How storytelling and music can strike the right chord together in your classroom.

If you’re thinking about adding harmonica to your elementary music curriculum, don’t overlook one of your best teaching tools: picture books.

When I started using harmonicas in my classroom, it wasn’t long before I realized something: all that breathing—blow, draw, repeat—can leave students a little winded, especially in the early lessons. I needed natural stopping points to rest, refocus, and still keep the musical momentum going. That’s when I started pulling out books.

Not just any books, though. I looked for stories that connected to our harmonica journey—books with characters who played the harmonica, found their voice through music, or had something valuable to say about sound and culture. It turned out that these stories did more than just fill a break—they added depth, connection, and a whole lot of meaning.

(This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I love!) 

Why pair books with your harmonica unit?

• They provide breathing breaks with purpose. Students need time to reset. A compelling story gives them rest and re-engagement.
• They create cultural and emotional connections. Books like The Music in Derrick’s Heart and The Harmonica bring context and heart to the instrument.
• They open the door for cross-curricular learning. You’re not just teaching music—you’re linking to literacy, culture, and history.

My go-to harmonica-themed books

Stories about playing harmonica

📖 The Music in Derrick’s Heart by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert
A moving story of a young boy who longs to play music like his uncle. This one connects powerfully with students who may be seeing themselves in the classroom narrative for the first time.  The Music in Derrick’s Heart by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert, pub. Holiday House, 2000. ISBN: 0-8234-1353-5.

📖 The Old Cotton Blues by Linda England
A humorous take on blues music and storytelling. Great for a lighthearted moment that still centers the harmonica.  The Old Cotton Blues by Linda England, pub. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1998. ISBN: 0-689-81074-1.

📖 The Harmonica by Tony Johnston
This haunting and beautiful picture book tells the story of a boy in a Nazi prison camp who finds hope through music. It’s a powerful way to show students how music can provide comfort in hard times. The Harmonica by Tony Johnston, pub. Charlesbridge, 2004. ISBN: 1-57091-547-4.

📖 Whale Brother by Barbara Steiner
Set in an Alaskan Inuit community, this lesser-known title adds cultural diversity to your unit.  Whale Brother by Barbara Steiner, pub. Walker and Co., 1988. ISBN: 0-8027-7460-1.

📖 Lentil by Robert McCloskey
A classroom classic! Kids love the story of Lentil and how his harmonica saves the day. A great early read to hook your students.  Lentil by Robert McCloskey, pub. Puffin Books, 1940. ISBN: 0-14-050287-4.

📖 Apt. 3 by Ezra Jack Keats, 

Sam finds the source of the music in his apartment building...and a new friend! Apt. 3 by Ezra Jack Keats, pub. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1971. ISBN: 0-689-71059-3

Sing-along Song Lyrics Books

Some books become even more fun when paired with harmonica sounds or mini play-alongs:

Fiddle-I-Fee Refrain: “fiddle-i-fee” (5-5-4-4/blow-blow-draw-blow) Cat Goes Fiddle-I-Fee by Paul Galdone, pub. Clarion Books, 1985. ISBN: 0-89919-705-1

He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands Refrain: (6-6-5-6-6-5-4-4/blow-blow-blow-blow-blow-draw-draw-blow) He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson, pub. Dial Books, 2005. ISBN: 0-8037-2850-6

Hokey Pokey Refrain: “That’s what it’s all about” (4-4-4-4-5-5, blow, blow, blow, draw, blow, draw) Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long, pub. Holiday House, 2019. ISBN 0-82344150-4

Old MacDonald Refrain: “e-i-e-i-o” (5-5-4-4-3/blow, blow, draw, draw, blow) Old MacDonald Had a Farm illus. By Jane Cabrera, pub. Holiday House, 2020. ISBN 0-82344478-3. Old MacDonald in the City by Suzanne Williams, illus.-Thor Wickstrom, pub. Golden Books, 2002. ISBN 0-307-10685-3. Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steven Goetz, illus. Eda Kaban, pub. Chronicle Books, 2016. ISBN 9-78145213260-0

