“How to Speak Moo!”
How to Speak Moo! by Deborah Fajerman, is my most recent book purchase. My mentor went to Wisconsin in November to the Orff Conference, and got some ideas for books and lesson plans. This book is one of them.
This book emphasizes vocal exploration in younger students (K-1), but is a fun filler for older grades (2-4). Students practice “moo-ing” in different ways- wobbly, high, low, soft, loud, sleepy, in a funnel, etc. Then during the story, the different “moo’s” are integrated and students have to “moo” as the pictures ask them to.
My kindergarten students enjoy participating with this book, and afterwards we do what I call a squiggle exercise. I draw a squiggle on the markerboard and students follow the contour of the squiggle with their voices. To keep it interesting, vary the speed of which you lead students through the squiggle and vary how you draw the squiggle. After I draw a couple squiggles, I choose a couple students, one at a time, to come draw their own squiggle to lead the class through… I call them a squiggle conductor! This is just a fun activity for kids to explore their voices and for a couple to be in front of the class being the squiggle conductor!
This book is rated 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com and cost $5.99 new.
Here is the product description from Amazon.com: “If the title sounds a little peculiar, that’s just the start! Here’s a totally silly book about cows that is sure to make kids giggle. It tells boys and girls all about the way cows do the high moo and the low moo . . . the bumpy moo and the jumpy moo. Kids are invited to try these moos out for themselves. Then they can discover how their moo sounds in a tunnel. Or through a funnel. Deborah Fajerman’s wonderfully quirky pictures and absolutely preposterous story will have young readers mooing along with the experts as they demonstrate the wonderful versatility of cows engaged in spirited conversation. Full-color illustrations on every silly page.”