Who Stole the Cookie? Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan #: AELP-MUS0209
Submitted by: Katie Knepshield
Email: katieknepshield@yahoo.com
School/University/Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Date: January 24, 2003

Grade Level: 1, 2

Subject(s):

Arts/Music
Mathematics/Patterns

Duration: Two 45-minute sessions

Description: This music lesson teaches the concept of rhythm and integrates math by reviewing patterns.

Goals: National Standards of Music Education published by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) :

(1) Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
(4) Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
(8) Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

Objectives:

Students will be actively involved in chanting and following the given rhythm throughout the lesson.

Working with a partner, students will be able to create and perform their own rhythm.

Materials:

4 acorn patterns with magnets attached
4 turkey patterns with magnets attached
4 oak leaf patterns with magnets attached
4 maple leaf patterns with magnets attached
cookie jar
cookies

Vocabulary:

pattern – When objects, colors, or notes repeat over and over again in a particular order.

rhythm – A musical pattern.

Procedure:

Lesson Focus:
Ask the students if they remember what a pattern is. Place the acorns and maple leaves on the board in the pattern of: Acorn, Maple leaf, Acorn, Maple leaf. Ask the students if they see a pattern; ask for a volunteer to come to the board and finish the pattern with the remaining materials. Have the class repeat the pattern. Place the turkeys and oak leaves on the board in the pattern of: Oak leaf, Oak leaf, Turkey, Oak leaf, Oak leaf. Again, ask the students if they see a pattern; ask for a volunteer to come to the board and finish the pattern with the remaining materials. Have the class repeat the pattern.

Main Event:
Students will be learning about a music pattern called a rhythm. Demonstrate three different music patterns and have the students join in. Introduce the song, Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar? by asking students if they like cookies and if they have ever heard of the song. Tell the students that on one they will stand up; on two they will quietly move to a chair in the circle; and on three they will sit down. Say one… two… three. Demonstrate how the song will be sung. Demonstrate the rhythm with the song. (The rhythm could be demonstrated by clapping with the beat for the first round, continuing with the second round by adding another beat and clapping twice for every quarter note; this rhythm can be altered by incorporating clapping, snapping, stomping, or ponching. Ponching can best be described as knee clapping. It is just the motion of keeping the rhythm on your knees versus clapping with your hands.) The lyrics for Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar? are as follows:

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?
Fill in child’s name stole the cookie from the cookie jar!
Child responds: Who me?
Teacher: Yes you!
Child: Couldn’t be!
Teacher: Then who??… and the teacher or that child continues with the song

Explain the rules: As a group, the song will begin and individual’s names will be called on. The students will need to continue the same rhythm while the song is being sung. The student who is called upon must also continue the rhythm and answer back without missing a beat. If any student misses a beat in the rhythm, he/she will be asked to go to the cookie jar in the center of the circle. The rhythm will change throughout the continuation of the song.

Ask if there are any questions. Start the song and rhythm. Continue the song, while watching for errors and changing the rhythm. Once there is only one person left, that student becomes the winner. Everyone is rewarded for participation by receiving one cookie. The winner will receive two cookies because that student demonstrated understanding of rhythm and kept the beat throughout the entire activity. On one the students will once again stand; on two the students will move to their assigned seats; and on three the students will sit down. Say one… two… three.

Closure:
Inform students that they will be responsible for creating a rhythmic pattern with a partner. They will only be able to use the clapping, snapping, stomping, and ponching methods to create their rhythms. Remind the students to work cooperatively and quietly. At the end of the period, stop and tell the students that they will be performing their rhythms in class tomorrow.

Assessment: Observe students’ participation in the cookie song. Listen to and observe students’ rhythms during the next class period.

Useful Internet Resources:
* Lesson Plans Page – Cookie Jar
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MusicRhythmBeatPatterns-WhoStoleCookieFrom-Idea12.htm

* National Standards for Music Education – MENC
http://www.menc.org/publication/books/standards.htm

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