Mrs. Swedberg's Classroom Edit display name

Past projects 109

• We Just Want To Hear Our Music

  Funded Dec 21, 2010

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project "We Just Want To Hear Our Music." Because of your donation we were able to get a record recorder to transfer records to MP3 format and two Classic iPods. Now my students can listen to music put onto the iPods.

  I loved it when my 1st graders asked me why the black CD's (records) were so big. I had to explain how records worked and why CD's were invented. Now everything seems to be going to MP3 format. Now we are using iPods for music.

  Students love listening to books and music on the new iPods. The new iPods can hold all of our class music. Before I was only able to load a small portion of our songs on the older iPods. Without your generous donation we would not have been able to "Hear Our Music." Thank you! ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bing and 4 other donors.

• Books That Sing and Rhyme - Part 2

  Funded Dec 13, 2010

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project "Books That Sing and Rhyme- Part 2." We have been singing story songs since the books arrived in January. I have showed my students new ways to create music using children's books. For my kindergarten music program "Don't Bug Me." I used the book "Over In the Garden," and the tune "Over In The Meadow." Students sang the song at their music program this week. The book was a wonderful visual tool to use as we learned the song. We also retold the story of the "Three Little Pigs" using the familiar tune "The Muffin Man." This was a great way to practice story sequence. Because of your generous donation to our project, I have been able to create projects with my students using children's literature. My favorite project was a sound story to the book "Click Clack Moo Cows That Type." We created a typewriter sound with a ratchet and triangle and made up a melody for the repetitive Click Clack Moo section of the book. We read the book and added music to the story. Then we listened to Leroy Anderson's song "The Typewriter." I have shared this knowledge with other music teachers in the district as well as other staff. Now several teachers will be able to integrate music and children's literature. I can't tell you the difference you are making in the lives of my students. My students are now singing many of their favorite books in music. This skill will help them become better readers and increase their reading fluency.

  Thank you so much!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• Instrument Sound Box

  Funded Dec 13, 2010

  Because of your generous donation to our project "Instrument Sound Box" more than 250 instruments were purchased for my students to enjoy. This collection has helped my students to learn how to read music notation while doing something fun, playing instruments. We have also used the boomwhackers and bells to read and create simple melodies.

  My favorite project was a sound story to the book "Click Clack Moo Cows That Type." We created a typewriter sound with a ratchet and triangle and made up a melody for the repetitive Click Clack Moo section of the book. We read the book and added music to the story. Then we listened to Leroy Anderson's song "The Typewriter."

  Your help made it possible for my students to have a collection of instruments available to learn to read music. The instruments will be a re-usable tool that will benefit a very large number of students. In ten years, the instruments will be enjoyed by more than 5,000 students!”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

  This classroom project was brought to life by Bing and 2 other donors.

• Pictures In Music

  Funded Dec 13, 2010

  Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project "Pictures In Music." We have used the camera for so much. Some of the projects the camera has been used for include an art/music project completed for the 1st grade music program, photos for newsletters, a composing project for 5th graders, pictures of the music program, and capturing many fun activities.

  I have uploaded photos of a few of the murals completed for the 1st grade music program. I collaborated with our school's art teacher. I taught children the music for "Lost At Sea" from "Pirates the Musical" and our art teacher worked with the students to complete eleven murals. Students drew scenery, boats, pirates, fish, sharks, birds, treasure, clouds, and many other items. The items were then cut out and glued onto a large piece of paper. These murals were then photographed several times and put into the digital format. Then, I listened to the music and made a Photostory of all of the art work for the music program.

  Since the music program the murals have been laminated and hung in the halls for all to enjoy. Our school will also be holding its first art fair later this May. I hope you take a moment to look at the photos I have posted. Without your generous donation we would not have been able to complete this project. I am so grateful for your help. ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• Bach To the Future - Composer Biographies Part 1

  Funded Dec 13, 2010

  My students live in a Wii World. Many students copy and paste information they find on the internet. It is important to be able to open a book and research information.

  Because of your generous donation to our project "Bach to the Future-Biographies" you provided my students with an opportunity to study relevant and meaningful musicians. Students had to list sources and learned many study skills that will help them next year in middle school. Students choose a fun and interesting way to present their information. Some students made up a song, drew a picture, made graphic organizers, and created PowerPoint's with information about their composer.

