American Orff Schulwerk Association Conference Resource and Application

in 3rd-4th Grade Recorder Lesson Plan

The highlighted sections in the following lesson plan are inspired by the AOSA
workshop “Energize recorder with Exploration and Improvisation” by David
Thaxton.

3rd-4th Grade Lesson Plan: Recorders

Grade: 3 & 4 Teacher: Ms. Dominguez Date: 2/27-3/3/23

Standards:
3rd Grade
Cr.1.3.b Generate musical ideas (such as rhythms and melodies) within a given tonality and/or
meter.
Pr.2.3.b When analyzing selected music, read and perform rhythmic patterns and melodic
phrases using iconic and standard notation.
Re.1.3 Demonstrate and describe how selected music connects to and is influenced by specific
interests, experiences, or purposes.
4th Grade
Cr.1.4.b Generate musical ideas (such as rhythms, melodies, and simple accompaniment
patterns) within related tonalities (such as major and minor) and meters.
Pr.2.4.b When analyzing selected music, read and perform using iconic and/or standard
notation.
Re.1.4 Demonstrate and explain how selected music connects to and is influenced by specific
interests, experiences, purposes, or contexts.

Materials:
Links:
● Fjaskern
● Recorder Slides
 ● A Million Dreams
● Your Name is A Song
B, A, G, BA, AG, GA, BAG WarmUps
Hot Cross Buns
Buns Cross Hot
All Aboard
Hammer Out Your Name

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri

3rd Echos and Buns Cross Learning E Finish

Fjaskern Hot Cross Hot and Hammer Hammer
Out Your
Name

4th Train Songs Train

Whistles +
Song

Lesson Sequence:

Time/ Objectives Lesson

TUESDAY 2/28

Fourth Grade Song of the Week: A Million Dreams (2 min)

Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites Samurai Warmup
● Students mirror
Recorder Warmup:
● Rhythm work Quarters and Eighths (5 min)
● Echo: (5 min)
○ (Are we sounding the same?)
○ Playing one note at a time (adding
notes on) B, A, G
○ Add different rhythms
Activity 2 Echo Songs: (10 min)
● B, A, G
Materials: ● BA
● Recorder Slides ● AG
● A Million Dreams Song:
● Hot Cross Buns
Third Grade Song of the Week: A Million Dreams
Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites Samurai Warmup
● Students mirror
Recorder Warmup:
● Backing track
● Repeat after me:
○ Singing the note with the fingering
○ Playing one note at a time (adding
notes on) B, A, G
○ Add different rhythms

Activity 2 Echo Songs: (10 min)

● B, A, G
● BA
● AG
Song:
● Hot Cross Buns

WEDNESDAY 3/1

Fourth Grade Song of the Week: A Million Dreams (2 min)

Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites
Recorder Warmup:
● Rhythm work Quarters and Halves (5 min)
● Echo: (5 min)
○ (Are we sounding the same?)
○ Playing one note at a time (adding
notes on) B, A, G
○ Add different rhythms
○ From the rhythm bank
○ Ask for a student leader to play from
the rhythm bank, then ask them if
they can create a few of their own

Activity 3 Songs:
● B-ginning
 ● A- Good Start
● G- This is Fun
● Buns Cross Hot

○ ½ playing Buns and ½ playing Hot

Third Grade Song of the Week:

Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites
Recorder Warmup:
● Backing track
● Repeat after me:
○ (Are we sounding the same?)
○ Playing one note at a time (adding
notes on) B, A, G
○ Add different rhythms
○ Ask a student leader to lead echos

Activity 3 Songs:
● B-ginning
● A- Good Start
● G- This is Fun
● Buns Cross Hot
○ ½ playing Buns and ½ playing Hot
 THURSDAY 3/2

Fourth Grade Song of the Week:

Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites Recorder Warmup:
● Backing track
● Repeat after me:
○ From the rhythm bank
○ Ask for a student leader to play from
the rhythm bank, then ask them if
they can create a few of their own

Activity 4 Learning E
● L: Thumb 1, 2, 3/ R: 1, 2
● Even less air
Hammer Out Your Name
● Sing through song first (call and response)
● Say name, respond on low E in the same
rhythm
Third Grade Song of the Week:
Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites Recorder Warmup:
● Backing track
● Repeat after me:
○ (Are we sounding the same?)
○ Playing one note at a time (adding
notes on) B, A, G
○ Add different rhythms
○ Ask a student leader to lead echos

Activity 4 Train Song (All Aboard or Down at the Station)

FRIDAY 3/3

Fourth Grade Recorder Warm-up:

Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites ● With the rhythm bank available: completely
student led warm up. (maybe. We’ll see how
the week goes)

Activity 4 Hammer Out Your Name

 ● Review lyrics and order
● In groups students take turns saying their
name and responding on low E

Third Grade Recorder Warm-up:

Entry Activity/ Transition/ Prerequisites ● Start with teacher echo, then student led
warm up.

Activity 4 Train Song Part 2 with Train Whistles

Train Whistle 1

Train Whistle 2