Adapting Chime Time for Preschool & Kindergarten

With interest in this curriculum from teachers of kindergarten and preschool, here are my suggestions for adapting Chime Time to fit younger children. Please let us know how this works for you with younger children or let us know of other adaptions you try and how they work out.

The clapping patterns, done at a very slow and deliberate pace, will help develop coordination. I would probably wait on the playing patterns which involve slapping left or right leg. You might experiment with that later in the year. Let me know how it goes. The clapping game is too difficult for children this young.

Do not try to sing any song as around. Singing as a round might work in kindergarten if there are two adults, one to sing with half the class and the other to lead in and sing with the other half. I would encourage singing the song for a few weeks so it is very familiar before trying as a round with two adults.

Display the song lyrics. Point to them as you sing. You may find that young children will go up to the charts and practice reading or singing the lyrics on their own. Plan on at least 2 weeks for each new song.

Lesson 1: Adapt the accompaniment to be a drone on F, chiming on the first beat of each measure so a child may be the accompanist. Skip Lesson 1b, singing as a round.

Lesson 2: The accompaniment is a simple ABAB pattern. Young children may be able to play the accompaniment. Practice the walking pattern by slapping left leg then right leg in a steady rhythm. The left mallet is for the low note and the right is for the higher tone. Do not try clapping game.

Lesson 3: Farmer in the Dell has a drone for an accompaniment. This is the easiest for children to play. Let the player use dominant hand. Young children may enjoy this circle game. Sing the song substituting a single consonant sound to build phonemic awareness. See the example in the curriculum: The marmer in the mell. Another example: The karmer in the kell.

Lesson 4: This is the same accompaniment and melody as Lesson 2. There are new lyrics. Don’t do any of the extensions.

Lesson 5: The drone accompaniment is easy. If the melody seems too difficult, skip the song. Do not use any Rain Rhythm cards or activities.

Lesson 6: Adapt the accompaniment to be a drone on F. Skip the extensions other than the first one about seasons and weather.

Lesson 7: Teacher could play the accompaniment. Or try as a drone on C so a child may play it. Do not try any of the Solfege (do, re, mi) activities in the curriculum.

Lesson 8: The drone accompaniment is easy to Oh, How Lovely Is the Evening.

Lesson 9: These are adaptations of previously learned songs. Drone on F, chiming on the first beat of each measure of Christmas Is Here.

Lesson 10:Teacher needs to play accompaniment, if you want to teach Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

Lesson 11: Different text to the melody from lesson 6. Adapt the accompaniment to be a drone on F.

Lesson 12: Skip. Intended for grade 3.

Lesson 13: Adapt the accompaniment to be a drone on low C, chiming on the first beat of each measure so a child may be the accompanist.Good song for phonemic awareness; use single consonants for target sound. Example: Mow, mow, mow your moat. Mently mown the meam.

Lesson 14: The drone accompaniment is easy for a child to play.

Lesson 15: Adapt the accompaniment to be a drone on F, chiming on the first beat of each measure so a child may be the accompanist.

Lesson 16: Easy drone accompaniment. Skip extensions.

Lesson 17: Teacher plays accompaniment.

Lesson 18: Easy drone accompaniment. Skip extensions. Could do actions with hands to go with the lyrics.

Lesson 19: Skip.

Lesson 20: Teacher plays accompaniment. Children might be able to play the circle game, especially if there are two adults to help guide the children.

Lessons 21-25: Skip.

Lesson 26: Teacher plays accompaniment to Bingo.

Lesson 27: Skip.

Lesson 28: This is a fun singing game. Teacher plays accompaniment.

Lessons 29-38: Skip.

Lesson 39: This is a fun singing game with a walking accompaniment that a child may be able to play. Will work better if there are two adults to help guide children.

Lessons 40-44: Skip.

Lesson 45: This is a fun singing game. Teacher needs to play the accompaniment; or try as a drone on F so a child may play it. Will work better if there are two adults to help guide children.

Lesson 46: Optional. This is another poem that fits the melody from lessons 6 and 11.

Skip the remaining lessons which are intended for grades 2 and 3.