Elementary music teachers - what books are good for dramatizing/adding instruments to?

Question

This would be for grades K-2, possibly 3rd.

Answer 1

Jack in the Beanstalk is a GREAT one that I've done. (I'm an elementary teacher with a love for music, though I don't teach it directly.) I did it with 2nd and 3rd grade. They loved it! I pass out sheets for the whole class. Certain parts are highlighted on each sheet, depending on the instrument the student is playing. We read the story as a class (usually I read and they follow along), playing the sound effects when we reach their highlighted part. I've also added pictures, so you can use this for younger grades.

Xylophones and melophones are great for climbing up and down the beanstalk. Glocks too. We use hand drums (footsteps) and shouting for the "fee fi fo fum" of the giant (boys love this), an easy drum roll and a triangle for the goose laying the eggs, etc. Fairytales are easy because the children are familiar with them, but you can give the story a great twist!