Rhythms centers can be really fun.. or really boring, depending on how you handle them. My kids always love them, because I try to include at least one game. Now, I love to stick to crowd favorites, like Kaboom! (seriously, they are disappointed it we don't play this one!) or Go Fish (yes, even my… Continue reading Feed the Monster Rhythm Game (for Centers!)
Category: K-2
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: Beat and rhythm lesson
Since I started teaching, I have wanted to incorporate more books into my lessons, but I had two problems: 1. I didn't have many books and 2. I didn't know what to do with them. Over the past few months, I have been working to remedy #1, and not I am working on #2-- figuring… Continue reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: Beat and rhythm lesson
5 Simple Movement Activities Using Stick Figures
Looking for a super simple movement activity for your elementary music room? Whether you need a warm up, a time suck, or to just wake the students up, these 5 movement activities with stick figures are the way to go. They are easy, require almost no prep, and the kids LOVE them.
How to Use Ickle Ockle Singing Game in Elementary Music for Rest
Have you heard of the song Ickle Ockle? It is a really fun folk song... with like 20 different versions of it in cyberspace. I have seen it as Bickle Bockle, with do, without do, different wording.... yeah. But, no matter how you sing it, it is a really fun folk song and my students… Continue reading How to Use Ickle Ockle Singing Game in Elementary Music for Rest
Fun and Engaging Activities for Flashcards
Think flashcards can't be fun? Think again! I use flashcards in my elementary music classroom all of the time to help students get engaged in music literacy. By using them different ways and mixing them up, I am able to help students stay engaged and become more musically literate. These flashcard activities will work whether… Continue reading Fun and Engaging Activities for Flashcards
Elementary Music Lesson: Breezes are Blowing
Breezes are Blowing is a Luiseno Indian Rain song that I used with my second and third graders. The rhythms are very simple, but the melody is a bit complex for those grades-- it includes low la, do, re, sol, and la-- but it was really great to talk about form and improvisation, so that's… Continue reading Elementary Music Lesson: Breezes are Blowing
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Most music teachers include lots of books in their elementary music classes. I see this all the time on social media, in trainings, and in classrooms. But can I admit something to you? When I was first starting out, I felt like i was very unclear as to HOW to go about incorporating books. Like--… Continue reading I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Irish Music Lesson for St. Patrick’s Day
Is St. Patrick's Day a big deal where you live? It is one of those holidays that either your city takes very seriously, or no one cares. Here in Savannah, we take it very seriously. We actually have the third largest St. Patrick's ay parade in the US-- yes, right here in South Georgia! I… Continue reading Irish Music Lesson for St. Patrick’s Day
Free K-1 Music Lesson: The Tick Tock Song
You know those songs that you find and you are not sure if your kids will like it, then they love it? That’s how the Tick Tock song was for my classes. I thought it looked/sounded cute, but it was a HUGE hit! My kids wanted to keep doing this song over and over and… Continue reading Free K-1 Music Lesson: The Tick Tock Song
Favorite Activities for Piano and Forte
Teaching piano and forte is really fun. I know that may seem like a weird comment, but it is true. I have a lot of fun teaching piano and forte. I think this is because there are just so many different things that you can do with it-- and it is so different from teaching… Continue reading Favorite Activities for Piano and Forte