Elementary Music Class Fall Digital Rhythm Activities

Teaching online is an entirely different experience than teaching in person. That’s why I’m sharing some of my “virtual classroom” teaching tips and some Fall Digital Rhythm Activities.

ELEMENTARY MUSIC CLASS FALL DIGITAL RHYTHM ACTIVITIES

It’s like summer turning to FALL and you are like the leaves falling off the trees, going down, down, down, swirling and twirling as you try to grab a hold of new teaching strategies, teaching tools and new ways to keep student engagement high in the virtual classroom.

Here are my evolving ideas using digital rhythm activities.

VIDEO FALL RHYTHM ACTIVITIES VIDEO

So how do we teachers keep student engagement high?

USE VIDEOS FOR ENGAGEMENT

I’m using a lot of videos in my virtual music classroom.

WHY?

Videos help promote independent learning.

Using video lessons enables students to “see” ahead. When used before class time, students can come prepared to discuss, share and show their ideas.

So, I have been recording myself and the teaching materials.

Sometimes I record myself to be on the same screen.

Or, I may video tape myself and insert my teaching clips into the material videos.

Creating this type of video fulfills several needs.

1. When I record myself teaching an activity, I can use it as a substitute lesson or the lesson students can access if students miss class.

2. Using the teaching video keeps the lesson on track.

3. Students respond to video differently than a “live” person.

4. I’m finding students will sit quietly and watch videos and listen well too.

How to record yourself and the materials at the same time?

One app I’m using is SCREENCASTIFY.

They make it pretty easy to record your screen. Meaning, it’s very user-friendly!

You can save the video directly to your drive or download it as an Mp4.

You can share it in your google classroom.

Another way I’ve tried is using my computer camera.

I record myself introducing the lesson and then I insert that in front of the video activity.

You can do this method using even the most basic video apps.

Some other apps to try out:

FLIPGRID

ADOBE RUSH

Hippo Video– Record, Edit and Share for Teachers

Powtoon – Animated Presentations and Videos

DIGITAL AND INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES

Using digital rhythm activities are a great way for students to not only see and hear rhythms,  but also have the opportunity to create their own rhythm patterns.

Fall Digital Rhythm Activities: Drag and Drop Google Slides, Video, Presentation

Fall Drag and Drop Rhythm activities for online and in person music class lessons. Use the Video as a whole class activity.

Students love moving the images into the boxes to create their very own rhythm patterns. Keep engagement high in your virtual classes using interactive google slides activities. Keep on teaching rhythms, practice, assess using the presentation, video and google slides drag and drop activities. These materials make a great SUB lesson with video, presentation and google slides activities.

USE HAND SIGNS FOR INSTANT ENGAGEMENT

Considering that students in the virtual classroom have been sitting at a computer for most of their day, I’ve put at least 2 “action” or movement activities in my lessons.

And, I’m having them respond to me with hand signs and sign language. This way their minds and hands are busy learning.

I find this strategy to be more difficult to implement as the teacher has to do a lot of work, but I feel that students get a great benefit from these types of activities.

FREE HAND SIGN POSTERS

One way I acknowledge students and help them feel included is by using hand signals.

COOL WAVE

I use a short “woo!” with both hands pointing towards the student, wiggling fingers.

AWESOME

1 hand above shoulder. When you say “awesome” you open hand- kind of like a duck quack?

WOW! OR GREAT JOB!

Push hands out from sides of throat, opening as you push out.

WAVE BYE-BYE

I also have the students wave to each other at the end of class.

And we always leave music class with music in our hearts.

SING AND MOVE TO ACTION SONGS AND STORIES

This fall song works perfectly with the Fall rhythm activities too.

“It’s Fall!”

1. I will have the students watch the video.

2. Next, we’ll discuss the story and actions.

3. Try having the students show the actions as you play the video again.

4. After that I’ll teach them the lyrics and to sing the song.

5. Finally, I’ll encourage them to sing and move to the music.

This is a FREE RESOURCE! And it’s on the Sing Play Create Music YouTube Channel.

Put the “It’s Fall” YT VIDEO song in the post with link to that Freebie- EMBED LINK

PAIR THE FALL SONG, THE FALL RHYTHMS AND THESE FALL VOCAL EXPLORATIONS

Use the video at the beginning of your classes to get students hands up and moving as well as their voices.

This Fall Songs and Poems resource has some easy to sing fall songs that any teacher can use. They are all sung to familiar tunes.

Overall, you’ll find that INTERACTIVE materials and activities will boost student engagement.

Looking for some more fall activity ideas?  Read this post: Elementary Fall Music Lessons and Activities

I’m hoping you got some ideas for your virtual and in person classroom and ways to use these fall digital rhythm activities.

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