Let's go for a Sleigh Ride... This is the unofficial soundtrack to the holidays. This is a classical piece students are familiar with-- so use it to your advantage and use it in your elementary music classroom! I was in choir all through middle and high school (and college and now...). At my high school,… Continue reading Greatest Lesson Ideas For Sleigh Ride In Elementary Music
Category: Elementary Music
Everything about teaching elementary music! Instruments, classroom management, songs, etc.
Greatest Music Activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah (teaching half note!)
One of my new favorite December lessons is the song Hanukkah, Hanukkah. There are a lot of different music activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah that you can do, but I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorites! When looking for holiday songs last December, I really looked for songs and lessons where students… Continue reading Greatest Music Activities for Hanukkah, Hanukkah (teaching half note!)
How to Use Boom Cards in Elementary Music
Have you ever heard of Boom cards? I learned about them in Spring of 2020, although, if we're honest, I did NOT have the brain space to think about them because..... #corona Later that summer, though, I investigated Boom cards, and I'm in love! Using boom cards in elementary music has been so great for… Continue reading How to Use Boom Cards in Elementary Music
How to Use PDFs on Teachers Pay Teachers Digitally
Did you know that you can now make digital activities on PDFs IN Teachers Pay Teachers? TPT Released digital activities this summer, and it’s going to change your life. It is a way to use PDFs (even some you've already purchased!) on Teachers Pay Teachers digitally-- and it's so easy. Teachers Pay Teachers gave the… Continue reading How to Use PDFs on Teachers Pay Teachers Digitally
Exciting and Effective Ways to Play Four Corners from 6 Feet Away or Virtual (in music class!)
I was talking with one of the Children's Church teachers at church this week, and she told me, "No matter what fun, creative games I come up with, the kids just want to play four corners." Four Corners is a super simple, super fun game, and I have adapted it a few ways to work… Continue reading Exciting and Effective Ways to Play Four Corners from 6 Feet Away or Virtual (in music class!)
How to do Candy Bar Composition for Halloween Fun
Halloween…. A teacher’s nightmare…. When it comes to Halloween/Halloween time, I try to “harness the power of the candy” instead of trying to get kids to sit still. I do that in two ways: I either do movement activities, or we do centers. One center activity that I like to do is candy bar composition.… Continue reading How to do Candy Bar Composition for Halloween Fun
The Very Best Halloween Lessons For Elementary Music
Halloween makes kids crazy, but it is so much fun! Whether you can celebrate Halloween officially at your school or not, it is fun to get a little bit into the Halloween spirit with some Halloween lessons for elementary music class. Many of these qualify as fall, so if you don't do Halloween at your… Continue reading The Very Best Halloween Lessons For Elementary Music
How to Play Asteroid! An Active Rhythm Game
Teaching music on a normal year is difficult. On a normal year, I am constantly looking for ways to get students reading music while having fun and being active in music. This year, with some people teaching music on a cart, 6 feet away from their students, other people teaching music virtually, and some music… Continue reading How to Play Asteroid! An Active Rhythm Game
Book Based Lessons for Elementary Music
When thinking about going back to school-- from six feet away!-- the first thing that came into my mind was books. Book based lessons for elementary music seemed like the most logical answer. But how do we make books fun? That is the question. I love to read. I really, really love to read, and… Continue reading Book Based Lessons for Elementary Music
How to Teach Elementary Music Digitally for Distance Learning
I don't know about you, but I was not good at using digital activities in my elementary music room. Like at all. I got a grant for iPads to use, and every time I tried to use them, it was a disaster. Then, in March, many of us were expected to take our entire curriculum… Continue reading How to Teach Elementary Music Digitally for Distance Learning