Music Makes Math Meaningful

Childhood Education, Winter 2003/2004 by Edelson, R Jill, Johnson, Gretchen

Learning Symbols: Notes and Rests. Symbols are important in math, and this is a friendly, active way to introduce new symbols. Present two musical symbols-quarter notes and quarter rests-that can be displayed in a pattern on individual cards on a window sill, on the tray of a chalkboard, or on the floor (see photo #2). Have the children practice clapping when they see a note and spreading their arms wide for a rest. Subsequently, the children can arrange the symbol cards in various ways for the class to "play," using clapping and arm movements.

Two-element Pattern. Introduce two kinds of rhythm instruments. These rhythm instruments make their sounds either by being shaken (bells, maracas, tambourine) or by being hit (triangles, sticks, wood blocks). Hand out instruments to six children, asking each child to tell how his/her instrument makes a sound. Help the children to arrange themselves in a pattern of shake, hit, shake, hit. Repeat the activity with other children, and ask them to create new patterns.

Listening for Changes in a Musical Pattern. Have the children listen to music (e.g., "The Syncopated Clock" by Leroy Anderson). Demonstrate, with a wood block, the steady tick-tock of the clock, and then have the children raise their hands when they hear a change in the pattern of the music.

Serial Order

Deepening the Concept of Serial Order With Sound. A musical scale is an example of serial order, with sounds arranged according to pitch. Using a xylophone or piano, demonstrate the changes in pitch by going up or down a scale.

Serial Order From Lowest to Highest. Here's a game that children love, and it's a "magical" way to calm a class. Sing and play "The Jack in the Box," playing and/or singing a different tone for each line of the song. The children get down on the floor on all fours and curl up, hiding their eyes. At the highest note ("Yes"), they bounce up.

Jack in the box

Still as a mouse

Deep down inside his

Little white house

Jack in the box

Still as can be

Will he pop out?

Yes! Let's see!

Songs and Visuals To Reinforce the Concept of Serial Order. The song "The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" illustrates serial order in two ways. The old lady swallows the animals in order, from first to second, to third, to fourth . . . all the way to eighth. Another pattern exists in that she swallows the smallest animal first and then swallows increasingly larger ones. If visuals such as posters are used, the children can discuss both kinds of serial order when the song is finished (see photo #3).

Comparing Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

Songs originally written to include cardinal numbers (one, two, three, four), such as "Five Little Chickadees," can be adapted to include ordinal numbers. Have five children come to the front of the room. Have the class sing the song with cardinal numbers. On the second line of the chorus, touch one child, who then "flies away." Deliberately mix up the order of the children you choose, to reinforce the idea that when using cardinal numbers, it doesn't matter which object we take away; we are still subtracting one and getting the same result. Then switch to the ordinal number version of the same song. This time, on the second line of the chorus, touch the first child in line, then the second child, etc. After the song is finished, discuss the difference between the two songs. With ordinal numbers, the order does matter. If the chickadees are lined up in a row, only one chickadee is the first in line, only one is the second in line, etc. The following song is the cardinal version, with the ordinal version in parentheses.