Fall Music and Movement Activities

The leaves on the trees are changing colors and the weather is cooling down.  That means if you work with young children, it’s time for fall music and movement activities.

FALL MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES

Fall music and movement activities can be a wonderful time for children to explore the world in a new way!  The colors of fall are different from the colors of spring and summer and winter. The weather is different. And the holidays are unique to this time of year too.

This means we can make fall sounds, move like things in the fall and make fall music.

In this post I’m going to outline a sample lesson activity for Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade

SING A FALL SONG

“It’s Fall” is a song on the Sing Play Create YouTube Channel and a Free Resource in our library.

Begin class with a fun song.

Encourage the children to move freely to the music.

Later, you can teach them all the lyrics.  For the first time, have them pretend to “fall” down every time they hear the word fall.

C

The falling leaves,

       G

are blowin’ off the trees.  They’re piling high,

         C

right up to my knees.  I’d rake them up,

             F

But they make me sneeze!

    C                                G7     C

So now there’s leaves all over me!

“It’s FALL!  “It’s FALL!

The time when everyone throws a football!

“It’s FALL!  “It’s FALL!

Aren’t you glad it’s fall!

You can get all the details on how to use this song and other FALL FREEBIES in this blog post.

Free Fall Song to Sing and Play  

After singing the song, ask the children what kinds of things are falling during autumn time or fall.

What are some descriptions of leaves falling?

Swirling, whirling, swaying, piling, etc.

What makes the leaves fall?

FALL POEM “THE WIND”

(This activity is also available as a complete resource)

Fall & November Poem: “The Wind” Literacy Activities, Video

Have them show you their action words.  You may want to write them on the board for them to see.

MOVE LIKE LEAVES

Next, you can have them pretend play as falling leaves to some music.

Have them move freely, falling and floating to VIVALDI AUTUMN 3^RD MOVEMENT

After about 30 seconds, you can STOP the music and everyone has to freeze where they are falling and crouch down on the ground.

Then you can have someone pretend to rake the leaves into a big pile (gather the children to the middle of the circle) and finally have everyone get up and jump!

The children will love this falling leaves activity.

I encourage you to use the music to cue the children as to what to do.

Play the music to fall like a leaf.

Stop the music to lie on the ground.

Play the music to move to a circle.

Stop the music and jump!

After all that excitement, it will be time to pull out some instruments!

PLAY FALL MUSIC

There are many falling leaves songs you can use for this activity.

BE SURE TO GET THE FREE FALL MUSIC AND MOVEMENT FREEBIES

TOSS THE LEAVES

FALL IS HERE

FALL BEAT AND RHYTHM CHARTS, CARDS, POSTERS

“Fall is Here” is a well know Kodaly song that’s perfect for this activity.

Fall is here, fall is here,

Birds and flowers disappear!

Here’s me singing it with a scarf to show high and low.  If you don’t have or want to use scarves, then have the children use their hands.

@singplaycreate Teach high low and rhythm with scarves. #kindergartenmusic #kodalymethod #musiceducators #musicteacheroftiktok #kindergartensong #kindergartenmusicactivities #musicteachertiktok #musiceducatorsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Sing Play Create

After they sing the song, you can have them play instruments.

First I have them pat their knees on the beat.

Then I would use a shaker. (SH means to shake it one time on the beat)

SH       SH

Fall is here,

SH       SH

 fall is here,

SH       SH

Birds and flowers

SH       SH

 disappear!

You can also have 1 or 2 students play F on the xylophone too.

You can play the ukulele with the song, or xylophone. Just play the F chord on the beat.

Let them sing and play the song several times before moving to a new activity.

After the children finish playing the song, I have them move to the music with scarves.

I have half the class sing and play and the other half moves with the scarves.

Then they switch places.

I have found great success integrating the singing, moving, and playing activities during one class time.  I hope you do too!

CREATE FALL MUSIC

Now it’s time for us to create some of our own music.

I don’t do this activity on the same day as the other ones.

I usually review the other activities and add in more learning activities like singing with solfege, clapping the rhythms, patting the beat etc.

There are many ways to help children learn how to compose. 

I like to use flash cards or popsicle sticks for them to create rhythm patterns. 

Then they can play their patterns as they sing them.

After they sing the song Fall is Here, I have them make a pattern to show me their falling leaves sounds.

I pull out a variety of instruments for them to experiment with for a while.

Then I have them sing the song and then play their rhythm pattern 4 times.

The class can sing the song and the child can focus on playing the rhythm pattern.

At first, I’ll have each child play, then I’ll have 2-4 play together etc. and finally the whole class plays at the same time!

That’s a lot of leaves falling!

This song is part of an Orff arrangement I put together to help children connect nature sounds with music.

Leaves are falling all around.

Falling, falling on the ground.

Leaves are falling all around.

When they fall, they make this sound!

Swish, swish, swish, swish.

You may want to look at it for your music and movement activities.

LEAVES ARE FALLING MUSIC LESSON on Teachers Pay Teachers

Or check it out in the Sing Play Create Shop

Music Teachers and students are “falling” for this amazing resource using a video to teach melody, rhythm and encourage improvisation.

A complete musical experience with singing, playing, and creative movement.

It’s best for Preschool through 2^nd grades.

MORE FALL MUSIC AND MOVEMENT IDEAS

If you’re looking for more Fall music and movement activities, be sure to check out these BLOG POSTS:

FAVORITE FALL MUSIC LESSONS

Elementary Fall Music Lessons and Activities      

Favorite Fall Music Lessons        

And we hope you’ll go to our YouTube channel for Fall Activities too!

FALL POEM “I LOVE FALL FOOD”  

SEASONS SONG  

MONTHS SONG

PUMPKIN PIE  

Here at Sing Play Create we’re working to bring you interactive resources you can easily use in your classroom.

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Let’s Move and Learn with Music!