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Penny and Her Song
Last updated Monday, April 19, 2021
Author: Kevin Henkes
Date of Publication: 2012
ISBN: 0062081950
Grade Level: Kindergarten (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2021
Synopsis:
Meet Penny, the sweet and curious mouse. When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song. But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up. Oh, but it is a good song, a really wonderful song . . . and Penny wants more than anything to sing it. Will it ever be the right time to sing it?
| Note to readers: |
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You could warm up by practicing some counting songs (One, two, buckle my shoe…)
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This book features a very close nuclear family mom/dad/children singing together.
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Everyone can be a singer – you don’t have to be "good at it." Encourage kids to use their voices.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Do you have a favorite singer or a favorite song?
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Have you ever made up your own song?
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Do you have any younger brothers and sisters?
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Do you ever have to be quiet in your house? Is that hard to do?
Vocabulary
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High/low – musical terms describing pitch (demonstrate examples)
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Feather boa – a long fluffy scarf of feathers
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Flopped/plopped – to sit down suddenly when tired
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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What are those symbols above Penny’s head when she’s singing? (explain musical notes)
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Do you think Penny’s mirror or glass animals are a good audience? What does “That didn’t work” mean? Why does Penny want someone to listen to her?
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Why is Penny finally allowed to sing after dinner? Does everyone sing together then?
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How do you think the babies sound singing in “their own baby way”?
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| Special activities: |
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The Lucky Band created a special video for Reading to Kids to share at our March 13, 2021 reading clubs! Volunteers for those clubs will receive the link to that YouTube video in their email reminder on Friday, March 12, 2021, along with directions on how to share a YouTube video on Zoom.
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Ask the kids if they can tell you what happened. Could they retell the story?
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Practice singing Penny’s song together. You can repeat line by line.
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Penny’s song has rhymes. Can you think of words that rhyme with things you see in the book?
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Music Month activities: Ask the kids to find an object in their house that you can use as a drum or shaker (bowls, pans, spice bottles, bottle of vitamins, coins in s Tupperware… Have some examples ready to show them.
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Watch another music video together:
Baby Shark! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w
Lion King on an airplane! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgSLxl1oAwA
Jimmy Fallon, Sesame Street & The Roots Sing "Sesame Street" Theme (w/ Classroom Instruments): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHogg7pJI_M
Ringo Starr, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots Sing "Yellow Submarine" (Classroom Instruments): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIg3kxeOZMA
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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