Finding Home with a Note Named 'Do'

Lesson Plan • Unit 2, Lesson 7

Duration: 30 Minutes

Grade: 2nd Grade Music

Objective

Students will identify "Do" as the musical "home base" (tonal center) and perform simple Do-Re-Mi patterns.

Key Concepts

Solfege (Do, Re)
Tonal Center ("Home")
Pentatonic Scale Introduction
Aural Recognition of 'Do'

Materials Needed

1
Finding 'Do' Slides
2
Solfege Hand Sign Cards
3
"Hot Cross Buns" Sheet

Instructional Arc

05'

Warm-up: The Pitch Ladder

Sing a scale starting from So down to Mi. Then, "drop" down to the lowest note they've learned today: Do. Explain that Do is where melodies like to rest.

08'

Introduce: Do and Re

Show the hand signs for Do (fist) and Re (diagonal flat palm). Practice the sequence Do-Re-Mi. Explain that this is the beginning of the "musical stairs."

10'

Game: Home Base Tag

Teacher sings a variety of notes. If the teacher sings "Do," students have to touch their desk (home base). If any other note is sung, they keep their hands in the air.

07'

Instrument Transfer: Hot Cross Buns

Use the xylophones. Identify Mi-Re-Do (E-D-C). Play the first line of "Hot Cross Buns" as a class. Notice how it ends on the "Home" note, Do.

Assessment & Differentiation

Check for Understanding

Listen for the "Major 2nd" interval between Do and Re. Do students hear that Do is the lowest note in this group?

Differentiation

Support: Focus only on Do and Mi (the "Do-Mi" skip) before adding Re.
Challenge: Sing the whole pentatonic scale (Do Re Mi So La) up and down.

Finding Home with a Note Named 'Do'

Home Base Do Lesson Plan

Finding 'Do' Slides

Solfege Hand Sign Game

Hot Cross Buns Activity Sheet