Tiny Tots Explore the Outdoors Activity Guide

VIRTUAL ACTIVITY GUIDE

Welcome to the 2020-2021 Tiny Tots season! We are so excited that our virtual programs will allow us to bring music directly to you - to your home, your school, your community, and wherever else your imagination takes us. We've got a great season planned for you - we'll explore the outdoors, go on an ocean adventure, solve an orchestra mystery, and more.

There is so much for you to enjoy this fall. Make sure you spend time on the full Tiny Tots platform exploring all the music and activities, listening to our Explore the Outdoors Spotify playlist, and diving into this packet to learn more about each piece and engage with its concepts and themes.

In this packet, you'll find: In the Performance: This section will tell you more about each piece of music and the composers. In purple text you'll see how children will be prompted to engage with the music.

Have Fun With the Music: This section includes an activity to help your child engage with the theme for each piece. Try listening to the music as you complete some of these activities.

We are thrilled to have you join us at Tiny Tots this fall and, if you've purchased a full-season package, throughout the year.

We hope you enjoy your musical adventure!

Musically,

Sara Hare Program Manager

GRAND CANYON SUITE - SUNRISE FERDÉ GROFÉ

IN THE PERFORMANCE

Each movement of the Grand Canyon Suite portrays a different Grand Canyon scene. In Sunrise, you’ll hear the beautiful rising sun as Grofé once saw it over the Grand Canyon. Children can get out their sun masks and use them to act like the rising sun during this piece.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Sunshine Mask Make a sun mask to use while you watch this piece of music. Every activity book that was mailed to you has the mask for you to color and cut, but you can also download it online here.

ESTANCIA - MALAMBO ALBERTO GINASTERA IN THE PERFORMANCE

Ginastera is an Argentinian composer born in Buenos Aires and known as one of the most important composers of the Americas. Much of his music incorporates Argentinian folk tunes. Estancia is a ballet based on an poem about a gaucho, an Argentinian cowboy. A malambo is a traditional gaucho dance and is full of energy and spirit. Little ones will feel the excitement of starting on a journey to explore the outdoors.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Outdoor Symphony Engage in some quiet, active listening from your home, school, or anywhere in the great outdoors. Encourage your child(ren) to sit quietly outside and listen – really listen. What do they hear? Birds, voices, car engines, their own breaths? Have them write a list or draw pictures of everything they hear – younger kids may need help with this process. Try it in different locations to see how the sounds change. This is an especially great way to help pass the time when patience is required.

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE IN THE PERFORMANCE

You Are My Sunshine was originally a country music song, recorded in 1939. However, it has been covered and re-recorded so many times that it’s lost most of its ties to country music. Sing and dance along with the music.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Sun STEM The sun is a wonderful source of inspiration for science-based learning. Younger children can have fun experimenting by making sun prints with construction paper and objects of different shapes and sizes.

Older children can explore why sunsets are yellow and orange using three simple tools.

THE FOUR SEASONS - SUMMER ANTONIO VIVALDI

IN THE PERFORMANCE

Each of the movements from The Four Seasons is based on a poem. The Summer movement is about a hot, still day that is suddenly interrupted by a big thunder and lightening storm. Kids will turn their bodies into a thunderstorm along with the music.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Indoor Thunderstorm Make your very own thunderstorm using supplies you already have. Whether you just make thunder sounds and experiment with lighting shocks or put it all together to make a big indoor storm, this activity will have your child(ren) stretching their imagination and science skills all at the same time.

THE ENTERTAINER SCOTT JOPLIN IN THE PERFORMANCE

Scott Joplin began playing instruments at a young age and rose to musical importance even during his own lifetime, despite the racism he faced. He is often called “The King of Ragtime” because of the immense popularity of his ragtime compositions, music that is syncopated or has a “ragged” rhythm. The Entertainer was appreciated during Joplin’s life and became popular again in the 70s when it was adapted for use in a movie. Jump in puddles along with this upbeat, bouncy music.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Ragtime!

Ragtime music is fun and upbeat and makes the backdrop to any afternoon playtime. Check out our playlist featuring some of Scott Joplin’s most famous rags as well as some by other composers. And learn more about Joplin and ragtime music by checking out this activity post on our website.

