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Here are my ten back to school elementary music activities with teaching tips, songs, games, activities and advice you can use for a successful back to school experience.
The first day of school can be a lot of fun and also a bit stressful for teachers and students. Hopefully, these ideas will help you plan your activities so that you feel great about your first day!
That’s why I wrote 5 hello songs that I could use with all my grade levels.
I didn’t want to sing the same song all day every day, so I came up with a different one for each grade K-4 and then use the 4th grade one in grades 5 and 6. It’s also a round and involves solfege to challenge the upper grades.
This is the Hello Song Bundle with 5 songs and videos for the elementary music teacher. Available in our Shop.
Elementary Music Class Hello Song Bundle: Songs, Videos, Mp3 Tracks
Using the same song every time students come helps them feel included, safe and encourages them to participate in class.
The reason I use a hello song is that it’s an easy way to greet everyone. After the students learn to sing it, I can walk around the room and greet students individually too.
It’s a great way to make immediate connections with my students.
Here’s another fun hello song you can use with 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders.
“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.
It’s also available in the TPT STORE
“EVERYBODY SAY HELLO” Teachers Pay Teachers Link: BODY PERCUSSION TO SAY HELLO
Repetition is a Kindergarteners best friend!
Welcome Back to School Hello Songs & Activities
Although I had over 1200 student names to learn, I did learn them (mostly😊)
My method is to sing their names right after the hello song.
I sing on sol/mi and have the students echo me.
It takes 3-4 class times for the students to really get this.
We sing our hello song, and then I sing the names.
After I’ve learned them I walk around the room or the circle and sing right to them.
This activity has helped me more in the classroom than almost any other thing I’ve done. I truly believe that by looking in their eyes and singing their name it builds trust, connection and fosters a relationship that goes a loooooong way when things go south.
It doesn’t take that long either.
And it’s totally worth it!
Every other adult at the school- including my principal has applauded this method.
I encourage you to find a way to learn the names and recognize each student individually in your classroom.
Here’s a fun game you can play with your primary students to learn their names.
READ THIS BLOG POST ABOUT THE GAME: BACK TO SCHOOL NAME GAME
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
“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.
There’s no reason why you can’t teach music concepts as part of your back to school music activities. If the activity is FUN then your students will want to do it again and again.
You can choose something easy that they can succeed at too.
Use this free resource with your Kinder and First Graders.
Upper elementary students can share all about their summer in music class and write some rhythms too!
Are you teaching the Kodaly method? Then you’ll love this 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.
Kodaly Sight Singing Practice so mi la with Curwen Hand Signs
Did you know that many of our rhythm activities are only 1.00? We created rhythm packages with play a long videos, google slides, presentation and flash cards. These packages are so easy to use! You can get them in many themes- this is the SCHOOL TIME rhythm series.
If you love to use flash cards in your class, then you’ll love the variety of flash cards you can get in various themes.
Game songs with music lessons can be a fun way to kick off the school year too.
Kodaly song BLUE BIRD BLUE BIRD for Kindergarten through 2nd grades.
Teach the song on the first day using the presentation and play the game the very next class time.
GERMS, GERMS GO AWAY MUSIC LESSON
Teach about germs and washing hands and play an Orff song. This activity will work with 3rd and 4th graders.
No matter what type of music activity you choose- be sure to consider the FUN FACTOR!
Instead of “telling” students to follow you, use a movement activity to show them.
This kind of a movement activity doesn’t need to be complicated, and it can also help teach a procedure or routine.
You can use these FREE MOVEMENT CARDS with a hand drum.
Tell the students to do the action to the TEMPO.
Play SLOW and PLAY FAST as you show the presentation.
Use this activity to teach them how to line up, stand up, sit down, follow the leader.
Doing this activity helps students know to watch you, listen to you and follow your directions.
You can do the same activity with a SCARF TOO! There are free movement cards in the Free Resource Library.
