See Saw Lesson Plan Kodály Music Unit Grades K–2 • 40–45 Mins
Pitch & Melody Foundations
See-Saw Sol and Mi Pitch Exploration
Developing pitch discrimination, vocal sirens, Curwen hand signs, and aural call-and-response through the traditional folk song See-Saw .
Core Concept
Sol-Mi Minor 3rd
Key Standards
MU:Pr4.2.1 • MU:Re7.2.1
Target Range
Sol (G4) & Mi (E4)
Materials
Warm-up Mats, Hand Signs
Student Learning Objectives
• Vocal Siren: Glissando vocal paths from high to low using head voice.
• Curwen Signs: Produce flat-palm Sol at chest level and open-down Mi at waist.
• Song Literacy: Sing folk song See-Saw with matching body and pitch contour.
Essential Questions & Vocab
"How can our voices and hands show whether a musical sound is high in the sky or down near the ground?"
Pitch (High / Low) Sol (So) Mi Curwen Hand Signs Call & Response
Part 1
Warm-Up & Song Preparation (20 Mins)
Phase 1: Vocal Rollercoaster & Siren Exploration (10 min)
Kinesthetic & Head Voice
Guide students from speaking voice into resonant light singing voice using imaginative playground imagery:
1. Ghost Siren ("Oo")
Teacher uses slide whistle or finger in the air. Students trace curving loops in space while phonating gentle "oo".
2. Rollercoaster Tracks
Students use the Warm-Up Mat to follow looping lines up to high clouds and swooping down into valley dips.
3. Static High vs. Low
Teacher holds hand high ("Tweet!") and low ("Ribbit!"). Students freeze their pitch on high squeak or low croak.
Phase 2: Folk Song Presentation — "See-Saw" (10 min)
Aural & Gross Motor
Step 1: Partner See-Saw: Students sit cross-legged facing a partner, holding hands. As the teacher sings, partners alternate leaning back and forward in rhythm.
Step 2: Echo Singing: Teacher models line by line. Students echo with singing voice, noticing which words go "up" and which go "down".
Step 3: Head-and-Waist Touch: Touch head on high notes ("See", "Up"), touch lap on low notes ("Saw", "Down").
Song Text & Pitches
See - saw, Sol - Mi,
up and down, Sol - Sol - Mi,
in the sky and Sol - Sol - Sol - Sol,
on the ground. Mi - Mi - Mi.
Pedagogical Guardrail: Young learners frequently confuse loud/soft with high/low . If a child shouts when singing high, remind them: "High is like a tiny bird singing in the treetop, gentle and light!"
Lesson Execution • Part 2
Curwen Signs, Call-and-Response & Assessment
Page 2 of 2
Curwen Hand Signs Architecture
Sol
SOL (High Pitch)
Flat palm facing chest, fingers closed together, thumb tucked, held at chest height.
Body Anchor: Chest/Heart
Mi
MI (Low Pitch)
Flat palm facing downward toward the floor, thumb tucked, held at waist/belly height.
Body Anchor: Waist/Floor
Phase 3: Three Call-and-Response Melodic Games (12 min)
Interactive Practice
Game 1: The Echo Mirror
Teacher sings 2-note motif with hand sign (e.g. Sol-Mi ). Class echoes singing and signing instantly like a reflection.
Prompt: "Sol-Sol-Mi!"
Game 2: Secret Code Sign
Teacher only shows Curwen signs without making any sound (silent code). Students audiate (think sound inside head) then sing it aloud.
Develops Audiation
Game 3: Student Conductor
Select a student conductor to step to the front, show Sol or Mi with hand sign, and call on the class to respond accurately.
Student Leadership
Phase 4: Written Activity & Formative Rubric (8 min)
Skill / Criterion Developing (1 pt) Proficient (2 pts) Mastered (3 pts) Pitch Matching (Sol/Mi) Sings in speaking voice; pitch remains static. Distinguishes high/low; pitch interval is close. Accurately matches minor 3rd interval in head voice. Curwen Hand Signs Confuses Sol/Mi positions or hand shapes. Forms signs correctly with occasional teacher cue. Instantly coordinates correct sign and spatial height. Melodic Call & Echo Hesitant or does not echo on pitch. Echoes short 2-beat patterns accurately. Confidently sings and signs 4-beat patterns independently.
Support & Accommodation
For students struggling with vocal register shifts, use visual glissando tubes (slide whistles, yarn pull) and pair with a vocal buddy. Allow gross body gestures (hands on head/hips) if hand signs require fine-motor adaptation.