TRIO, OPUS 45 LOUISE FARRENC IN THE PERFORMANCE

Louise Farrenc was a composer, teacher, and virtuoso pianist who came from an artistic family. Her work was very well respected during her lifetime. She composed music mostly for piano or small groups of instruments, called chamber ensembles. The piece you will hear was originally a trio for piano, flute, and cello that we have arranged for a different group of our musicians than originally intended. Jump into the river and swim and splash about while you listen to this piece.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC

Floating Fun Little ones can create their own floating fun, be it for bath time or outdoor puddle play, by making their own boats. There are so many ways to create floatable boats using items you have around the house. We love this very simple sponge boat that is great for younger hands and this popsicle stick boat that will engage older children.

BLACKBIRD PAUL MCCARTNEY&JOHN LENNON

IN THE PERFORMANCE

According to McCartney, the guitar part of this song was inspired by a classical piece by Bach and he has mentioned multiple possible meanings for the lyrics, from simply being inspired by a blackbird in India to comments on racism. We will be joined by dancers from Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and violinist Lionel Young on electric violin for this piece, with choreography created by the renowned choreographer and performer Geoffrey Holder and arranged for electric violin by Lionel Young.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Find Your Inspiration Have your child(ren) think of something that inspires them, makes them happy, or that they are passionate about and encourage them to create a piece of art based on it. Depending on the age of the child, this art could be more or less complicated- younger children may simply draw a picture whereas older children could make up a dance, sing a song, or write a poem inspired by their object/idea.

GOING ON A BEAR SEARCH

IN THE PERFORMANCE

This is a classic American children’s song that has become popular in English-speaking countries around the world. It is typically a call and repeat style song, sometimes spoken and sometimes sung. As you listen, repeat the words after the singer and do the movements along with the music as you look for the bear.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Bear Search Map This piece of music takes your little ones on an adventure. After listening to the music, have them create their own bear search adventure map that shows all the places they went to get to the bear. In our story, it’s through tall grasses, a river, a mud, and then a cave.

WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS PYOTR ILYCH TCHAIKOVSKY IN THE PERFORMANCE

The Nutcracker is one of the best-known and most attended ballets today, though when it was originally premiered it was not very successful. It is typically performed at Christmas time and tells the story of a young girl and a nutcracker that comes to life. Move and sway along like dancing flowers in the breeze as you listen to this piece.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC

Flower Dancing Upcycle materials from around the house into these easy egg carton flowers. Little ones can even hold and wave them while they dance along to the music during Tiny Tots to turn themselves into a field of flowers!

VICTORIA GALLOP FRANCIS JOHNSON

IN THE PERFORMANCE

Francis Johnson was an American composer in the early 1900s. He was one of the first black composers to have his music published and was the first black American orchestral composer to present public performances of his work. Originally written for piano, Victoria Gallop sounds like the clip-clopping of a horse. As you listen, imagine you’re riding your horse on the wide-open plains.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Make A Map During this piece we explore one type of landscape: plains. Talk about other types of landscapes with your little one(s): mountains, hills, oceans. Then, learn about your very own landscape by mapping out a room of your school, house, or even your favorite playground or park. Once you’ve created your map, have some fun engagement with it – ask children to walk their fingers from one place to another on the map, point out where certain parts of the room are, or hide a “treasure” and use the map to help them find it.

THE RETURNING HUNTERS AMY BEACH IN THE PERFORMANCE

Amy Beach was the first successful American female composer of large-scale orchestra and instrumental music. She was also a pianist and toured around the world performing her own music.

Originally composed for piano, the Returning Hunters is from one of her pieces exploring themes of Native Alaskans. Pretend to be birds flying high above the trees returning home from a long day of adventure.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC

Animal Exercises During this piece, children are encouraged to fly like birds through the sky. Have them engage in even more animal actions inspired by these fun animal exercises. They’re a great way for kids to explore their imaginations and exercise their bodies at the same time. For added silliness, once your kiddos have the movements down, add emotive adjectives – ask them to move like a happy elephant or a timid bunny.

OLD MACDONALD HAD A BAND

IN THE PERFORMANCE

Enjoy our fun take on Old McDonald Had A Farm as you’re introduced to Old McDonald’s band! Listen to the instruments as they make their own special animal sounds. Dance along with the music.

HAVE FUN WITH THE MUSIC Animal Sensory Bin This animal washing sensory bin is a fun way for kids to engage in outdoor water play when you don't have access to sprinklers or a pool. Fill up one bucket with hardbodied animal toys (or any hard toys if you don’t have animals) and a messy material like flour water, mud, or shaving cream, and then another bucket with soapy water and brushes. Sensory activities like this can keep little ones engaged for ages!

info@insidetheorchestra.org (303) 355-7855