Teaching kids to sing a round using "Soft Kitty,"

1. Class: Grade 3 Date: October 7, 2010
Topic: The Joy of Singing
Subject: Music
Lesson Plan by Peter Bodnarchuk
Content:
Students will learn the joy of singing via the popular song “Soft Kitty” heard
on the hit television show Big Bang Theory.
Objectives:
1) Students will begin to develop awareness between listening and vocal
reproduction of the heard sound.
2) Students will learn to sing as a group and ideally as two groups in a
round. Therefore, students will begin to understand the component of
“time” in music.
3) Students will learn that singing can be “fun.”
4) Students will learn that they can reproduce music they hear in daily life.
Assessment:
1) Students will be assessed by their ability to reproduce vocally the melody
presented by the teacher.
2) Students will be assessed by their ability to vocally work in groups.
3) Students will be assessed by their ability to musically reflect their
understanding of the musical component of time.
Common Essential Learnings:
Communication
Critical and Creative Thinking
Independent Learning
Numeracy
Personal and Social Development
Technology
Creative/Productive; Cultural/Historical; Critical/Responsive
Prerequisite Learning:
While students will not be required to have any previous musical knowledge for this
lesson, obviously any prior musical training will only increase the potential for
success in this lesson.

2. Lesson Preparation:
Equipment/Materials:
Computer access to Internet and projector
Whiteboard (IF teacher requires to write the words on the board)
Advanced Preparation:
NA
Presentation: (50 min.)
Set: (5min.)
Students will learn to sing the song “Soft Kitty” both as a single vocal group and in a
round.
Development: (35 min.)
1) Students will revisit the song “Little Sheep” as created in previously taught
“extra” lesson. (This was not a planned lesson as part of the teaching requirement
but done for fun with the kids, whereby we created a song together from scratch.
2) Teacher will ask the class if anyone has heard the song “Soft Kitty” as
shown on the Big Bang Theory.
1) Teacher will then play the round sung by the characters Sheldon and
Penny from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKLlb3Yc‐Us via Internet
and Projector. (begin video at approx. 23sec)
2) Teacher will play the video once more.
3) The teacher will now teach the song, singing it line by line (preferably
with guitar accompaniment) to the entire class. The teacher will sing one
line and then sing it with the class. So on and so forth until the class can
sing it by themselves without accompaniment.
4) The teacher will ask the class to stand and form one group then sing the
entire song once more.
5) Now the group will be divided into two separate groups to sing the round.
6) Teacher will explain when to the second group when to enter and sing
along with them until the class can perform it unassisted.
Closure: (10 min.)
1) If time permits and class goes well, an in‐class or gym performance of the
song would end the lesson beautifully. This of course will depend on the ease
in which the students master this song.
Classroom Management Strategies:
1) Class demonstration and individual/group teacher interaction.
2) Positive encouragement and assurance of the ability to perform vocally.

3. Professional Development Plan:
Focus: Logical Progression of Lesson
How I plan to achieve my focus:
1) Move in a step‐by‐step process.
2) Connect from one musical idea to another (progressing in difficulty).
3) Have the students perform the desired musical composition.
Evidence of Success (Anticipated Outcome): Students will revisit the song “Little
Sheep” as evidence of their increased ability to hold pitch and showcase musical
understanding. “Soft Kitty” will showcase the student’s abilities to work together in
a round.