Carnival of the Animals Summer Camp

Right now, I am living and breathing summer camps- mainly because we're taking a long vacation right before the camps begin, so I've been working on creating curriculums, and recruiting students... So, as I gather everything I need together, I thought this might be a great way to share what I'm planning, and to also finalize my plans and to BE SURE that I am prepared... As we went with The ARK for the name of the studio, I focused on animals and rainbows (both of which I LOVE!). For the younger kids, I wanted to take a look at Camille Saint-Saens and Carnival of the Animals. A huge part of this camp will focus not just on animals and music, but also on habitat and the environment- again, as I teach I also explore the things that are most important to me, and right now the environment is taking up considerable mental space...

Day 1- Overview of Carnival of the Animals

Beginning with welcomes, introductions, rules, layout (where is the bathroom, etc.) and other beginning information.
We'll begin by listening to the entirety of Carnival of the Animals while reading the book "The Carnival of the Animals" by Jack Prelutsky, coloring a listening map and talking about what we expect to hear- high or low sounds, fast or slow tempo, loud or soft dynamics, what instruments, etc?

The suite runs about 22 minutes. Combined with discussions and readings, I anticipate this to take about 35 minutes. We'll close out the first hour with playtime on the playground.

For the second hour, we'll be experimenting with various instruments and playing Animal Sountracks.

Listening map can be found at: https://www.thewiseowlfactory.com/PDFs/2013/01/free-carnival-of-the-animals.pdf

Day 2- Introduction and Lion

We'll begin by reading the first two verses of Ogden Nash's poem "Verses for Camille Saint-Saens's Carnival of the Animals" found here: https://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/RZ/lehre/C++/4/carnival

Next, we'll listen again to both "Introduction" and "Royal March of the Lion" and write our own verses together based on what we hear.

Then, we'll build lion puppets- I keep going back and forth between paper bag puppets, or stick puppets, but we'll be building some sort of lion puppet!

Take a play break!

Discuss tempo (fast and slow) play with rhythm sticks. Find a steady beat, sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" at various tempos.

Listen to "Royal March" again. Can we find the beat? Can we march to the beat? Do we hear the lion roar? Grab the puppets, listen again, and ROAR along with the music.

Sing: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Day 3- Hens and Roosters

We have a fabulous flock of chickens! 2 araucanas, 2 barnvelders, 2 sex-linked, and a Cochin make up our flock, and we'll start out the day visiting them, feeding them some mealworms, and just seeing what they do.

Next, we'll read the Ogden Nash verse for Chickens.

We'll listen to "Hens and Roosters" again, and write our own verses based on what we hear.

We'll discuss long/short sounds and the terms "staccato" (short and separated) and "legato" (smooth and connected). Then, we'll do staccato and legato walking while listening to "Hens and Roosters" one more time- skipping for the staccato parts, and walking for the legato parts. Does this piece SOUND like what we SAW the chickens do?

Take a play break!

Build chicken puppets- using: http://iheartcraftythings.com/chick-finger-puppets.html

Learn: The Chickens (from the Kodaly in Kindergarten book)- using the props
Sing: Their Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens
Sing/Review: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".

Day 4- Aquarium

Both day 4 and 5 are heavy on the concept of "habitat".

We'll start out visiting our small fish pond, feeding the fish, and looking for frogs. Observe: what is around the pond- plants, rocks, etc. What do fish and frogs need to live? What other kinds of aquatic animals do we know? How can we help create good habitats for our aquatic friends?

Read the Ogden Nash verse

Listen again to "Aquarium" and write our own poem based on what we've seen, discussed, and heard.

Egg carton ocean craft/puppet: http://homeschoolpreschool.net/easy-egg-carton-ocean-animals-craft/

Play break- We'll spend some time swimming in our small splash pool! Remind parents to send swimwear and towels.

​During our play break, we'll also take one more listen to aquarium while blowing whole note bubbles.

Learn: "Under the Sea"
Review: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
"The Chickens"
"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"

Day 5- Aviary and Final Puppet Show!

We'll start the day outside in one of the garden areas where we've got bird feeders set up. We'll talk about what is an aviary, and how can we create a good habitat for birds- what do they need?

Build a bird feeder: http://www.therealisticmama.com/12-kid-made-bird-feeder-crafts/

Back inside: read Ogden Nash verse

Listen again to "Aviary"

Write our own poem for "Aviary" based on what we've observed and heard.

Learn: "Feed the Birds"
Review: "In the Jungle"
"The Chickens"
"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"
"Under the Sea"


Play break!

12:00- at pick up time, we'll do a brief puppet show/performance

Read OUR verses for "Introduction" and "Royal March of the Lion". Listen to the music while the kids roar with their lion puppets
Sing: "In the Jungle"
Read OUR verses for "Hens and Roosters". Listen to the music while the kids staccato/legato step with their puppets
Chant: "The Chickens"
Sing: "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"
Read OUR verses for "Aquarium". Listen to the music while the kids blow 4 count bubbles and display their aquatic animals
Sing: "Under the Sea"
Read OUR verses for "Aviary". Listen to "Aviary"- chicken puppets resurface.
​Sing: "Feed the Birds"