Bringing Strega Nona Into the Elementary Music Classroom
Looking for a creative and engaging way to bring storytelling, movement, solfège, rhythm, and culture into your elementary music class? Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola is the perfect book to transform into an interactive music lesson!
This lesson is packed with singing, rhythm practice, movement activities, and even a little Italian folk dancing! Plus, with my Build a Pizza Rhythm Play Along and Build a Pizza Movement Break, your students will be immersed in music and movement while having a blast.
Watch a Full Video Walk-Through Here~
Let’s Get Started
Step 1: Singing & Solfège
Start by teaching a simple melodic phrase connected to Strega Nona’s magical pasta pot using solfège. This helps students develop pitch accuracy and ear training while reinforcing music literacy.
Step 2: Rhythm & Movement with Italian Music
This lesson is a great opportunity to introduce Italian music and culture! The William Tell Overture Finale by Rossini brings energy and excitement into the classroom while reinforcing steady beat and rhythm patterns.
Build a Pizza Movement Break 🍕
Transform rhythm practice into a full-body experience by having students jump on different pizza toppings to represent note values!
- Cheese (Quarter Notes – Ta) → Jump once per beat
- Mushrooms (Eighth Notes – Ti-Ti) → Do a jumping jack for each note
- Pepperoni (Sixteenth Notes – Ti-Ka-Ti-Ka) → Quick feet or small hops to match the rhythm
This movement activity keeps students engaged and physically active while reinforcing rhythm concepts in a fun way!
Build a Pizza Rhythm Play Along 🎵
After students feel the rhythms through movement, reinforce the same patterns with a rhythm play-along activity!
- Quarter Notes (Ta)
- Eighth Notes (Ti-Ti)
- Sixteenth Notes (Ti-Ka-Ti-Ka)
Students will clap, play instruments, or tap the beat while following along with the rhythm patterns, helping them internalize musical concepts in an engaging way.
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Step 3:
Experience the Tarantella!
The Tarantella is a traditional Italian folk dance that fits perfectly into this lesson. A simplified version can be easily taught with basic step patterns and clapping. This is a great way to connect music with movement and history!
Bringing Music, Movement, and Culture Together
The Strega Nona lesson is the perfect way to combine storytelling, rhythm, solfège, movement, and Italian music into an unforgettable experience for your students. By singing, playing rhythms, moving to music, and even dancing a simplified Tarantella, students engage in music literacy in a fun and meaningful way.
Whether through the Build a Pizza Movement Break, the Rhythm Play Along, or learning Italian folk traditions, this lesson provides a dynamic and immersive approach to teaching music. Plus, it’s easy to implement and adaptable for different grade levels!
Want everything you need to bring this lesson to life? Sign up for a FREE month of The Soaring Scarves Academy or grab the full Strega Nona lesson in our online store!
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