Ten in the Bed Refrain: “roll over, roll over” (6-5-4-6-5-4/blow, blow, blow, blow, blow, blow) Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale, pub. Discovery toys, 1988. ISBN 0-939979-10-1 Ten Monsters in a Bed by Rozanne Lanczak Williams, illus. Kathleen Dunne, pub. Creative Teaching Press,1995. ISBN 0-916119-90-4

Today is Monday Refrain: “Wish the same to you” (5-5-4-4-3/ blow, blow, draw, draw, blow) Today is Monday by Eric Carle, pub. Philomel Books, 1993. ISBN 0-399-21966-8 

There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly Refrain: "Perhaps She’ll Die" (6-6-7-7/blow, draw, draw, blow) There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly by Lucille Colandro, pub. Cartwheel Books, 2014.  ISBN ‎ 0-5457866605

The Animal Boogie Refrain: "What's that creature shaking here and there" (6-6-6-5-5-4-4/blow, draw, blow, draw, blow, draw, blow) This song is NOT written in the key of C, so you would not be able to play along wth the included recording with a C harmonica,. The entire song only uses do-re-me-fa-so-la, however, so you could transpose down to the key of C and sing without the accompaniment.   The Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter, pub. Barefoot Books, 2000. ISBN: 1-902283-67-3.
 

Harmonica Sound Effects with Storybooks

Adding harmonica sound effects to picture books is a fun way to deepen listening skills and bring stories to life. Try using glissandos or pitch slides for books with up/down action, or create rhythmic background “chugga-chuggas” and train whistles for transportation tales. These little touches help students connect sound with story in creative, engaging ways.

Harmonica Sound Effects

Use glissando effects on the harmonica (slide L–R while blowing) to match words like up, down, or unexpected events in the story.

Mortimer by Robert Munsch, pub. Annick Press, 1983. ISBN: 1-55037-038-1
Up, Up, Down by Robert Munsch, pub. Annick Press, 2001. ISBN: 1-55037-778-5
Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres, illus. by Nadine Bernard Westcott, pub. Candlewick Press, 2007. ISBN: 0-7636-2041-8
Fortunately by Remy Charlip, pub. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1964. ISBN: 0-689-71788-0

Train Sound Effects & Rhythms

Teach harmonica “chugga-chugga” background rhythms (try holes 1-2-3) or high/low train whistle sounds (try holes 6–7–8) to match train-themed stories.

Shortcut by Donald Crews, pub. Greenwillow Books, 1992. ISBN: 0-688-09642-6
Freight Train by Donald Crews, pub. Greenwillow Books, 1978. ISBN: 0-688-06537-6
The Little Engine That Could: 90th Anniversary Edition by Watty Piper, illus. Dan Santat (Illustrator), Dolly Parton (Introduction) pub. Grosset & Dunlap, 1954. ISBN: 0-59309439-5
Down by the Station by Jennifer Riggs Vetter, illus. Frank Remkiewicz, pub. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006. ISBN: 0-15-205619-3
The Train Rolls On by Jodi Adams, illus. Christina Wald, pub. Jodi Adams, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-7347305-0-0

Want to see how it all fits together?

I share these strategies (and more) in my session, “Hooked on Harmonicas: Easy Wins for Student Motivation.”

👉 Click here to watch the video and download the free handout.

 
I’m also putting together a full resource with harmonica tab charts for 10 familiar classroom songs—perfect for teachers who want a jumpstart on using this tiny but powerful instrument. Join my list using the form at the bottom of this page to be the first to know when it launches!

New to harmonica in the classroom?

If you’re wondering why and how this little instrument fits into elementary music, start here with this post on the basics, benefits, and tips for getting started—even if you’ve never played before.

Final thought: Harmonicas and books may seem like an odd couple at first—but in the music room, they work together beautifully. One gives kids a voice, the other tells them a story.

I would love to hear your experience with teaching harmonica in your elementary music classroom!

