It’s the day one of the new school year and everyone is excited for the first day of music class activities! All of the kids are thrilled to be in new classes with new or old friends. The new year is a fresh start for everyone, and it’s indeed going to be a great year. The kids come in, antsy to hear what’s in store for music this year…and then they just hear rules and procedures. Again. Because they’ve already heard these same expectations from their classroom teacher and possibly other special area teachers.
Let’s keep that excitement going instead of bursting bubbles with lectures, shall we?
My first several years of teaching, my first day of music class was super boring. I really just wanted the students to know who I was and get through all of the rules, expectations, and what to do in case of emergencies. If there was leftover time, I would let them choose a game they wanted to play. I had checked that box off on my to-do list, but honestly, it was a super boring class. Realistically, they probably didn’t even remember half of what we went over.
Instead of the first day being all rules and procedures that they have already heard several times, let’s make music class…well, musical! Yes, of course they need to know your expectations, but let’s not forget the reason they’re there in the first place! Today we’re going to go over some of my favorite first day of music class activities that aren’t going to put your kids to sleep!
As you’re planning out your beginning of year activities, don’t forget to set time aside to plan out some goals for yourself for this year. To get your free goal setting and reflection workbook, click HERE.
Name Games and Ice Breakers
I’ll be honest here. It took me a while to get on board with name games and ice breakers! I always felt like kids know most of the other kids in their class already. I usually end up surprised that they don’t in fact know all of their peers’ names…sometimes even the kids they were in class with last year! Now, not all of my activities I’m going to share are music lessons. I absolutely make the most of my time with my kids, but I also think that sometimes we can just let them play a game because it’s fun. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break and just letting them enjoy the people around them.
Some of my favorite ice breaker games are:
- Hickety Pickety Bumblebee: This one is perfect for PK-1. I differentiate the age differences in a couple of ways. First grade will get drums, because they got to play them in kindergarten and it will only take a quick minute to review procedures. You could even let them play the steady beat on xylophones! For preschool and kindergarten, they keep the steady beat with me using either rhythm sticks or beat buddies. Side note: Have you used beat buddies in your class? I use all of my old beanie babies. The kids love them! Just be prepared for the tags of your sweet old friends to come off, because you’ve got lots of little hands playing with them.
- My name is…I sell: This is a fun one for grades 2-5. So first, you’ll teach them the poem. “My name is ____, I come from _______, and I sell ________.” But the place and what they sell has to be the first letter of their name! You’ll then go in around the circle keeping a steady beat. The idea is that the beat isn’t interrupted- if it is, you could have that student be out. To make it more difficult, you could change the body percussion. Maybe instead of only patting the steady beat, they have to stomp and clap or pat and snap. You could let them choose their own pattern when they perform their verse for the class. You could even add instruments to this by having some instruments play while the student says their name, some instruments play for the place the student is from, and other instruments play while the student says what they sell.
- Ice Breaker Hot Potato: In 3-5 grades I’ll let them play hot potato. For ice breaker hot potato, I have a ball that has different questions on it. Some of my questions are: “Would you rather be 10 inches tall or 10 feet tall?” or “If you were an emoji, which one would you be?” I also have a few spots that just say, “safe.” When I stop the music, they have to answer the question that their thumb is touching before sitting out. If it’s safe, they get to stay in the game! To make this a little more music lesson focused, you could turn this into a listening or music genre lesson.
- Bingo: I use this one with 4th and 5th grade. I used this one on my first day of elementary choir, too. Students have to get a bingo by finding peers who can sign boxes that apply to them. Depending on the size of the group, I only let a student sign someone’s bingo card one time- after that, they have to find someone else. Is it musical? No, not in the sense that they’re making music while they’re doing it. But it’s fun to see them interacting and getting to know each other.
Get to Know Me Papers
One of the first day of music class activities I find the most important is a Get to Know me paper. Last year, I gave every student in grades 3-5 a quarter sheet of paper. It asked them to list their favorite song and singer. I also asked them for their favorite subject in school, their hobbies, and favorite food.
How do I use that information? Well, most importantly, it helps build relationships! Building relationships is my very best classroom management tool. Kids who feel loved and respected are far more likely to take musical risks and put themselves out there. While I would love for music to be every single child’s favorite subject in school, I know that’s not true. But when I show a genuine interest in the kids’ lives and interests outside of my four walls, even the ones who huff and puff when I ask them to sing or compose a song will be more willing to do it because they know that my room is a safe place where they are cared for and loved no matter what.
I also use this information for my planning. I take their hobbies and favorite sports and create lessons around that. For example, if a student tells me he is interested in football- awesome! That’s exactly why I created these football rhythm games! Or, we can talk about instruments in marching band, watch halftime performances, and discuss the purpose of music at games and how it affects the atmosphere and mood. We can talk about how famous football players also dance because it helps with their coordination and balance.
Do you have kids who are interested in video games? Of course you do! So let’s talk about music in specific video games and determine how it changes the mood of the game. Take the music out of a movie trailer (or show them this video of using different types of music in a movie) and the kids will be astounded at how big of a difference in makes! Watch this interview with Austin Wintory, the composer for the music of the video game, “Journey.”
I take all of their favorite songs and compile the appropriate ones into a Spofity playlist. I’ll use these songs, or songs from their favorite movies, for some of my listening and genre lessons. I also use them during the students’ free game time that I give them if they finish everything on my plan and all give their very best effort during class. My older kids have 55-minute classes- that’s a long time to focus! If they do their very best and can get through things in 50 minutes, I’m happy to let them play a game of their choice.
Review Previous Concepts
Last, we need to review what we learned last year! This helps me gauge what they retained over the summer, and it also helps me get an idea of where the move-ins are at. Some of my favorite first day of music class activities are review games, such as these:
- Steal the Bacon: Divide the student into two teams and have the teams sitting across from each other. Number each team off 1-13 (or however many kids are on the team). Each student should have an opponent with the same number on the other side. You’ll put rhythm patterns between the two teams. Say a rhythm pattern and then say a number and the student assigned that number on each team will try to find the correct pattern. Whoever gets it back to their team gets a point! My kids LOVE this game- as a caution, though, I usually only play this when most of the kids are in pants and not shorts. The older kids get really into this game and can end up with scraped knees.
- Swat the Fly: Another popular game with my kids, with this one I divide the class into five or so teams and give each team a fly swatter. I have rhythm patterns scattered around the floor. I’ll say a pattern and the student with the fly swatter will try to find the correct pattern. Any student who gets it right gets a point, but the student who gets to the correct pattern first gets two points.
- Singing games: Get the kids singing right away so you set the precedent that, yes, we are going to sing in this class! Popular songs with my kids are Apple Tree (K-2), Old Brass Wagon (K-2), Cut the Cake (1-2), Ida Red Ida Blue (3-5), and Ye Toop Doram (4-5). All of these games are super fun and low pressure.
Keep things musical. Get the kids up, moving, and interacting with each other. Yes, of course go over your expectations, too! That’s important. But set the tone for the year and have fun with the kids! Don’t forget that some of these kids missed you more than anyone else over the summer. Some of them are nervous for the new teacher/students/material, but you are a familiar, comforting face. Have a fantastic year!
What are you planning on starting with this coming year? Head over to my instagram (@caffeinated.j) and DM me your favorite beginning of year activities!
