Recorder Name Game & Recorder Four Corners
Submitted by Suzanne Humphreys, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Idea posted 2002-06-25
On the final days before Spring Break, I wanted to lighten up my lessons, so I created a couple of recorder games for my intermediate students to play. As a thank you to all the generous contributors out there, I offer you these ideas. Enjoy them.
Recorder Name Game
On an 11 x 17 piece of paper, draw a picture of a large recorder standing vertically in the center. Within the picture of the recorder, in large type, print the word,
R
E
C
O
R
D
E
R
S
The students' task is to print on the left side, music words that end with each letter of the word RECORDERS. On the right side, print music words that begin with each letter of the word. The students may team up with a partner of their choice or an assigned partner and compete to be the first finished with the correct number of words. It spurs the enthusiasm when the task becomes a competition. The children love the challenge.
Example of finished assignment:
- wagne R hythm
- baroqu E cho
- romanti C lassical
- pian O pera
- percy grainge R hapsody
- woodwin D ance
- flut E lvis
- recorde R ock and Roll
- bras S olo
Recorder Four Corners
Played as traditional Four Corners Game, i.e. each corner of the room is given a special identity. If you were playing Instrumental Four Corners, for example, each corner would be identified by an instrument family: strings, woodwinds, percussion, brass. In Recorder Four Corners, each corner is identified by a pre-learned recorder song, e.g. Hot Cross Buns, Frere Jacques, Twinkle Twinkle, Merrily We Roll Along.
One student sits in the center of the room with eyes closed. Teacher plays a recording of recorder music while other students move around the room. Teacher stops music, circulating children stop at the corner which is closest to them. Student in center plays one of the pre-assigned songs. Students standing in that corner must return to their seats. As those students are returning, the others must play the "corner song." (Hot Cross Buns, Frere Jacques, Twinkle Twinkle, Merrily We Roll Along). Game continues until there is only one student left. That student then becomes *it* and takes the place of the previous student who was sitting in the center of the room.
