (IWP)
AND TELL them. She will ask the what kind of instrument
she is holding? She will show them the
different parts of the violin (the bridge, the
fingerboard, the fine turners, the pegs, and the
bow.) She will tell them that the bow is made
out of horsehair and when she brushes it
against the strings then it will make the music
(tell the children to pull out their pretend
violins and use the bow on their violins). It will
also make music when she plucks the strings
(tell the children to pluck their strings with
their pretend violins). She can also strum the
strings as well but that is normally for a guitar
(tell the children to strum their strings with
their pretend violins).

The teacher will tell the children that the violin

is also like a cello but the cello is bigger than
the violin and it plays lower notes.

The teacher will tell the children that in order

 for her violin to sound good that it needs to be
in tune. When it is out of tune then it does not
sound very good and it hurts our ears.

The teacher will play the children a song in

tune so that they can hear how it sounds. She
will then turn the fine tuners to make the violin
out of tune. The teacher will then play the
same song again. She will ask the children,
how the song sounded and which one they
liked better and why?
The teacher will show the children the fine
tuners again and the pegs at the top. She will
ask if any of the children know what they are
used for.

The teacher will tell the children before she

plays the violin she has to make sure that it is
in tune. She can use both the fine tuners and
pegs to tune the violin to the right key.
3. HIGH AND LOW The teacher will show the children the different
SOUNDS strings and tell them that the different strings
play high and low notes. She will play the G
string and ask them if they think that it is a
high or low note. She will then play the E string
and ask them the same question. The teacher
will tell them that they can make high and low
sounds with their voices as well. The teacher
will play the violin and tell them to make a low
sound. The teacher will also play and ask them
to sing a high sound together.
Transition to The children will have a violin, cello, guitar, or Pictures of violin, cello,
Small Focus piano taped in their nametags. The teachers guitar, and piano (IWP)
Groups who are teaching small focus that day will have
a bigger picture of the instruments. The
children will go to the teacher who has the
corresponding instrument as them.

SMALL FOCUS GROUP

3:10-3:25 p.m.
Group #1 Group #2 Group #3 Group #4
Zetta Jane Nathan Logan
Lizzy Olive Dallin Max
Avery Trey Rebeca Jaiden
Clark Sophie Kennley Jefferson
Brandon Isaac Aila Brady
Your Activity Description & Objective Materials
MAKING A Description: Children will each get to take turns 1) Paper Plates
BANJO/GUITAR playing the guitar. I will let them explore the (RR1 Art
strings and tune the guitar. They can strum the Supplies),
guitar or pluck it. Children will use the materials Rubber bands
provided to make a guitar/banjo. As the children (IWP), Glue (RR1
are making the instrument, the teacher will Art Supplies 8),
explain why the strings are important and what Hot glue gun
we do with them. The teacher will also explain the (RR1 Art Supplies
 importance of the tuners at the top of the 8), Stickers (RR1
instrument. To make the banjo/guitar the children Art Supplies 12),
will decorate the paper plate in any way that they Pom-poms (RR1
want. The children well then pace the rubber Art Supplies 13),
bands on the plate with the teachers help. The Paint mixers
children will glue the paint mixers on the plate (IWP), Guitar (WR
with a teachers help. The children will also glue 9&10 Shelf 1)
the cotton balls at the top of the plate. I will have 2) Catch that Hat
an example made. by Emma
Set up at the science Objective: Children will use their fine motor skills Chichester Clark
table. to make their own banjo/guitar by putting the (C14)
stickers on their plate and gluing the different 3) Jingle Dancer by
pieces onto the instrument. The children will listen Cynthia Leitich
to the instructions given by the teacher (D5 G48 Smith (S29)
CI2). This activity relates to my ideas to be
emphasized because while the children are
making their banjo/guitar, the teacher will ask
them the different things we can do with the
strings. The teacher will also tell the children
about the tuners at the top and ask the children
what they do.

