It was lively, but was it really an appreciation lesson...? Are you feeling that sense of unease in July? (4th Grade Edition)
On the afternoon after swimming, the classroom is still a bit noisy.
In the midst of that, it's time for a 4th-grade appreciation lesson.
I'll be honest.
I think 4th grade is the hardest grade to gauge, as appreciation lessons can look like they're going well at first glance when they actually aren't.
■ 4th graders in July—are they in this state?
“They respond well.”
“There are many comments.”
“Their imaginations are expanding.”
That is exactly why it “looks like it’s working.”
But after the lesson, don't you suddenly wonder:
“Did they actually learn anything from this?”
・Lively = Understood
・Wrote it down = Listened
It is very easy for 4th grade to fall into this trap.
■ Why is this gap especially likely to occur with 4th graders in July?
In July,
・They have less physical and mental energy.
・The classroom atmosphere is easily unsettled.
・The teacher themselves lacks the energy to dig deeper.
That’s why it’s a time when it’s easy to mistake lively reactions for “success.”
But in reality, whether you can pause here determines the quality of the appreciation lesson.
■ The answer is simple.
Use a “solid framework.”
・It works just by handing out the materials.
・The children don't get lost.
・Comments don't become biased.
・There is a balance between quiet and activity.
And you, as the teacher, will also feel a sense of accomplishment that “it was a proper appreciation lesson.”
The less energy you have, the more valuable this “framework” becomes.
■ Originally, this was created for the "first class" in April
I created this set for the new semester in April, a time when relationships and rules have not yet been established.
“If you push too hard, it falls apart; if you hold back too much, it’s boring.”
It is designed to automatically find that perfect middle ground.
And what I realized was that this works just as effectively in July, when things are easily swept away by the noise and excitement.
Don’t just end it with “I felt it.” But don’t make them think too hard, either.
This balance is something that is needed throughout the year.
■ Contents (Ready to use)
① Appreciation Music List (6 songs in total)
I have carefully selected only songs that 4th graders naturally react to. The lesson works even without difficult background explanations.
② Worksheets (6 songs)
Just choose, circle, and write a word. You can use them for assessment just by handing them out, having them write, and collecting them.
③ Question Collection + Language Support
Where to have them listen, what to ask, how to expand the discussion. Everything is already written down.
④ Music Terminology Paraphrasing List
Includes a conversion list to change words like “amazing,” “scary,” or “fast” into musical terms.
■ Please use this on days like these
・Days when the classroom is restless after swimming class
・Days when you have no energy left due to back-to-back school events
・Days when your brain isn't working
・Days when you want appreciation to help you get through the class
In July, there are bound to be many such days.
Every time that happens, this one set will help you regain the balance between “liveliness” and “learning.”
■ Finally
4th graders,
I think they are the grade level that actually needs the most “discernment,” even though it seems like their lively reactions are helping you.
But if you don’t have to judge that discernment from scratch every time, you can confidently manage the class even on days when you have little energy.
Even in a busy July, or on days when you couldn't prepare,
“This will work.”
Just by entering the music room thinking that, the class will change.
▼4th Grade Appreciation Lesson Set (Ready to print and use)