SPIN THE UMBRELLA

Well, somebody forgot to tell the skies above that the month of April, and the showers we have grown to expect within it, has passed!  It is now the latter half of May, and the forecast for Thursday through Sunday here in southeast Michigan, is 4 straight days of the wet stuff!  Here is a fun, rainy day experience that can be used throughout the year to brighten any drizzly day.

Music Therapy Experience Name:

Spin The Umbrella

Materials Needed:

Child sized umbrella 

Board Maker 3 ½” x 4” cards  or blank Index cards / markers

Tape or Velcro

Chant or Lyric sung a cappella:

(Loosely based on the tune “Pop Goes the Weasel”)

Round and round the umbrella goes

Where it lands nobody knows

Choose a card when it says, “My Turn”

Answer the question and you will learn.

Preparation / Procedure:

Use Board Maker or write on separate index cards rain-related tasks/questions.  (See suggestions below).  Open the umbrella, turn it over, and tape or Velcro the cards face down around the inside of the umbrella.  Attach a card labeled “My Turn” to one of the spokes.  If possible, students should stand in a large circle around the umbrella. Invite a volunteer to spin the umbrella.  When the umbrella stops spinning, ask the student standing across from the “My Turn” card to choose any task card and complete the task. (Assist as necessary to read and/or comprehend/complete the task or answer the question.)  Ask the student who completed the task to be the new “spinner” and sit down as the next task begins.  Note: If space is an issue, students can stand or sit in a straight line and the therapist can manipulate the spins of the umbrella to give each student a turn. 

Suggestions for rain-related tasks/ questions:

Text Only Cards:

Count the colors in a rainbow: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet

Spell rain forward and backwards

Count the letters in RAIN

Name 2 words that rhyme with rain

Name 1 word with the word rain in it

Point to the word that has RAIN in it :  Train      Track

When the sun comes out after it rains, what can you sometimes see in the sky?

What do kids like to jump in when it rains?

Name a word that means the same as rain

What happens to your clothes when you go out in the rain?

How many letters are in the word PUDDLE?

How many letters are in the word UMBRELLA

Board Maker Text + Picture Cards:

Does it rain inside or outside?   ;   What are these called?  (Boots)

Count the raindrops   ;    What animal is swimming in the rain?  (Duck)

How many gray clouds do you see?  (Picture of 2 clouds covering the sun)

Count the puddles   ;   Name the colors in this umbrella  (Show the colors)

Count the colors in this umbrella (Show and number the colors)

Count the colors in the rainbow  (Show and number the colors)

Happy spinning and don’t get dizzy.  Leave that to the umbrella!

Liz and Sue

                                  

Movement Sequence

When I heard last week that Prince had passed away, I knew that I wanted to use some of his music with my groups.  I also wanted to implement a new movement experience.  So, like a good therapist I decided to combine the 2!  This music therapy experience works on a variety of skills such as increasing motor skills, following directions, sequencing, making choices, counting, and working as a group.

Music Therapy Experience Name:

Movement Sequence

Materials Needed:

-music with a strong, steady beat such as Prince's "Raspberry Beret" (I use recorded music so that I can model the movements)

-pictures of different movements (see below)

-velcro board (optional)

-dry erase board (optional)

Making Movement Choice Cards:

-I used boardmaker and google images to find images that I liked. 

-Print out a variety of pictures representing movements such as clap hands, pat knees, stomp feet, roll hands, move arms, raise the roof, shake hands, snap, etc.  These can be tailored to your groups' needs and abilities.  See below for the images that I use.

-Laminate and cut pictures to create individual cards

-Add velcro if desired

Procedures:

-Introduce the movement choices

-Explain that each person will choose a movement to create a sequence that the group will do together.

-Invite each student to choose a movement

-Arrange the cards, in the order chosen, so that everyone can see them.  This could be on a velcro board, on the table or floor in front of them, etc..

-Tell the group that each movement will be done for 8 counts and that the sequence will be repeated over and over until the end of the song.

-Practice doing each movement for 8 counts without the music.

-Turn on music and model doing each movement, in order, for 8 counts each.

Variations:

-If you do not want to make pictures, you can ask students to name or demonstrate a movement that you or the student can then write on a dry erase board.

-You can use any music that you think will be motivating to your group!

-Change the number of times you do the sequence to 16 to allow for students with slower processing times or decrease the number of times for each movement to 4 to make it more challenging.

-Here is a link to a website that has some fun pictures of different dance moves.

http://susanfitchdesign.blogspot.com/search?q=do+as+I%27m+doing

This experience is really flexible and adaptable!  I find it a great way to use music that my clients suggest, but that I can't figure out a way to make meaningful and goal oriented. 

Liz and Sue