Lesson Plan 5 (in the computer lab) : Creating "Poor, Poor Arthur" Take-home Books Using KidPix

Objectives:

1. To create new lyrics to the song, "Old McDonald Had a Farm", using the animals they have discussed with their classroom teacher after reading "Arthur's Pet Business". (27.A.1b)

2. To create a KidPix presentation using these new lyrics. (27.B.1)

Classroom Materials:

• KidPix software program on the computers.

Vocabulary:

• section A
• section B

Prior knowledge:

The students are familiar with the KidPix program.

Time:

Two, thirty minute music classes.

Instructional Procedure:

1. Sing the song, "Old McDonald Had a Farm". Allow the children to add appropriate verses. Explain section A and section B of the song.

2. Discuss the pets that Arthur took care of in the book that they read in their classroom, "Arthur's Pet Business" by Marc Brown.

3. Substitute one of the animals from the story into the melody, "Old McDonald Had a Farm", only change the words to "Poor, poor Arthur had a pet business, E-I-E-I-O. And in his business, he had a (animal name), E-I-E-I-O......."

4. Sing the song again, changing the animal each time.

5. Send the students in pairs to computers and have them create a KidPix presentation, using their newly created lyrics to the song.

6. Add sound to the program by having the students sing their song.

7. Play the presentations that the students created.

8. Print copies of the work and make into a book that the students can take home and read.

Reutrn to Lynn Gilmore's Home Page.

Submitted: July 1, 1998