CLOSING CIRCLE 3:25-3:40 p.m.

Transition The Monkey Dance: The children will do the movements and hand motion with the
song The Monkey Dance.
Activity Name Description Materials
REVIEW There will be pictures placed in the brown bag that Brown Bag (RR1)
the teacher will pull out. The pictures include a violin, Pictures (IWP)
cello, and a guitar. They also include pictures of the
violins tuners and also of an instrument being
plucked, strummed, or with a bow. We will say the
brown bag chant (found below) and the children will
help me pull an item out of the bag. I will ask the
children what the item is and what it does.
THERE WAS AN The children will sing the There was an Old Lady who There was and Old
OLD LADY WHO Swallowed a Fly. The children will take turn picking Lady Who Swallowed
SWALLOWED A the different felt pieces to see what the Old Lady a Fly Felt Pieces (In
FLY swallowed next. closet)
PHONEMIC Tell the children that we are going to play a game
AWARENESS- called telephone. Have everyone sit in a circle and
TELEPHONE explain that you are going to tell a child something
GAME and then they tell the child next to them and so on
and so forth. Whisper in the first childs ear Terry
taught ten turtles tennis. (Exaggerate the t
sounds) Have the end child tell you what they heard.
Tell the children what you said in the beginning and
ask what all of the words have in common (they all
make the t sound). If time permits try again with
Willy wears wonderful wigs.
THE MONKEY The children will do the movements and hand motion The Monkey Dance
DANCE with the song The Monkey Dance. (IWP on my phone)

CORDUROY The children will listen to the book Corduroy while the Corduroy by Don
 teacher asks them questions throughout the book. Freeman (B F2)
OLD MCDONALD The children will use the different animals laminated Old McDonald Had a
HAD A FARM sheets on sticks that I made to help sing the song. Farm pieces (IWP)
BUG UNDER THE The children will get a turn to be the bug under the Blanket (RR2 Y242)
RUG rug. We will put a blanket over a child when all the
children have their eyes closed. We will say the chant
(found below) and the children will try and guess who
is under the rug. Tell the children to close their eyes
and not to peek. Have them practice the first time.
APPLES AND The children will sing along to the song. They will Apples and Bananas
BANANAS have props to use such as pretend apples and (RR2 Y234)
bananas.

WORDS TO SONGS & FINGERPLAYS:

There was and Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly
There was an Old Lady who swallowed a fly
I dont know why she swallowed a fly perhaps shell cry.
There was an Old Lady who swallowed a _____
I dont know why she swallowed a fly perhaps shell cry.
(Repeat with other felt objects)

Apples and Bananas

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas

Now change the vowel sound to A:

I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays

I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays

Now change the vowel sound to E:

I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees

I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees

Now change the vowel sound to I:

I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and bi-ni-nis

I like to ite, ite, ite i-ples and bi-ni-nis

Now change the vowel sound to O:

like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos

I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos

Old McDonald had a Farm

Old McDonald had a farm
Eee iiii eeee iiii ooooooo
And on his farm he had a ______
Eee iiii eeee iiii ooooooo
With a (animal sound twice) here and a (animal sound twice) there
Here a (animal sound) there a (animal sound) everywhere a (animal sound twice)
Old McDonald had a farm
Eee iiii eeee iiii oooooo
Brown Bag Chant
Brown bag, brown bag whats inside?
Show me a piece of whats inside.

Bug under the Rug Chant

Bug, bug. Who is under the rug?

RESOURCES:
- http://easypreschoolcraft.blogspot.com/2012/05/paper-plate-banjo-music-craft.html
- http://allourdays.com/2012/10/duplo-blocks-counting-tower-matching-busy-bag.html
- http://www.teachpreschool.org/2011/10/snap-painting-is-very-messy-in-preschool/
- http://www.kidsplaybox.com/science-experiments-kids-rainbow-lemon-eruptions/
- Lesson Plans in workroom
- Pinterest.com