Music Class Activities to Help Students Learn Kindness

February is such a fun month for the music classroom. Not only do I love to sing Valentine’s Day songs, but I think it’s a great time of year to focus on FRIENDSHIP, KINDNESS and CARING. These Character Education words are so important for each student’s emotional development and music class is the perfect place to help students understand and grow in learning how to be a Friend, be Kind and to Care.  How can you use songs and games to encourage these good character traits?

SING IN A CIRCLE:

In the music room we play games and dance and sing. These are activities that build a sense of community and cooperation in a class. I can always tell the classes who play games and do activities together because they include everyone and know how to take turns. They also know that there isn’t time in each class for everyone to take a turn. These are life lessons that help students cope with things in and out of the classroom. Games provide an opportunity for you as a teacher to help students internalize these concepts. You can use some chants or phrases to help students get the big picture. “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset”. “It’s okay if I don’t get a turn today.” Or, “Today I don’t get a turn, but there’s still plenty to learn.” When getting a drink, “1-2-3 That’s enough for me!”  How about manners? “Excuse me” “Thank you,” and “Sorry”.  For taking turns you can use Rock-paper-scissors. And then there’s just plain old remember these rules; Be a Good Listener, Raise your hand to speak  These are  good words to teach to students to help them navigate their way through group activities.

I made up some posters to reflect these sayings. They are going to be available in my store for FREE for a short time. CLASSROOM MANNERS AND RULES POSTERS 

Sincere compliments go a long way in building trust and relationships. I know that many classroom teachers have some great ways to implement more kindness in the classroom. When I put together the song “Words on the Candy”, I didn’t realize that it would turn into a fun activity too. The song has some sample ideas of phrases that are on Valentine’s Day candy, like “you are sweet”.  After we learn the song, I have the students make up something nice about someone in the class. They fill in the blank “You are ____________” It doesn’t have to rhyme with anything. I just have them pair up or in groups of three and share their compliments. They love doing this. So I came up with the idea to have them put them on paper and then create a short melodic phrase. You can get this VALENTINE CARD COMPOSITION ACTIVITY FREEBIE

                               

I created this   VALENTINE’S DAY WRITING ACTIVITY for Classroom teachers-but you could use it in the music room too.FREE VALENTINE WRITING ACTIVITY

                                

                                      VALENTINE SONGS AND LESSONS

You also might enjoy using some of the Character Education songs that teach Kindness, Caring and Friendship. They can be used in concerts, assemblies and throughout the school year by all teachers to help students learn about kindness, caring, friendship, trust and respect. You can find them HERE.

       

What are some ways you use to encourage these character traits to blossom?