The Dreidel Song or My Dreidel (or it can be spelled dreydl, dreydel or dreidl) is a traditional song to accompany the game. The game pieces are little wrapped chocolate "coins." Here are the rules.
(from http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/www/Info/dreydl.html)
Here's the song:
The first time I teach this to Kindergartners, I sing the song while students pass around a dreidel that I have. Each student has one chance to spin it. Then we practice playing drums on the strong beat.
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| individual drum on top, gathering drum on bottom |
Side note: finding the "steady beat" is always an important skill. I focus a TON on steady beat in Kindergarten and first grade, since so many later skills (i.e. playing xylophone accompaniments, etc) are dependent on the students' ability to play on the steady beat. I have the students pat (Orff calls it "patsch") their knees with both hands on pretty much all of the songs we sing. So, when it's time to start playing instruments, we start with two hands in a downward motion, like when we pat. So, I have them use the "gathering drum" or individual small drums. (Hand drums are a little harder for some of them to coordinate.) I can fit 5 to 6 Kindergartners around a gathering drum.
Students must demonstrate the ability to pat their knees in order to play the drum. I do this for all instruments. Students must participate by moving their hands appropriately first. There are always those students who don't participate, but then want to play the instruments. I tell them they aren't ready to play the instrument if they don't practice with their hands first.
Section A (verses): Students sit around the gathering drum, put hands behind back and sing along.
Different music days, as students learn the words better, you can practice the steady beat on Section B by clapping, then adding hand drums. Students can stand during Section A and add motions, then clap on Section B.
