What I'm Currently Teaching In Music Class

My current unit, which only lasts for another week and a half, is on the blues. I am preparing the students to play Duke Ellington's "C-Jam Blues" at the 4th grade graduation. They are learning to play the song on recorder and sing lyrics that go with it. Also, as part of my lessons in this unit, they listen to an instrumental version of the song while creating improvised movement. They also watch a video (1946) of Duke Ellington performing this song, which I have linked on my "Blues" unit page (http://musicteachermcgorry.googlepages.com/blues). In addition, classes have learned about the 12-bar blues form and are learning to form the 3 main chords (C, F, and G) in the blues in the key of C.