I’m using a scarf to teach music concepts high and low. This activity is for younger children-even toddlers can do this one! Music teachers can use this activity in their PreK-2nd grades. It’s a good intro to high and low sounds as well as a wonderful calming down activity.
SCARF MOVEMENT ACTIVITY TO TEACH HIGH AND LOW
In this high and low scarf movement activity I’m going to be using the C major prelude by Bach.
I’m going to hold my scarf in a square. And for young children you might find laying it on the floor like a little blanket.
And then have them pick up the two ends and then hold it up, instead of trying to maneuver to the square in the air.
And now we’re going to do some activities to get them moving high and low.
HIGH LOW ACTIVITIES
Play some high and low notes on the piano or sing high and low.
The point is to do some listening activities to help them hear what is high and what is low.
A fun activity is to use animal sounds
Try using the sound of a bird for high and an elephant or a lion for low.
Ask the children to show high and low as you play the animal sounds.
Then ask them to share some animal sounds that are high and low.
Let’s get the whole body moving!
Have them stand in a circle and respond to the animal sounds without too much guidance.
Make sure they are breathing and bending their knees.
Model how you want them to move.
Let them experiment!
This is a really good therapy activity. It helps everyone get calm and everyone’s trying their very best to do the activity in their own way, and that’s really important.
That’s why I like using scarves in the music we’re doing activity like this and we’re involving creative movement.
We’re not worried about doing the exact correct movement with the music, especially for this activity, and especially if we’re doing it with like 4 or 5 year olds, we’re just helping them hear and see and experience and giving them some opportunities for their brain to make some connections about high and low sounds.
TEACHING TIPS
DO A SHORT SECTION
And then before we do the whole activity, after we talk about the animal sounds or nature sounds or the sounds that we hear in the world, then I’m going to just play a very short part of the piece first.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
Then I’ll see how they’re doing. And, you know, if some of them have dropped down to hear, you know, we’ll say, let’s get our little baby blankets back down and we’ll pick them back up and we can even do this.
REVIEW AS NEEDED
Can you hide your face and wave it hi and say hi with your voice?
Can you wave low and change your voice to be like a lion?
GIVE THE ACTIVITY A TRY
And then we’re going to turn on the music.
You can watch how the activity looks by watching the video.
Then at the end of the activity show them how to twirl to the top and then have them sit down and be really quiet when the music ends.
You can apply these teaching methods to any music and movement activity.
Need some more ideas?
MORE SCARF ACTIVITIES
Capybara Song Scarf Movement Activity
Get the Free Resource when you SUBSCRIBE!
Scarf Calm Down “Twinkle, Twinkle”
SCARF MOVEMENT SONG tutorial “SNOWFLAKE, SNOWFLAKE”
BLOG POST
How to Teach Dynamics with Scarf Movement-GRIZZLY BEAR SONG
8 Ways to Use a Scarf in Music ClassVideo Link
SCARF MOVEMENT RESOURCES IN THE TPT STORE
SCARF ACTIVITIES IN THE TPT STORE:
SCARF BUNDLE 3
![Scarf Movement Activity Bundle 3 Entire School Year: Music, PE, Preschool](https://www.singplaycreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1573_1-630x630.jpg)
SCARF BUNDLE 2
![Scarf activities for each month of the school year! (Edition 2) Everything you need to help students move in multi Directional Movements. PREK-3](https://www.singplaycreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1559_1-2-630x630.jpg)
SCARF BUNDLE 1
![Scarf Movement Activity Bundle Entire School Year: Music, PE, Preschool](https://www.singplaycreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1523-1-630x630.jpg)
SING PLAY CREATE SHOP
SCARF BUNDLE 3
SCARF BUNDLE 2
SCARF BUNDLE 1
I hope you found some activity ideas to teach high and low using scarves in your home or classes!
Thanks for reading this post!
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![I'm using a scarf to teach music concepts high and low. This activity is for younger children-even toddlers can do this one! Music teachers can use this activity in their PreK-2nd grades. It's a good intro to high and low sounds as well as a wonderful calming down activity. Scarf movement to teach high and low by Sing Play Create](https://www.singplaycreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/240429_scarf-high-low-bp-pin-354x630.png)
![I'm using a scarf to teach music concepts high and low. This activity is for younger children-even toddlers can do this one! Music teachers can use this activity in their PreK-2nd grades. It's a good intro to high and low sounds as well as a wonderful calming down activity. Scarf movement to teach high and low by Sing Play Create](https://www.singplaycreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/240429_scarf-high-low-bp-ig-630x630.png)