  One of my favorite projects was a rap about Handel. "Born in Germany in 1685, George Fredric Handle was a really cool guy. He wrote music and played the organ too. He also studied law cuz' his dad wanted him to..."

  Thank you so much for allowing my students to participate in this project. We all learned so much about composers and my students learned many valuable research skills. ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• Imagine the Possibilities…iPad…It’s Magical

  Funded Oct 2, 2010

  Thank you so much for your donation to our project iPad – Imagine the Possibilities. The students were so excited to begin using the iPad as soon as it arrived!

  We have been able to use the iPad in so many ways in our music class. We have learned about all sorts of musical styles, the influences of culture on music, listened and learned about composers and artists, instruments, and many other musical concepts. The students have also been able to compose songs on the iPad and then hear it played back to them and make adjustments to the songs after listening to it. We have also installed an app that makes the iPad act like an instrument and the students have been able to play it. The students are excited about "playing" the iPad and we hope to eventually be able to put together a "band" using iPads and iPods.

  Several other teachers have also used the iPad in their classroom. The students have used it to learn math facts, read books, practice their states and capitals, and look at various landforms. The students are so excited about using the iPad that they don't even realize that they are also learning!

  We look forward to learning about music throughout the year with our new iPad. We would not have received the iPad without your help. Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• Music To Our Ears -- Part 1

  Funded Oct 15, 2010

  Thank you so much for your donation to our project "Music To Our Ears – Part 1." Our new CD's have been loaded on our classroom iPods. Each week throughout the year students rotate through music centers and are allowed to listen to the music loaded on these iPods.

  Many of my students enjoyed listening to the new music. We already have a few favorites that include: Itsy, Bitsy, Spider, Dark Brown Is the River, and Jammies. Students have requested me to start doing a spotlight on music. So, I have started to feature one song each week that students can listen to and write about what they hear. My students are now writing about new sounds and have learned about new instruments because of you.

  Thank you so much for your generosity. You have given my students wonderful new music. We look forward to listening to this new music throughout the year because of your donation. ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• Let's Watch a Story - Scholastic Videos

  Funded Oct 8, 2010

  Thank you so much for your donation to our project "Let's Watch a Story." We now have a wonderful media collection that will be used throughout each and every school year, benefiting more than 300 of the students that pass through my door each week.

  We already have a few favorite stories. For Halloween, we watched "Dem Bones," read the book, and played "Dem Bones Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones using Boomwhackers. Then we did music centers using the themed tubs you also helped us get. This collection will help my students make cross-curricular connections, give me another way to promote literacy in music class and allow the students to sing story songs.

  Thank you so much for your generosity. You have given my students a wonderful new media collection. We look forward to listening to this new music throughout the year because of your donation. ”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• Colorful Classroom Carpet

  Funded Oct 8, 2010

  Thank you so much for your donation to our project Colorful Classroom Carpet. The new classroom carpet has allowed me to give all of my students their own place to learn during whole group instruction. We have all of our lessons in our meeting area on the carpet where they can stay more focused and attentive.

  This carpet brightened the whole room and gave each student their own comfortable space. Now we sing, dance, imagine, listen to music, and move on our beautiful new rug. The individual squares on the carpet has provided my young learners with the boundaries that will aid in classroom management. This carpet has provided the fun, exciting space that my kids needed.

  We look forward to using our new carpet throughout the year. We would not have received these materials without your help. Thank you so much for your generous donation to our project.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg

• World Drumming -- Part 1

  Funded Oct 15, 2010

  Thank you so much for your donation to our project "World Drumming – Part 1." We have been reading simple rhythms with the new drums. The students are more precise about reading rhythms and love the drums much better than clapping. Now they enjoy it when we practice reading rhythms.

  I have even bought a Wii game called "Let's Tap." Students play this game by having a drum and Wii remote. Students place the remote upside down on the drum. Then the game has the students play rhythms on the drum and gives them a score based on how accurately they play the rhythm. The students beg for this activity on music center day. I have noticed their rhythm reading skills grow by leaps and bounds.

  Thank you so much for your generosity. You have given my students beautiful new instruments and the joy of making music. We look forward to using the beautiful drums throughout the year.”

  With gratitude,

  Mrs. Swedberg