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It can be difficult to know what to plan for 4th and 5th grade elementary music class, and it can be even harder to know what to do on the first day of school! After reading this post, you’ll have ideas for what to teach in the first few weeks of fourth grade and fifth grade elementary music lessons.
Teaching fourth and fifth grade can be tough– this is when they stop being little kids and start becoming older– which means attitude, less rule following, and more misbehaviors. Because of all of this, it is extra important to start the year off on the right foot, so that students know what to expect.
In fourth and fifth grade, that means:
- Starting with clear classroom expectations (and consequences)
- Making it fun
If you need more help with classroom management, lesson ideas, and ready to go lessons, you should join the Back to School Bootcamp! This course includes everything you need to know to start this year off right– plus it includes slides, printables, lesson plan templates, seating charts, and more!
Click here to get instant access!
Start with clear classroom expectations
This is not the main point of this post, but you do need to make sure that you start the year off with clear expectations… and keep those the rest of the year.
This starts on the first day of school, so make sure you are clear with what you expect, what you should see, and what you should NOT see. If someone does not meet the expectations, you should correct it quickly.
Students– especially fourth and fifth grade students– will test you to see what your limits are starting on the first day of school.
You can learn more about classroom management here.
Have fun on the first day of school
Having fun is such an underrated aspect of classroom management, and it is actually necessary. If students are having fun, they will want to come to music. They will want to participate. They will then want to behave so that they can have fun and come to music.
First impressions matter– so make sure your first day of school music lessons include something fun!
So let’s talk about some (fun!) first day of school music lessons for the 4th and 5th graders.
Stick Figure Movement
First off the EASIEST movement activity for back to school in the upper grades: Stick figure movement!
Here’s how it goes:
- Hold up cards with pictures of stick figures on them and have students match the posters.
- Change the statue every 4 or 8 beats.
…That’s it.
Then you can switch it up by….
- Change the tempo
- Add music in the background
- Add a blank one where they make their own
- Having students move until you hold up a statue, then put down and keep moving
This is a GREAT first day of school lesson for 4th and 5th grade, because students in upper grades tend to start feeling self conscious. they will sometimes feel weird about moving in front of the other students– especially on the first day of school. This lesson is super simple, and it allows them to move and have fun without having to think too hard or come up with ideas on their own.
The first time I tried this, I had no idea how much they would love it. Now we use it almost every year.
You can make your own, or you can save time by purchasing ready to print sets here.
A Qua Qua
This is such a fun game! The words are nonsense (from my understanding– let me know if you know more!), and I don’t expect students to sing them on the first day of school, but they will love the song, and the game even more.
To play this singing game:
- Students sit in a circle with their hands out. Both hands face up. The right hand is on top of the other persons’, and the left hand is underneath the other persons’.
- Sing the song. Students tap the hand of the person on the left of them to pass the beat around the circle.
- Whoever is tapped on 5 is out
- Game continues until you have one winner
I typically play once where they can’t move their hand out of the way of being hit, then another time when they can move their hands.
Poison
This is my go-to game for the first day of school with the fourth and fifth graders.
Here’s how to play:
- Choose a rhythm to be the poison (it helps if you put it on the board)
- Teacher plays a rhythm and students echo it back
- If teacher do the poisoned rhythm and the students repeat it, then they are out
- Last one standing is out!
You could also do this with solfege or anything else, but I like rhythm on the first day of school. You can clap, snap, stomp, pat your legs, etc.
Jump In, Jump Out
Back to school means that we need name games! This is my favorite name game for the older students.
Everyone says the first part, with movements– jump in, jump out, turn around, etc.
On the second part, one student introduces themselves. After each line, the other students respond with “yeah”.
When the student says something they can do, they do the movement. All students play do the movement while saying “Alright, alright, alright!”
- My name is ______ (yeah)
- And I like _____ (yeah)
- And I can _______ (yeah)
- Alright, alright, alright!
You can do this in a circle, or have the student come up to the front.
Pro tip: Pick a category like favorite foods to help students know what to say.
This one is featured in my name games slides here.
It’s got 6 name games your students will love! (3 for upper grades and 3 for younger grades), plus a video that goes through each one!
It’s also included in the Back to School Bootcamp, along with first day of school slides and other ready to use lessons!
Click here to join and get instant access!
Rhythm Bingo
When we are reviewing rhythm, rhythm bingo is one of my favorites. It’s a low key way to see who remembers how to read rhythms.
I use this one, and you can also find other bingo games as well.
Extra Beat Take a Seat
Annnnd one more game!
Extra Beat is all about counting rhythms in your head.
Here’s how to play:
- Students plays a rhythm pattern 3 times (ta ta titi ta, ta ta titi ta, ta ta titi ta)
- If students play an extra beat, then are out (they sit down)
- Stay on 3 times until all remaining students get it correct
- Next round – play 5 times. Then 7, then 9.
- New rhythm!
You can get more info about this game in this blog post.
There’s a few back to school music lessons and games for fourth grade and fifth grade!
If you want more lessons, ready to go activities and slides, ideas, and training to have the best back to school season, join the Back to School bootcamp.
This is a mini course that has a ton of information and activities to help you start off this year strong– with printables and slides– including those name game slides!
Happy teaching!
Becca