You may want to check out these activities in the Sing Play Create Shop.
Music Lesson “Clap-Pat-Snap” Body Percussion Activities K-6
Music Lesson “Clap-Pat-Snap-Stomp” Body Percussion Activities, Flash Cards K-3
I love to use songs, chants, and games to teach the procedures in my classroom.
It’s easy to get my students to line up together. We play a little follow me game to a song- follow the leader around the room and line up in order-not run across the room.
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 RESOURCE 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: TPT LINK
This resource gives you the essential songs and games to establish your routines and procedures in your classroom.
I especially LOVED using the little songs to play games and get to know my students. I used these songs and games for over 20 years of teaching. They are invaluable!
Listen to the reviews!
Great resource with lots of songs and activities! I loved trying out different hello songs and name game activities!
A great resource that was easy to use. Thank you!
Fantastic Resource full of so many ideas and 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
This song is a fun action song you can do with your 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th graders!
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 two times.
Then have students sit in a circle and 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 m
“ I love Disneyland yes, I do-o.”
Then have them take turn’s filling out the “place” they loved most this past summer.
Or the song “I’ve got the Back to School Blues” FREEBIE
Back to school music activities are the most fun in the whole school!
“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.
Be respectful of the younger students and that they may be overwhelmed with all the new rules.
It might be a good idea to give the students a short movement break so that they can have fun on the first day.
Go ahead and sing a hello song, teach your name and maybe clap out their names.
Then break for a movement activity.
It could be a School Time Scarf Activity-
OR
Then you’ll have some time to teach them a procedure like lining up.
I have my students walk in a circle singing “Following the leader” and follow me around the room.
If they can handle it, I’ll zig zag and circle back around to see if they can stay with me.
I’m teaching them to follow me in a fun and engaging way.
This song is available in the Music Teacher Materials Resource.
It comes with songs, games, chants and activities to help you create classroom culture with fun procedures.
Be sure to teach the students your name and a little about you.
Finally at the end of class you can sing a goodbye song or clap their names for them to line up.
Upper elementary music students love interaction and usually love to play games.
It may be time to sit down and look at all the things that are in the music room!
PLAY I SPY IN THE MUSIC ROOM
A FREEBIE WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE RESOURCE LIBRARY
The main idea is to play a game.
It could be a rhythm review game, a write the room game, and would you rather game.
If your students love games-then fit this into your first day activities.
You can complete the procedures and rules on the 2nd and 3rd class times.
There are many things you’ll want to teach your students during those first few class times.
Classroom management is key component of a successful classroom and teacher.
Clear expectations and clear consequences solve a lot of problems.
If you’re new-then you want to keep things simple and easy to manage your first three years.
I use a simple reward system that’s a chart for each day of the week and each class listed.
I give out rewards by the class.
If the class does a great job, then they get a sticker on their chart.
Nine stickers equals a class celebration.
Usually the celebrations are the week before a big break (I schedule them during that last week) This is usually when behaviors are more challenging and I feel it’s okay to have a movement or “fun” music activity.
At the beginning and end of the year I use these FREE REWARD TICKETS too!
Whatever method you choose, you want to be sure you can manage it for all your classes.
And, what to do with the students who make it hard for the class to get a reward? My feeling is that if the majority are on track, then the class gets the reward. I deal with the individual students separately from the class reward.
As you plan your management policies, here are some things to consider:
Here’s a fun song to use with the Kinders about personal space.
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
My primary goal on the first day is for students to see me smiling, feel included and have fun.
That’s why I like to use songs, games, and activities to teach the procedures and rules.
If you apply this to your first day activities, then you’ll have success!
I hope these 10 back to school music activities bring you success!
Want more ideas?
TOP 10 BACK TO SCHOOL MUSIC ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER
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Hi there! I’m Sandra, one of the authors behind Sing Play Create. My goal is to provide teachers with interactive resources and activities to improve the effectiveness of their teaching and enhance student learning.
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