Out with Recorders: In with Ukuleles: Ukuleles Are Part of Innovative Teaching in Cranston

CRANSTON, RI — Two Cranston elementary school teachers made big plans for their third-grade students, and they just received grants that will turn the plans into reality.

Chester W. Barrows Elementary School music teacher Charles Larson will use his grant to buy 25 soprano ukuleles for use in third-grade general music instruction. Thirty-eight students in two classes are expected to participate.

“Ukuleles are fast becoming a valuable tool for teaching a variety of musical concepts,” said Larson. “While recorders have commonly been used as a preparatory instrument for third grade students, teaching the ukulele in place of the recorder offers a number of benefits. These instruments are relatively inexpensive, portable and can fit the smaller hands of third graders, making them ideal instruments for this age group.”

And it's better because "ukulele programs afford students the opportunity to learn how to read music, hone fine motor coordination, learn the basics of harmony, accompany singing and develop an aesthetic appreciation for music making," he said. "As these are all foci of the third-grade music curriculum, these instruments will greatly support learning in our third grade classes,” he said.

Glen Hills Elementary School third-grade teacher Lisa Davis will use her grant to buy a laptop and take her students on the Eco-Exploration Field Trip at the University of Rhode Island and to the Pequot Museum in Ledyard, Conn. Forty-six students are expected to participate.

Together with the digital cameras Davis bought with a similar grant last year, the students will be able to download photos they take and incorporate them into PowerPoint presentations, which will then be shown to their classmates. The images, video clips and sounds captured by the cameras and utilized in the PowerPoint presentations will extend classroom discussion on the material being studied.

“It is always beneficial for students to engage in hands-on learning. By allowing students choices in the way they compile and present their knowledge, I am motivating them to take responsibility for their own learning,” said Davis.

Students will create brochures, keep a learning journal or produce a short video. The goals are to work cooperatively, share ideas and incorporate authentic pictures, film clips and sounds into the finished projects.

“Students will gain insight, new perspectives and deeper knowledge of the complex eco-topics and Native American concepts that are covered in class. This real-world learning will serve the students well by allowing them to make important connections in an authentic setting,” she said.

Both teachers received Sparks Grants through the Rhode Island Foundation. According to the organization, the grant program targets third-grade classes and is designed to give students a life-long love of learning. Philanthropists Letitia and John Carter started the Sparks Grants in 2013.

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