Monster Music Mash
Today, I am going to share three of my favorite strategies to use during the Halloween season!
1. Song: "Monster Mash"
There are so many great ways to use this song! I started out using "Monster Mash" as an instrument song where the students have to follow my lead and directions. I velcro-ed pictures of friendly monsters onto the faces of frame drums and paddle drums, and let the students mash the monsters! Between each verse, I would say fun prompts like "Oh no! The monster is running away! We need to play fast to catch him!" and "Look! The monster is flying! We need to play our drums up high to catch him!" This provided opportunities for targeting prepositions, body parts, and musical directions.
Another way I used this song was to leave out the word "mash" after the chorus had been repeated several times to let the students fill in the blank. I loved using this strategy with some of my non-verbal students who were able to vocalize an "ahh" sound when prompted in the song.
The last way I used this song over the last few weeks was by turning it into a Madlib! I used this strategy with kids in elementary, middle, and high schools of all ages and abilities. As a therapist, you simply must know your child's abilities, and adjust how you ask the questions based on each student. For instance, I have a student who communicates most effectively via a communication app on his iPad. When it was his turn to answer, I opened up respective folders (places, descriptors, people, etc) and allowed him to make his choice. Other students who may struggle a little more with independently answering open ended questions would receive two or three choices.
Click on the link to the left to download your own copy of the Monster Mash Madlib printable! To make the visual aid accompaniment, print out a copy of the powerpoint, laminate it, and go! Use a dry erase marker to write in the students' answers and erase between sessions! I included suggestions under the song blanks, but if you want a clean version without suggestions, click here.
2. Book: "Ten Timid Ghosts"
This is such a cute book about Halloween that targets goals such as rhyming, numbers, and counting backwards. There isn't a specific tune to accompany the book, but I made up a little 16 bar melody with a simple rhythm and in a minor key. I bring foam ghost shapes I picked up at an arts and craft store that I labeled with the numbers 1-10. As each ghost leaves the house, I have the student find that number and have it "fly away" (aka putting it in a bucket/bag/my hand.) You could also make a simple file folder for matching.
3. Strategy: "Monster on my Shoulder"
This strategy was introduced to me by my lovely practicum student! It is a great song to use with props of any kind: pictures, objects, manipulatives, etc. This strategy targets prepositions and body parts. Depending on the ability level of your students, you can ask the student where they want to put the monster, or you can give them directions, focusing on the specific body parts/prepositions that need reinforcement. Also encourage your students to sing "OH NO!" at the end of each line. I'm excited to use this strategy later in the school year substituting other objects for "monsters" such as leaves, snowflakes, butterflies, etc.
-Sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It-
There's a monster on my shoulder, on my shoulder, OH NO!
There's a monster on my shoulder, on my shoulder, OH NO!
I keep asking him to go, but he always tells me no.
There's a monster on my shoulder, on my shoulder, OH NO!
Other great blogs/resources for Halloween:
I hope a wonderfully spooky Halloween!
"Sing"cerely,
Sarah