![]() ![]() Lesson Idea #3: The Dreidel Song – Introducing the Dreidel with a Game Here’s a great web resource with videos and more information: During the B section, emphasize that the inner circle students make sure and take small steps so that they don’t run into each other.If your students have a difficult time with a Right Elbow turn, I like to help them visualize it by saying they’re pretending to give their partner a handshake, but then “Sike!” and skip the hand and connect elbows instead!.This repeats one more time for a total of 32 beats (16×2). Next, the students do a Right Elbow turn with their partner for 8 beats, ending in the same spot. This makes the inner circle get smaller and the outer circle larger. This happens 4 times during the A section (32 beats total 4 beats of walking and 4 beats of “Bim, Bam, Bom”)įor the B section, students face their partner and take 4 steps Backwards and 4 steps Forward. For setup, you’ll have your students in a Double Circle / Concentric circles, meaning that they are shoulder to shoulder with a partner, facing the same direction.ĭuring the A section, everybody walks around the circle with their partner and on each repeat of the phrase “Bim, Bam, Bom”, you stop, face your partner and do a “Pat, Clap, Double Partner Clap” to the words “Bim, Bam, Bom”. This dance is actually choreographed for kids, is in Hebrew, and showcases the words “Bim Bam Bom” often within the song. Lesson Idea #1: “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” – Song adapted from a Yiddish folk song It’s a wonderful segway into discussing a little bit about the menorah and the meaning behind it, along with adding an instrumental focus within our lesson. One little (2, 3, 4…) candle(s), it’s Hanukkah tonightĪfter each candle added, the triangles play that number of times before singing “burning bright” and “it’s Hanukkah tonight”. One little (2, 3, 4…) candle(s) burning bright We start singing the song, which is additive in nature as the number of candles increasing, corresponding to the eight days of Hanukkah. Finally, the students who aren’t the candles will be given a Metal percussion instrument (Triangle works great!) to play along on the numbers within the song. Next, go ahead and give each student a little paper “flame” that they’ll put on their heads during the song, meaning that their body is the candle! The student in the middle of the menorah is in charge of “lighting” each candle (perhaps tapping on the students’ heads) throughout the song. Whoever is the student in the middle will be in charge of “lighting” the candles. ![]() Lesson Idea #2: Song and Instrument Activity from the Kindergarten – GamePlan bookįirst, you’ll need to set up 8 students to sit in a row to simulate the 8 candles of the menorah. I find it such a joy to sing with my students and a wonderful introduction song for them to first introduce them to Hanukkah. There are 4 verses and it gives a great little overview about various Hanukkah traditions like the menorah, latkes, dreidel, and presents. It has a really cute melody and the first verse is a riddle, which after singing to my students, I prompt them for what holiday we are talking about. I want to shoutout Aileen Miracle and her blog for the initial inspiration for this lesson idea, as I first saw it over there and found a wonderful recording by Rachel Buchman, which you can find below. Lesson Idea #1: “Nu in the Middle” – Song by Rachel Buchman ![]() Of course, I will still make mistakes, but I am trying my best to find authentic content to be teaching whenever I feel I am not an expert! Primary Lesson Ideas It is so important to me that I expand my scope of lesson repertoire to allow my lessons to be culturally relevant to all my students. However, I feel it is so important and valuable to research and share what I can about the musical traditions associated with Hanukkah with my students and, particularly for my students who celebrate at my school, I always want them to feel seen and feel it is the least I can do for them to be represented. In today’s blog, I will be sharing 2 Primary and 3 Upper Elementary Lesson ideas to incorporate learning about Hanukkah into your General Music classes! If you are new around here, my name is Jessie and I am an Elementary Kindergarten through 6th Grade General Music Teacher in Arizona and, along with this blog, I also have a YouTube channel where I share modern lesson ideas, planning and organizational tips and everything in the General music world!īefore we get going, I believe it is important for me to share that I am not an expert on Hanukkah and am still learning myself every year, as I do not celebrate Hanukkah myself. ![]()
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