This year has been.... an adventure, to say the least. And it is continuing to be an adventure, as schools reopen and teachers are forced to change their curriculums once again. This time, we are focusing on activities that can be done without touching or being near students... For elementary music teachers, that means no… Continue reading No Touch Singing Games for Elementary Music
Category: Lessons
Fun Zoom Music Lessons for Distance Learning
When all of this distance learning stuff began, I was STRUGGLING to figure out what to do with my students on Zoom music lessons. How can I teach elementary music on Zoom? The sound lag made it impossible to sing or play rhythms together. Fortunately for you, I have now figured out a couple of… Continue reading Fun Zoom Music Lessons for Distance Learning
Im Herbst Fall Listening Lesson for Timbre
I have a really funky schedule for when I see my students-- I see them everyday (well, let's be honest, four days) for a week, and then I see a new set of students next week. A lot of interesting things have occurred because of that schedule-- Mondays are really tough, but behavior has improved,… Continue reading Im Herbst Fall Listening Lesson for Timbre
Feed the Monster Rhythm Game (for Centers!)
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!)
Al Citron: Mexican Passing Game for dotted quarter note
This month is Hispanic Heritage month! I love Hispanic Heritage month, because I love teaching lessons from different cultures, and I also love a good theme. I find themes to be the easiest way to make lessons really flow together. This year, I am sharing one of my favorite lessons: Al Citron. Al Citron is… Continue reading Al Citron: Mexican Passing Game for dotted quarter note
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.
Lesson Ideas for Ickle Ockle
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 Lesson Ideas for Ickle Ockle
Write the Room: An active instruments review
Ever since the huge push on teachers having data based instruction, I have felt the pressure of pretests. I am pretty good with grouping students (see here!) based on data from assignments, but I still have a hard time giving kids true pretests-- I mean, giving them a test they are basically supposed to fail?… Continue reading Write the Room: An active instruments review
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