Here are my top 10 back to school music activities for the elementary music teacher.

#1 USE BODY PERCUSSION HELLO ACTIVITY

I’ve always felt that if my students sing a hello song at the beginning of class, we have better classes.

So my first back to school activity is singing a hello song.

I feel like it builds classroom community, gives the students to hear, sing and play music right at the beginning of class and is fun too!

It’s my #1 back to school music class activity idea.

“EVERYBODY SAY HELLO” Body Percussion activity is a song for your younger students. You’ll be able to have them singing and patting on the very first day.

“EVERYBODY SAY HELLO” Teachers Pay Teachers Link: BODY PERCUSSION TO SAY HELLO

Students love to use body percussion! I combined body percussion with a hello song you can use all year long.

Keep it simple on the first day, and then use the song for every class. This provides structure and routine to your music classroom which helps students learn better.

For some more details read this post: Celebrate Back to School Music Activities & Freeze Dance

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF YOUTUBE VIDEO HELLO SONGS READ THIS POST:

Welcome Back to School Hello Songs & Activities

#2 PLAY A GAME

Another fun thing to do for a back to school music is activity is to play games.

My students love playing this game. It’s one of my favorite Kindergarten back to school music activities.

You’ll need a drum and a class list. You’ll call out student names and they’ll get a chance to come up and play the drum as everyone sings their name.

JOHNNY PLAYS THE DRUM BEAT NAME GAME

For the details on how to play the game, click on this link:

Play Name Games for Music Class Back to School Fun

For upper elementary music students, you may want to look at this activity you can use for the first several weeks of school.

Music Class Chant, Game and Rhythm Lesson: “Get to Know Ya” Level 2

For your primary classes, here’s a version that they will love. 

Music Class Chant, Game and Rhythm Lesson: “Get to Know Ya” Level 1    

Building rhythm skills at the beginning of the school year will help your students with pitch and playing instrument activities later in the year.

These types of games are an essential part of the music classroom experience.

“Get to Know Ya” Rhythm game can kick start your school year off to a great beginning. In class or online, you can use these materials to get to know your students and get them back into music land reviewing and learning rhythms.

Level 1 is perfect for your primary classes.

For some more details read this post:

#3 Teach Music Concepts

There’s no reason why you can teach music concepts as part of your back to school music activities.

Sing and Play mi-so-la using this Kodaly sight singing and practice music class lesson.

This music education resource is perfect for back to school music activities.

It includes Curwen hand signs, notes on the staff, and practice patterns.

Music Freebie: Kodaly Sight Singing Practice so mi la with Curwen Hand Signs

TEACH MUSIC CONCEPTS THE FIRST DAY

For some more details read this post: Back to School Freebies for Music Educators

#4 PLAN A MOVEMENT ACTIVITY

A movement activity doesn’t need to be complicated, and it can also help teach a procedure or routine.

I like to use this free resource with my younger students.

Use this activity to help students learn to follow you, move their bodies and have fun at the same time. 

Play the game slow, then faster and faster!

Get this free movement activity in the Sing Play Create Teachers Pay Teachers Store

MOVE TO THE BEAT FREEBIE

For more FREE RESOURCES GET THE LINKS in this post: Back to School Freebies for Music Educators

#5 ESTABLISH PROCEDURES

I love to use songs, chants and games to teach the procedures in my classroom.

I want my students to line up together. I like them to follow the leader around the room and line up in order-not run across the room. I use a song to teach them to walk around the circle to get lined up.

The line is part of the circle. That way they just have to stop on the RED DOT!

The song is one of the many included in the MUSIC CLASS ESSENTIALS BASIC with songs and activities to establish your classroom and is perfect for back to school music activities.

MUSIC CLASS ESSENTIALS BASIC SONGS GAMES ACTIVITIES

Read about the Music Class Essentials

General Music Classroom Essentials

For more classroom management and procedure ideas, you’ll want to read this post!

Classroom Management Procedures in Music Class

#6 SING A SONG

SUMMERTIME

This action packed song makes a fun one to sing and to move to-and one to build classroom community because the students can share their summer activities.

Sing the song and then have students share one thing they did this past summer.

You may be able to have your upper elementary students play their activities on instruments.

S  m      s s m        s  la  s

“I went kayaking in a lake.” 

Back to school music activities are the most fun in the whole school!

#7 MAKE MUSIC

FREE RESOURCE “I MAKE MUSIC”

If you’ve been teaching in the same school for a while, then you may be able to play a song with students the very first day.

“I Make Music” is an easy song for students to sing and play during the first few weeks of school.

It’s a FREE RESOURCE when you SUBSCRIBE to the NEWSLETTER.

#8 MOVE, DANCE, FREEZE

BACK TO SCHOOL FREEZE DANCE

If you are teaching students a lot of procedures and they’ve been sitting for a while, try using 3 minutes of the video in the middle of class to give students a chance to wiggle.

#9 I SPY THE MUSIC ROOM

It may be time to sit down and take a look at all the things that are in the music room!

Why not play another game?

PLAY I SPY IN THE MUSIC ROOM

A FREEBIE WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE RESOURCE LIBRARY

Or, have a student leave the room for a minute. Then you choose the “music room item” you want students to notice- like the Orff Instruments.  Bring the student back into the room.  Have the class swish their hands together or clap the closer the student gets to the item.  This game is like “Closet Key”, but instead of singing, just use some body percussion. If the student can name the item then cheer. If not, then explain what it is to the class.  Keep the game going quickly to get through as much as you can.

This is a great game for third grade and up!

And a fun back to school  music activity.

#10 PERSONAL SPACE ACTIVITY

Magical, Musical Bubblegum is imaginary bubblegum, chew it up, don’t swallow it, make a big bubble that covers your whole body from the top of your head way down to your toes. Now feel your bubble.

This is your personal space.

Keep your hands feet and words inside your space.

Wave a scarf or play a drum to “pop” student bubbles. Students run around. Wave your scarf again to have them STOP/FREEZE on their spots.

Repeat 2-3 times.

Sing the HANDS FEET AND WORDS SONG

Remember, back to school music activities can and should include activities for your students to know your procedures and expectations.

Looking for classroom management ideas?

Elementary Music Classroom Management Tips

I hope these 10 back to school music activities help you kick off a great school year!

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