10 Favorite First Day K-2 Elementary Music Activities

Are you ready for a successful back to school? I’m sharing my 10 favorite back to school activities for grades K-2 in this blog post. Watch the video for a more detailed demonstration of the songs and activities.

10 FAVORITE FIRST DAY K-2 ELEMENTARY MUSIC ACTIVITIES

Here are the 10 activities I’m sharing in this video. Some of these are FREE RESOURCES so be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter. Some are resources you can get in our TpT Store or right here in the Sing Play Create Shop.

1 SING A HELLO SONG

I love to begin class with a hello song! You can use one of our FREE ACTIVITIES like the one I used in the video, or you may want to get a different hello song for each grade level.

TpT LINKS

2 SING A SIT DOWN TRANSITION SONG

“Criss-Cross Applesauce” is part of the Elementary Music Teacher Essentials Basic Resource

3 SING A RULES AND MANNERS SONG

No matter what your rules, you want to have your students “do” something with them besides listen to you read them. Many music teachers like the students to clap out the rules, write the rhythm of the words or act out little scenarios that describe the rules.

Both of these resources are in the Elementary Music Teacher Essentials Basic Resource

Music Class Essentials Basic Songs, Activities, Games, Chants, Lessons, Rules, Planner, Mp3’s

$25.00

Add to cart

4 BREATHING BREAK

I believe a breathing break may help me or you the teacher more than the kids. Feeling rushed? Then take your favorite stretch or yoga pose and have the students do it with you.

This can be as easy as saying “show me your favorite Yoga pose. Deep breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.

5 SING A NAME GAME

I use all the songs in the MUSIC TEACHER ESSENTIALS BUNDLE to establish my classroom procedures, play name games like the one in the video and hello songs.

(TpT LINK)

Music Teacher Essentials Elementary Music Class Essential Songs, Chants, Games, Back to School

Music Class Essentials Basic Songs, Activities, Games, Chants, Lessons, Rules, Planner, Mp3’s

$25.00

Add to cart

In the video I’m sharing the song “Mary Wore Her Red Dress” (which is in the Music Teacher Essentials Bundle) as one of the name games in my Kindergarten classes.

There are name games, hello songs and get to know you activities in the Music Teacher Essentials for all Grades.

Another favorite name game is “JOHNNY PLAYS THE DRUM BEAT”!

(TpT LINK)

Music Activity Back to School Name Game Johnny Plays the Drum Beat

Music Activity Back to School Name Game: “Johnny Plays the Drum Beat”

$3.50

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6 TAKE A MOVEMENT BREAK

When I first started teaching I had some good advice given to me to use what I already knew to get started. I’m sharing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” as a movement break you can use on the very first day of class.

Try changing the TEMPO and the DYNAMICS of LOUD/SOFT, HIGH/LOW. The students will learn that in music class we’re going to have FUN!

6 LINE UP SONG

I’ve found that this activity “FOLLOWING THE LEADER” really helps the Kindergarteners as a movement break, transition and moving on the beat activity. You can change the way you do the song to help them learn spatially, get in some exercise and learn to follow directions.

This activity is also in the Music Teacher Essentials Resource.

Music Teacher Essentials Resource (TpT LINK)

7 BUSY BEE GAME

The busy bee game is a version of the song “Busy Buzzy Bumble Bee”. I just shortened it for the purposes of using it as a transition activity.

“Busy, buzzy bumblebee don’t you dare to buzz near me!”

8 CIRCLE SONG

This song is a FREE RESOURCE for our Subscribers.

9-LINE UP SONG

This line up song is part of my elementary classroom songs resource. It has many classroom management songs and activities for classroom teachers.

ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM CHANTS AND SONGS (TpT LINK)

Elementary Classroom Songs and Chants: Line Up, Brain Breaks, Stretch, Gather

$5.00

Add to cart

10- GOOD BYE SONG

This song is a FREE RESOURCE for our Subscribers. And you can find it on our Kids YouTube Channel as well as Spotify and other music channels.

ELEMENTARY MUSIC RESOURCES

I know you need easy to use resources that are packed with time tested materials and engaging activities! That’s why I created these resources and used them over the course of my 20 year music teaching career. You can simplify your teacher life and make your teaching more effective when you have the right materials.

Get the Elementary Music Teacher Essentials with Songs, Games, Chants, Activities to establish your classroom. Make teaching and classroom management easy when you use songs and games to help your students know what to do in your music room.

Be sure to take a look at our curriculum bundles with resources for an entire year of school that you’ll use over and over again.

SHOP TpT

K-6 Elementary Music Curriculum Lessons & Activities: Year Long BUNDLE

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MORE FIRST DAY MUSIC ACTIVITIES FOR PRIMARY GRADES

First Day Elementary Music Activities// Primary Grade Kindergarten Music Lessons// Songs and Games

READ THE BLOG POST: First Day Music Activities For Primary Grades

I’m hoping that these 10 first day activities help you have a successful school year.

Let’s Move and Learn with Music!

Are you ready for a successful back to school? I'm sharing my 10 favorite back to school activities for grades K-2 in this blog post. Watch the video for a more detailed demonstration of the songs and activities.

BACK TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, MUSIC CLASS ACTIVITIES, ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATION RESOURCES

Meet Sandra

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.