43 songs and singing games about cats, dogs, ducks, bears, horses, sheep, llamas and birds. Each one demonstrated on video, with the score and notes on how to run it.
Seven days free, then $22.95/month or $199.95/year
Why animals
Animals are the largest topic in the library by a wide margin, 43 songs out of 158, and that is not an accident of collecting. Traditional children's repertoire is full of them because an animal gives a child something concrete to act out, imitate and laugh at. The musical concept arrives underneath while they are busy being a naughty kitty cat.
Play acting songs for the youngest grades, where every child takes a turn as the animal. Drawing songs, where the class draws a pig, a mouse, a monkey or a duck while singing the instructions. Circle and partner games. And a thematic unit that runs across grades, since the range here goes from PreK all the way to sixth.
Animal songs fit naturally when a unit comes around, and they carry over into science and read-aloud time. Five Little Ducks and Five Little Chickadees are counting songs. The Birdies Fly Away comes from Germany, San Chan Ga from Japan, A Thief Came and Stole Two Sheep from the Caribbean.
"Good music teaching is not about music. It's about creating joy, humor, and love in the classroom. Music is simply the way to get there."
The list
Grades are Deborah's recommendations. Songs marked free are open to everyone with no account. Titles that link have a page you can read now.
All 43 here, plus the rest of the 150+ song library
Questions
158 songs and singing games, each one demonstrated on video, with the score and notes on how to run it. Free for seven days.
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