Musically yours,

  

  

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🟣 From Blank Stares to Musical Magic

Let’s be real—teaching composition can feel like handing your students a blank page and saying, “Okay, now invent Beethoven.” 😅 Between standards, time constraints, and varying musical abilities, it’s no wonder many music teachers push composition to the side.

But what if I told you there’s a way to spark real creativity without the overwhelm… and without needing a conservatory degree yourself?

💭 What Kind of Composition Are We Talking About?

In this post (and in Epic Room Rescue), “composition” means creating sound-based responses to a story—not writing traditional sheet music.

Students will use classroom instruments, vocal sounds, or body percussion to build what’s often called a sound story. Some may sketch their musical ideas using iconic or graphic notation—like lines, shapes, or symbols—but the real focus is on expressive sound, not formal theory.

The result? Music that feels meaningful, creative, and accessible to every learner.

🔴 Why Teaching Music Composition Feels So Hard

Many music teachers love the idea of student composition—but dread the logistics.

🧠 Students don’t know where to start.
😩 You’re already managing behavior, rhythm skills, and limited instruments.
🎶 And let’s be honest… "Compose a melody" doesn’t exactly get kids jazzed.

The result? We either skip it, rush it, or settle for copying exercises that don’t actually teach students how to create.

⚠️ The Problem with Playing It Safe

But here’s the catch: when we skip composition, students miss out on a huge piece of their musical identity.

Without a chance to create, music can become just another subject to memorize—not a form of self-expression. And you? You miss the magic of watching your students light up when they say, “I made this!”

💡 How Picture Stories Unlock Student Creativity

The good news? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

One of the easiest ways to inspire original music-making—especially for elementary students—is to anchor it in storytelling.

Instead of focusing on traditional notation or writing notes on a staff, students create sound stories using instruments, body percussion, or their voices. They’re composing in the sense of organizing sound to tell a story, not crafting a classical sonata.

Think about it: kids naturally tell stories all the time. What if their music was the story?

That’s exactly the thinking behind my favorite classroom trick: using picture stories to guide musical creation.

📚 Meet Epic Room Rescue: Music Meets Adventure

One of my go-to resources for this is Epic Room Rescue: A Musical Composition Picture Story.

In this engaging activity, students follow a visual adventure—complete with characters, settings, and events—and compose musical responses to match each scene. They might use drums to echo suspense, shakers for footsteps, or high tones for surprise moments.

Think of it as composing through sound design, not staff paper. Some students may even use iconic or graphic notation (like shapes or lines) to record their ideas.

It’s like a comic book meets music class… with your students as the composers.

✅ Why Teachers (and Students) Love It

Let’s break it down teacher-style:

🎨 Feature: Picture-based story with built-in composition prompts

✨ Advantage: Kids always know what kind of musical sound to create—no blank page panic

🎉 Benefit: You get an entire lesson (or week!) of creative music-making, minus the overwhelm

Plus:

• Aligned with National Music Standards
• Perfect for grades 3–5, but adaptable for younger or older
• Works great for sub plans or enrichment
• Printable and no-prep (hello, time-saver!)

🎵 Creative Ways to Use It in Your Music Room

Need some inspiration? Try this:

✅ Mini unit finale – After learning about rhythm, melody, or dynamics, let students “compose the soundtrack” to the story.
✅ Gallery walk – Post students’ compositions and let classmates interpret each other's musical choices.
✅ Cross-curricular creativity – Pair with a writing or drama project for a full STEAM experience!

📚 Want More Story-Inspired Ideas for the Music Room?

If you’re loving the idea of using books and stories to spark music-making, don’t miss this post:
👉 Bringing Pages to Life: Making Stories Musical

It’s packed with ideas for turning read-alouds into musical experiences—plus a curated list of book titles that are perfect for your music classroom sound stories, rhythm explorations, and more.

💡 Bonus tip: Many of the books in that post work beautifully with the free Sound Story Planning Sheet, too!

🚀 Try Epic Room Rescue in Your Classroom

Ready to ditch the composition chaos and give your students a creative adventure they'll never forget?