Extension & Enrichment
Have advanced students improvise an original 4-beat pattern using Sol and Mi on pitched Orff barred instruments (glockenspiel or resonator bells set with G and E bars only) or lead the class call-and-response.
Vocal Pathways Warm Up Music Warm-Up Vocal Siren Exploration
Vocal Pathways Warm Up
Name
Class
Finger Siren Instructions:
Put your finger on the green START star. Trace along the line with your finger. Make your singing voice go HIGH when the line rises into the sky, and LOW when it dips near the ground!
1 The See-Saw Swing Siren: "Oo-Oo"
HIGH (Sky) HIGH (Sky)
S F
LOW (Ground) LOW (Ground)
2 The Spiral Slide Siren: "Wheee!"
CLIMB HIGH AIR LOOP
S F
LADDER (Low) LANDING (Low)
3 Kite in the Wind Siren: "Ahhh!"
RISING GUST PEAK (High)
S F
START (Low) SOARING HIGH
4 Bouncing Ball Siren: "Boing-Boing!"
HIGH BOUNCE LITTLE BOUNCE
S F
BOUNCE (Low) REST (Low)
Warm-Up Completion Check: I used my head voice and matched my finger speed!
Track 1 [ ] Track 2 [ ] Track 3 [ ] Track 4 [ ]
Part 2 • Hand Signs & Melody Echoes
Sol & Mi Call-and-Response Challenge
Page 2 of 2
Sol High
Curwen Sign: SOL
Flat palm facing chest, fingers closed.
Anchor: Chest Height (Heart level)
Mi Low
Curwen Sign: MI
Flat palm facing floor, thumb tucked.
Anchor: Waist Height (Belly level)
Echo Challenge Cards (Teacher / Partner Call & Response)
Call = Leader sings / Echo = Class or partner answers
Card 1: Downward Step 2 Beats
S Sol
M Mi
Lyrics prompt: "See - saw"
Card 2: Upward Climb 2 Beats
M Mi
S Sol
Lyrics prompt: "Climb - up"
Card 3: High High Low 3 Beats
S S M
Pitch pattern: Sol - Sol - Mi
Card 4: Low Low High 3 Beats
M M S
Pitch pattern: Mi - Mi - Sol
Card 5: Double See-Saw 4 Beats
S M S M
Pattern: Sol - Mi - Sol - Mi
Card 6: Sky & Ground 4 Beats
S S M M
Pattern: Sol - Sol - Mi - Mi
Partner Game: Secret Hand Sign Echo
Take turns with your partner! Partner A shows a card and signs it silently with Curwen hand signs. Partner B sings the matching pitches aloud ("Sol" or "Mi") and signs it back. Switch after 3 rounds!
See Saw Pitch Activity Student Activity Early Music Literacy
See Saw Pitch Activity
Name
Date
S
SOL: High Pitch • Sky Level • Flat palm at chest
M
MI: Low Pitch • Ground Level • Flat palm at waist
1 Part 1: Playground See-Saw Pitch Detective
Circle SOL or MI for each singing friend
A
B
Friend A is high up!
Which pitch is Friend A?
SOL MI
A
B
Friend B is down low!
Which pitch is Friend B?
SOL MI
C
D
Friend C touches grass!
Which pitch is Friend C?
SOL MI
C
D
Friend D reaches clouds!
Which pitch is Friend D?
SOL MI
2 Part 2: Curwen Hand Sign Matching
Draw a line connecting each hand sign description to its pitch
1
"Flat Palm to the Chest"
Fingers closed together, thumb tucked in, held high at chest level.
SOL High Pitch
2
"Flat Palm to the Floor"
Fingers pointing straight ahead, palm down, held low at waist level.
MI Low Pitch
3 Part 3: Listening Detective (Ear Training)
Listen to your teacher sing a pitch. Circle what you hear!
Call #1
SOL MI
Call #2
SOL MI
Call #3
SOL MI
Call #4
SOL MI
Music Staff & Composition
See-Saw on the Two-Line Staff
Page 2 of 2
On our two-line staff, SOL lives on the TOP line (high in the sky), and MI lives in the LOWER space / bottom line (near the ground)!
4 Part 4: Read & Label the Song "See-Saw"
Write S for Sol or M for Mi in each blank box
Phrase 1: "See - saw, up and down"
SOL (Top) MI (Low)
♩
See
♩
saw
♩
up
♩
and
♩
down
Write S or M:
Phrase 2: "In the sky and on the ground"
SOL (Top) MI (Low)
