For an emergency substitute lesson I have 2 bingo games. Both are purchased games with game cards and a CD. One game is made up of musical instrument sounds and the other is sound we hear around us. I use the instruments bingo for grades 2 -4 and the sounds bingo for grades K-2. I
When I was asked to teach a half hour class of 35 kids (aged 8 to 16) before their regular teacher could be there, a friend and I came up with this idea: Build "note pizzas" by giving 6 groups each a set of a Pizza pan and 1 whole note (whole pizza) 2 half
Take a well known round: I use 'London's Burning' for younger children (KS1 in the UK) and either 'Frere Jacques' or one of the quick to learn African rounds for older children (KS2 in the UK) Make sure that the children are secure with both the words and melody, singing in unison before embarking on
Select 4 contrasting instruments (any that you like…for example a scraping sound, a hitting sound, a shaking sound and a pitched percussion or barred instrument) Each instrument will represent a sound (left, right, forward, backward). Practice moving around the room to the sounds. Choose 4 students to play instruments, 1 to be the “treasure hunter”
Draw a collection of music symbols on the whiteboard and have the students name them as you do so. After that have them turn their backs (or turn the white board around) and erase one. They must name the missing one. Keep going until they are all gone. Submitted by Lonna Possehl
Make up a series of large cards with a music notes or symbols that the class are currently learning, and tape them to a series of buckets. Then set the buckets up in front of the class and make a line with tape on the floor about five (5) feet from the buckets or
Using manuscript on a whiteboard draw up notes that spell out a word: (eg. “edge”, “dad”, “face”, “cabbage” etc..) one point is first allocated to a student or team who correctly identifies the word. Then you can get the students to ‘play’ the word on an instrument. The first to accurately play the notes in
One of the most fun activities my students love is playing “Note Races.” What you do is go outside to the parking lot (one with no or very little traffic) or any area that is paved or cement. Then, I have a few students draw five manuscript lines about 6-8 feet long with about 2-3 feet
I use Mortinson Math blocks to illustrate rhythm when teaching beginners. “One” blocks are quarter notes in their normal position, but turned over (they are hollow inside) they become quarter rests. “Two” bars are half notes. And so on, any bar being a rest up-side-down. I use toothpicks (sharp ends cut off) for bar lines.
One of the best ideas I 've ever tried was "Music Travelling". It can work very well with preschoolers and primary school children and it promotes creative expression, self confidence, cooperation, geographical knowledge and respect of other cultures. It is also suitable for children with special needs. All you need is a CD with music