👉 Grab Epic Room Rescue here on TPT and give it a spin this week:
🎵 Get the resource

✨ Grab a Free Planning Tool to Get Started

💌 Want a freebie to use before or alongside the full resource?

Download my Sound Story Planning Printable—a student-friendly template to sketch out the “plot” of their composition before they start. It’s the perfect primer for any storytelling-based music lesson.

🎬 Help Your Students Discover Their Inner Composers

You don’t have to be Mozart (or magic) to help your students become composers.

All it takes is a little structure, a lot of imagination, and a story worth rescuing. 😉

Let your next music lesson be the one where your students say:
“I didn’t know I could do that!” 🎶💡

Musically yours,

  

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One Way to Design Engaging Music Units for Elementary Students

When I first started teaching elementary music, I constantly asked myself: how do I fit it all in? Music theory, history, composers, listening, singing, and playing instruments — all the things. My plans were packed, but I knew something was missing. I wanted more cohesion and more connection.

Then, a new art teacher joined our staff. Her approach was a revelation. Her units were clean, connected, and captivating for students. She began each one with a hook — a storybook or a video about a master artist. From there, she shared the historical context, introduced the artist’s works, and identified the defining characteristics of the style. Finally, students created art using the artist’s techniques or themes. Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired flowers, Van Gogh-inspired Starry Nights, Romare Bearden-inspired collages — every grade had something unique and meaningful.

I really wanted to plan like this, but I could not figure out how to apply her concepts to music. How could my students connect with composers and actively make music in the way her students painted or sculpted? The breakthrough came when I saw her first graders studying Mondrian. That’s when I noticed that her lessons focused on LINE and PRIMARY COLORS — concepts that even young learners could grasp. That’s when it clicked: I could build music units around the elements of music, just like she used the elements of art.

Here’s how I adapted her approach to create engaging music units

Step 1: Choose a Musician

Select a notable musician or composer who will spark your students’ interest. Think about their impact, their story, and their music’s connection to your curriculum. Jazz legends, classical greats, or even contemporary artists could all fit the bill.

Step 2: Introduce the Musician

Start with a resource that makes the musician’s story come alive. A children’s book, a short biography video, or a well-told anecdote can serve as a great introduction. Keep it brief, age-appropriate, and engaging.

Step 3: Explore the Genre

Dive into the genre or style the musician represents. Focus on a few key characteristics that are accessible to your students. For instance, with jazz, you might explore improvisation and swing rhythms. With Baroque music, you could highlight ornamentation and counterpoint.

Step 4: Add Historical Context

Gather a few facts about the time period that influenced the musician or genre. Highlight connections between the music and the events or culture of the era. Bonus points if you can tie this to what students are learning in their social studies classes.

Step 5: Align with Existing Skills

Look at your current scope and sequence. What musical skills are you already teaching that align with the genre? Plan activities that integrate these skills into the unit. For example, if your students are learning rhythm patterns, connect them to swing rhythms in a jazz unit.

Putting It All Together

You don’t have to start at the beginning! Sometimes I began with a specific skill I needed to teach and worked backward to find a genre or musician that aligned with the skill. Other times, I started with a composer or style I wanted to highlight and built the unit from there. Flexibility is key.

A Jazz Example

I developed a jazz unit using this framework that taught rhythm, melody, and improvisation. We studied Duke Ellington’s life, explored the key characteristics of jazz, and practiced improvisation over simple 12-bar blues patterns. Students made connections between the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance and the music they were playing. It was active, engaging, and meaningful.

For ideas on specific skills that can be taught through jazz, check out this related post: Unlocking Elementary Music Skills through Jazz: Fun and Educational.

Final Thoughts

While this approach doesn’t work for every concept, it’s a fantastic way to integrate music history and composer studies into your curriculum. By focusing on the elements of music and tying them to active music-making, your students can connect with the past while building essential skills for the future.

