June 2026

Access recordings of class performances:

• Chester Elementary School
• New Hingham Elementary School
• R.H. Conwell Elementary School

Kindergarten
This trimester was focused on using music to tell a story. Students sang story songs like Little Bunny Foo Foo and A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track, and listened to the soundtrack of Peter and the Wolf to identify instruments and explore how sound helps to tell a story. Students also played Soundtrack Mad Libs to tell a story with music. Lastly, students practiced singing “My Little Rooster” for their end-of-year music recital. Students worked on memorizing the lyrics, using singing voices for the melody, starting and ending with silence, and maintaining a calm body.

1st & 2nd Grade
This trimester focused on the reading and playing rhythms and identifying notes on the keyboard. As part of this assignment, students learned to play “Hot Cross Bun” on the keyboard using the notes B, A and G, and the notes E, D, and C. In addition,1st grade students practiced their vocal skills by learning and “El Coqui” and 2nd grade worked on “Purple Ocean” to present at the end of year music showcase. As part of this practice, students worked on memorizing the lyrics, using singing voices for the melody, starting and ending with silence, and maintaining a calm body.

3rd & 4th Grade
This trimester was focused on continuing to practice the recorder and to begin practicing the ukulele. On the recorder, students learned how to play with proper finger positions by covering the holes completely, and using gentle air to produce the appropriate pitches. On the ukulele, students practiced tuning the strings, holding the ukulele in play position, and how to strum the C Chord. As part of this unit on the ukulele, students also learned to sing and strum “Funga Alafia” and 4th grade worked on “Frere Jacques” for their end-of-year music recital. Students worked on blending instruments into the song and playing as an ensemble by starting and ending with silence.

5th & 6th Grade
The main project this trimester was for students to compose their own songs,  using their own melodies and their own lyrics. As part of this project, students had the opportunity to demonstrate their vocal and instrumental skills to present their compositions. 5th grade also worked on the song “Mama Don’t Allow” and 6th grade worked on “Yellow Submarine” to present at the end of year music showcase.