I decided this year to try something different besides just recorder karate. I am giving it a Star Wars twist! Instead of earning belts (which are a pain to cut, and replace, and kids lose them all the time) students will earn lightsaber colors and will get a character from the series to add to the color they earn. Students get to decide whether or not they want to earn characters from the Galactic Empire (the evil folks), or characters from the Rebel Alliance (the good folks). Once they choose a path, dark or light side, that is the character path they must stay in. I have placed ten different colored lightsabers mostly following the colors from recorder karate plus a gold saber for those who surpass black, along the wall in the hallway. I am fortunate that I have an entire hallway to myself where I can place all the materials (student names, lightsabers, characters) along the wall where all students can see the 4th graders progress. I am also fortunate that we only do recorders in the 4th grade in my district. Was it tedious cutting out the different characters and lightsabers? YES! Will it be worth it to see my kids having fun learning recorder and doing it to a system that is relevant to their interests? YES! I am ok with the load of prep work as long as I know it is fun, engaging, challenging, and something I can re-use year after year (aside from student names of course).
So Recap:
-Kids earn light saber colors to place specific characters when they pass each recorder song. -The characters can be from the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance, but the side of the force they choose to align with is the side of the force where they must stay.
-Within 2 lightsabers they also can rank from Youngling all the way up to Jedi Master by the time they get to Black and Gold.
-Students are only required to complete through the Purple lightsaber (same as purple belt, notes BAGED)
I am super excited to start this off in a few weeks! Soon I will post my screen cast videos that I use to flip the learning of recorder with my 4th graders! Stay tuned:)
-Lauren
So Recap:
-Kids earn light saber colors to place specific characters when they pass each recorder song. -The characters can be from the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance, but the side of the force they choose to align with is the side of the force where they must stay.
-Within 2 lightsabers they also can rank from Youngling all the way up to Jedi Master by the time they get to Black and Gold.
-Students are only required to complete through the Purple lightsaber (same as purple belt, notes BAGED)
I am super excited to start this off in a few weeks! Soon I will post my screen cast videos that I use to flip the learning of recorder with my 4th graders! Stay tuned:)
-Lauren
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