Musically yours,

     

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March is the perfect time to bring Irish music and dancing into your music classroom! Whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day or explorng world music, these engaging videos will help your students experience the energy and tradition of Irish music.

This Irish Music & Dance Choice Board is designed to make lesson planning easy. It includes a variety of video categories so you can mix and match to fit your students’ needs. You can introduce Irish music through listening examples, teach about traditional instruments, and get students moving with dance performances and play-alongs.

What's Included?

This collection is divided into seven categories. Be sure to scroll left and right to see all of the categories. Scroll up and down to see the videos in each category.

• Listening Examples – Introduce students to the sounds of Irish music.
• Irish Instruments Informational Videos – Learn about instruments like the tin whistle, bodhrán, and Irish harp.
• St Patrick's Day History for Kids - Short informational videos about the origins of St. Patrick’s Day.
• Dance Performance Videos – Watch Irish dancers in action and see different styles of Irish dancing.
• Dance Lesson Videos – Step-by-step instructions to help students try Irish dancing themselves.
• Irish Music Play-Alongs – Fun body percussion and percussion play-alongs to keep students engaged.
• Movement Irish Folk Dance Videos – Get students moving with Irish-inspired movement activities. Teach simple folk dances that work well for elementary students.

How to Use These Videos in Your Classroom

• Start with a listening example to introduce Irish music.
• Show a dance performance video to inspire students.
• Try a dance lesson video to get students moving.
• Add an Irish music play-along to reinforce steady beat and rhythm.
• Finish with an Irish folk dance for a fun, active experience.

My Experience Using This Choice Board

March is always a busy month in the music classroom with Music in Our Schools Month, Read Across America, spring concerts, and even spring break. Most years, I wasn’t able to devote an entire class period to St. Patrick’s Day or Irish music, so I found ways to incorporate it into my lessons in smaller chunks.

• For Kindergarten and first grade, we kept it simple with a steady beat activity and some super simplified dance steps to "Maggie in the Woods" or another lively Irish jig. 

• Second and third grade students explored Irish instruments like the uilleann pipes and bodhrán, then played along with an instrument-focused video or learned a folk dance like "The Irish Washerwoman."

• For fourth grade, I focused on triple meter by using a 6/8 rhythm reading video followed by Irish music centers. This tied in perfectly with my Triple Meter Adventures with Leprechaun Games lesson, which you can check out here:

• With fifth grade, we often watched one or two Riverdance videos to observe the style, followed by "Trading Taps," which led to a discussion comparing Irish step dancing with African American tap styles. This conversation was a natural extension of the work we did during Black History Month and helped students make meaningful connections between cultures. 

Conclusion 

These small but impactful activities allowed my students to experience Irish music and dance in an engaging way without requiring a full class period. Whether you have five minutes or fifty, this choice board can help you bring the energy of Irish music into your classroom!

Want to grab the full collection? Click the button below to access the Irish Music & Dance Music Teacher Choice Board!

Musically yours,

 

  

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Flashcard games are a simple yet effective way to reinforce vocabulary, build quick recall, and engage students in active learning. Whether you're introducing new concepts, reviewing known material, or just looking for a quick and easy activity, flashcards offer flexibility.

Why Use Flashcard Games?

One of the biggest benefits of using flashcard games is vocabulary development. Whether students learn the names of percussion instruments, rhythm notation, or solfege syllables, repeated exposure in a game format helps solidify their understanding. Flashcards also promote active engagement, encourage quick thinking, and provide a structured way to reinforce concepts in both individual and group settings.

I learned this firsthand during my first year of teaching. With a tight budget and a need for engaging visuals, I started making my own flashcards using index cards and a marker. For instrument flashcards, I cut photos out of the many free catalogs that arrived in the school mail. Over time, I transitioned to digital flashcards, which made it easier to display them for the whole class. Storage was much simpler, too! This simple tool quickly became one of my go-to strategies for reinforcing musical concepts in a fun and effective way.

Common Pain Points (and Solutions!)

Blurting Out Answers – To prevent this, have students take a deep breath before answering. This simple pause allows time for processing and prevents impulsive responses.

