In this video, a group of second graders from Boone Meadow Elementary use Orff instruments to perform the book “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly” by Simms Taback. The lesson was created and directed by William C Doublestein as part of his “Music Is Reading” series.

This activity requires that the notes of each instrument be labeled using numbers. I use painters tape with a Sharpie, and I tell my younger students not to pay attention to the letters this time, only the numbers. To get the instruments set up correctly, label the bass notes 1-13 starting on the bottom C. Then label the altos 1-13 but this time starting on the low E, and finally label the sopranos 1-13 starting on the low G. Once you get past the high A you continue the sequence from the bottom C. This way, when the students all play their note labeled "1," a C major chord will sound (CEG). As students continue up the instrument the harmony will continue as well, and the result will be beautiful music at the mention of a simple sequence of numbers.