Summer SAVY, Session 1 Day 1, Math & Music (3rd-4th)
Good afternoon, SAVY families!
What an exciting first day we’ve had! I truly enjoyed getting to know your children through the songs they selected. It was a fun and meaningful way to kick off our week together. These musical choices not only helped us connect but also served as a creative introduction to our exploration of probability.
We spent much of the day diving into the concept of probability, using the songs as a springboard for learning. In music, we explored aleatoric compositions—a fascinating style where elements of the music are left to chance. Using a large die, students created their own classroom aleatoric piece: if they rolled an odd number, the note moved down that many steps; if even, it moved up. We then brought our composition to life using Boomwhackers, which was both educational and a lot of fun!
To wrap up the day, students were introduced to their week-long project. They will be composing an original piece using at least four non-traditional instruments—one of which must be handmade. Their compositions will be between 35 and 50 measures long and must include at least two different time signatures. I can’t wait to see (and hear!) what they create.
Extending Learning at Home
To keep the momentum going and deepen your child’s understanding of probability, here are a few fun ideas:
- Talk about real-life probabilities: Discuss the likelihood of everyday events, like the chance of rain, or if your child enjoys sports, the probability of a player scoring.
- Read together: Try books like That’s a Possibility! by Bruce Goldstone or Probably Pistachio by Stuart J. Murphy.
- Play games: Engage in games that involve chance, such as Yahtzee, Rock, Paper, Scissors, or card games.
Looking forward to another fantastic day of learning tomorrow!
Warmly,
Catherine Hayes