Reluctant Participants – Consider using non-competitive formats where students work collaboratively rather than against each other.

Limited Materials – Digital flashcards can be a great solution if printing is an issue. Many interactive games work well with projectors or smartboards.

Varying Skill Levels – Mix up the game formats to accommodate different learners. Some games allow for teamwork, while others let students progress at their own pace.

Digital or Print Flashcards?

Both have their advantages!

• Print Flashcards are great for hands-on activities, centers, and small group work.
• Digital Flashcards work well for whole-class engagement and remote learning. They also reduce prep time since they don’t require cutting and laminating.

Non-Competitive Flashcard Activities

When working with individual students, focus on reinforcement rather than speed or competition:

1. Display a picture.
2. Students take a breath to think.
3. Use familiar movements to reinforce learning styles. The combination of visuals, vocalization, and movement helps solidify memory. For example, have students mimic playing the instrument shown on the flashcard, perform a rhythmic pattern for each rhythm symbol, show a hand sign for solfege syllables, or create specific movements for music symbols to reinforce recognition.
4. Students say the name of the instrument, rhythm, solfege syllable, or music symbol and perform the movement. (Assign specific movements to each element beforehand.)

Three Competitive Flashcard Games

If you want to add some excitement, try one of these:

Around the World

• Students sit in a circle.
• One student stands behind a seated student.
• The teacher displays a flashcard.
• The first student to answer correctly moves to the next person. If the seated student wins, they switch places.
• The goal is for a student to make it all the way around the circle.

Team Play

Divide students into two or more teams.

• One player from each team stands in a designated spot.
• The teacher displays a flashcard.
• The first student to answer correctly earns a point for their team.

Lightning Round

• One student (or a designated team member) has a set time (e.g., 30 seconds) to name as many flashcards as possible.
• This can also serve as a tie-breaker in a team game.
• A timing device will be needed for this option.

Learning Made Easy & Active

Flashcard games make learning interactive and fun while reinforcing key concepts in an engaging way.  They are a great addition to the music classroom, whether you’re using them for whole-group instruction, centers, or quick review activities,. If you want ready-to-use digital flashcard games, check out these resources!

  

  

Whether you make them yourself or use ready-made resources, flashcards are a tool that can grow with you throughout your teaching career. I started with index cards and catalog cutouts, and now I love the ease and versatility of digital flashcards. However you choose to use them, the key is making learning engaging and meaningful for your students!

Musically yours,

     

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Ah, May—the homestretch of the school year where even the strongest tides of enthusiasm can start to ebb. But fear not, fellow music teachers! As we navigate the final currents of the academic ocean, let's dive into some refreshing, beach-themed activities to reignite our students' excitement for learning music. 

Whether you're making waves indoors or riding the rhythm on the playground, these engaging ideas will make a splash in your classroom and wash away any end-of-year blues. 

And hey, if you're planning ahead for summer school, these activities are perfect for keeping the musical momentum going during those sun-soaked months. So grab your snorkel and sunscreen, because we're about to embark on a musical journey that's "shore" to leave a lasting impression!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I know and love.

10 Ocean-Themed Music Activities to Ride the Waves of the Season

1.  Sand Bucket Symphony: Dive into notation fun with a sand-filled bucket! Draw various musical symbols in the sand, and watch as your students bring them to life. Simply create cards with notation symbols, and let students draw the corresponding symbols in the sand. For an added challenge, have one student call out the symbol while the other draws without peeking. Check accuracy by showing the card with the symbol.

2.  Dynamic Shell Sorting: Explore dynamics in a hands-on way with this seashell sorting activity. Write different dynamics symbols on seashells, then challenge students to arrange them in order from quietest to loudest. It's a tactile way to reinforce dynamic concepts and engage students in a beachy theme.

3.  Sea Shell Match-Up: Make learning musical terms a "shore" thing with this seashell matching game. Provide one set of large seashells (or printed or die-cut cards) with English musical terms and another set of seashells with their Italian counterparts. Students must match each card to the corresponding seashell. Alternatively, arrange the shells with words facing down and play like Memory with each player turning over 2 shells to see if they match. Reinforce musical vocabulary while embracing the beach theme!

4.  Beach Ball Tempo Toss: Get moving with tempo vocabulary using a beach ball! Write tempo terms on different sections of the ball using a wet-erase marker. Students take turns tossing the ball and acting out the tempo word under their right thumb when caught. Classmates guess the tempo being acted out, adding a playful twist to learning musical terms.

5.  Musical Splash Circle: Make waves with rhythm in this interactive circle game. Pass splash balls around to a steady beat, accompanied by upbeat beach music for a fun atmosphere. For an extra splash of excitement, if playing outdoors, dunk the splash balls into a bucket of water between passes for some refreshing summer fun!

6.  Fishy Instrument Families: Dive into instrument exploration with this fin-tastic sorting activity! Prepare fish-shaped cards with instrument names, drawing inspiration from the ocean theme. Whether focusing on orchestral, band, or world instruments, students will sort the fish cards into families. Set up "fish ponds" using hula hoops or agility rings to designate areas for woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion instruments. It's a "reel-y" fun way to reinforce instrument families while making a splash in music class!

7.  Goldfish Melodies: Get creative with composing using everyone's favorite snack—goldfish crackers! Provide students with a large printed staff or use sidewalk chalk to create one outdoors. Students use the crackers (or substitute seashells, acrylic gems, or bean bags) to compose short melodies on the staff. It's a snack-worthy way to encourage musical creativity and notation skills while enjoying some beach-themed fun!

8.  Sidewalk Serenades: Let the creativity flow with this simple yet engaging activity! Armed with sidewalk chalk, students unleash their musical imagination on the pavement. Offer options such as free drawing, creating rhythm compositions to perform with body percussion, or crafting pictures using music symbols. It's an outdoor symphony waiting to happen!

9.  Ocean Breeze Music Spelling Relay: Energize your class with a musical spelling showdown! Create letter cards with point values, akin to Scrabble tiles, and compile word lists tailored to your group's vocabulary level. Teams collaborate to spell as many words as possible from the list within a time limit. Amp up the excitement by playing it as a relay, with points awarded for each correctly spelled word. Categories can range from instrument names to tempo terms, dynamics, ensembles, and music genres. It's a harmonious way to reinforce musical vocabulary and teamwork skills!

10.  Seaside Tempo Waves: Create rhythmic magic with pool noodles in this dynamic activity! Cut pool noodles into approximately 6-8" lengths and distribute two to each student as makeshift rhythm sticks. As a group sings a familiar song, perhaps a sea shanty or folk tune, the conductor displays tempo cards, challenging singers to adjust their tempo accordingly. It's a buoyant blend of rhythm, coordination, and teamwork that will make waves of musical delight!

Bonus Activity

Shell Note Drawing: Provide a small assortment of seashells and challenge students to create some music notes and symbols!

Smooth-Sailing Preparation

For a smoother sail through these ocean-themed activities, consider adding some resources from Sally's Sea of Songs to your teaching toolkit. While you'll need to hunt down your own sea shells, pool noodles, and beach balls, I've got you covered with print-and-go cards to enhance certain centers. From fish-shaped instrument family cards to dynamics & tempo seashells, these ready-to-use resources will streamline your preparation process, leaving you more time to focus on making waves of musical magic with your students. Dive into my shop and explore the treasure trove of resources designed to make your teaching journey as smooth as sailing on calm waters!

  

Ride the Musical Waves

As we wrap up our journey through these beach-themed music activities, remember that the rhythm never stops—whether you're riding the waves indoors or dancing under the sun outdoors. These engaging ideas are perfect for winding down the school year and ideal for keeping the musical momentum going during summer school sessions. With the sand between our toes and the sound of the ocean in our ears, let's make every note count as we sail through the end of the year and into the sunny days of summer school!

Musically Yours,

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