DIY Song Cubes to help children learn music "old favorites" and practice finding and keeping the beat; for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten.
Once in a while I do a blog post more aimed at a music teacher audience, and this is one of those posts. This is the hello song that I sing to start every music for kindergarten and first grade. …
One of my favorite things about the Orff Schulwerk philosophy of teaching is the ability to go from something relatively simple to an experience that is complex and exciting. You start with a song, add in movement, add in new layers, add in an ostinato, include a game, move students […]
Looking for preschool music that helps energetic kids? This collection is perfect for getting those wiggles out, especially when stuck indoors!
Teach your kids these fun preschool songs. There are action rhymes, fingerplays and number songs to build listening and motor skills.
Here’s 10 ways to use a parachute in the music classroom. Activities will help students learn and practice music concepts. Parachutes can be used for so many fun activities in the music room. I’ve discovered that they are especially helpful during the latter part of the school year when students are more “squiggly” than ever! […]
Do you do anything fun and themed for Pioneer day? I haven't before, but I'm so excited for this fun themed activity to celebrate our Pioneer heritage! In
An illustrated jungle themed song featuring verses about a tiger, an elephant, a crocodile, a hippopotamus, a giraffe and a lion. Goes to the tune of twinkle, twinkle, little star.
12 Free scarf movement activities for elementary music teachers, P.E. teachers and any teach who wants to use scarf activities.
Egg shakers are my go-to instrument for using in Singing Time! I love them for introducing a song, helping them get a sense or feel for the rhythm or beat, or just for a fun
The importance of music and music for kids, as well as 26 simple activity ideas, to get children moving while singing.
How to make a musical shaker, and toddler games with musical shakers for speech and language development
10+ music and movement activities for toddlers and preschoolers that get them up and moving their bodies, strengthening their fine and large motor muscles.
Songs for the classroom, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, teachers pay teachers, posters, transitions, hand washing, walking in the hall, lining up
Kids need and thrive on movement! In this post, I'm sharing 12 different ways you can incorporate purposeful movement into your singing time lesson plans!
Here is my 25 favorite songs with hand motions that are perfect for at home or school. They will keep your kids engaged and building skills for hours!
We are heading to the beach later this week, so I thought it would be fun to do some movement activities that involved ocean animals. This was a big hit and I think we'll be
Here are 10 super fun movement songs for kids to get them up and moving! These are great brain breaks as well.
Get your toddlers dancing and singing with this great collection of action songs (great for circle time)
Here is my 25 favorite songs with hand motions that are perfect for at home or school. They will keep your kids engaged and building skills for hours!
I'm Jane, and I'm here to help make teaching more fun and less stressful by sharing ideas for the general music classroom! I've taught general music since
Nursery Singing Time can be so much fun! Using a few simple props makes singing time a blast with the littlest members of the ward. It will take a few weeks to help the kids learn the expectations (handing back the props) but they catch on so quickly.
Sing, dance and play musical instruments to get the wiggles out! Favorite songs from my early childhood music classes! Toddler tested and approved!
I'm still loving Nursery! (My daughter is a little troublemaker sometimes but I still enjoy watching these toddlers learn that Jesus loves them.) I feel the kids get enough silly songs from TV, preschool, etc. so we're going to try and focus on "church-approved" songs to get them ready for Primary. I also thought it would be nice to have a back-up plan in case our music teacher doesn't show up. Life happens and it's always nice to be prepared, right? Nursery Singing Time Ideas Set out Foam Squares (everyone gets the same color so they don’t fight over a color to sit on) Sing “Here We Are Together” (261) to start and help kids learn each other’s names. If it’s someone’s birthday that week sing the “Happy, Happy Birthday” (284a) song. Next is a seasonal song: “Rain is Falling All Around” (271b). Can change it depending on the season - sun is shining, wind is blowing, leaves are falling, snow is falling. “I Love to See the Temple” (95). Hold pictures of temples and/or use hand actions. “Give Said the Little Stream” (236) and have them twirl blue ribbon taped to jumbo craft sticks. “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam” (60) and hold Sunbeam paper plates to their faces. “Popcorn Popping” (242) and use hand actions. “If you’re happy (266). With bells – you can change it to clap your hands, spin around, blink your eyes. “Do as I’m doing” (276) with bells bicycle your hands, sway back and forth, tap the floor & clap “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” (275a) using hand actions “Jesus Said Love Everyone” (61) hold fleece hearts and sing softly “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” (169) Clip missionary name tags to their clothes with clothespins I made a 4x6 file in photoshop (there are 2 tags on each print) then I printed them at Costco & used packing tape to laminate them. “Follow the Prophet” (110) sing just the chorus and march around the room with Monson’s picture “I Am like a Star” (163) hold star-on-a-stick “I Wiggle” (271) using hand actions “I Am a Child of God” (301) Have them hold a picture of Jesus with the Children Have them turn in their colored floor squares and then blow bubbles till the parents come get them. Here are 4 flashcards you can copy to Word. Be sure to use narrow margins. Then print and cut. That's 16 songs to choose from. :)
10+ music and movement activities for toddlers and preschoolers that get them up and moving their bodies, strengthening their fine and large motor muscles.
These 10 Best Songs for Gross motor movement are just what is needed to keep even the liveliest toddlers active!
I love using body percussion activities, so I am sharing some teacher tips and ways to use them in your classes.
Help your active preschooler learn and grow with fun music and movement activities. Try some of our example activities with your child for sensory learning.
It’s almost Father’s Day and we’ve created a fun game to help celebrate all the amazing men in our lives! This printable Father's Day game helps the kids have a fun time during singing time and is also a twist on the classic ‘pin the nose’ game, but with ties instead. Perfect to help keep
Christmas songs with motions to sing with preschoolers and toddlers. Perfect for Christmas concerts and holiday performances for parents!
Transform your preschool day with effective transitions. Explore how music, chants, and stories can engage and guide children through different activities.
All the Little Ducks Go Upside Down is an action song that encourages singing, movement and a lot of giggles! YouTube clip and free sheet music.
I’d been singing the same Hello Song, every day, for years. Enough was enough. It was time to write a new one.
Ideas for classical music for kids ages 2-5 that will increase their language development, memory, math & motor skills. Easy to implement and your child will reap big academic and learning rewards!
Ten of our favorite singalong books that feature diverse characters, perfect for home or classroom use with toddlers and preschoolers.
This free printable Do Re Mi staircase is a brilliant visual aid and teaching tool for introducing small children to Do Re Mi and interval recognition.
Here’s 10 ways to use a parachute in the music classroom. Activities will help students learn and practice music concepts. Parachutes can be used for so many fun activities in the music room. I’ve discovered that they are especially helpful during the latter part of the school year when students are more “squiggly” than ever! […]
Teach your kids these fun preschool songs. There are action rhymes, fingerplays and number songs to build listening and motor skills.
Today's post is perfect for anyone with an infant, toddler, preschool, or early elementary student who loves dinosaurs!
Music is great for language development, bonding and creating new neural pathways for babies. So, being a music teacher, I got super excited to research some fun, developmentally appropriate, interactive songs & rhymes to teach to my baby. And now that I've compiled my favorites, of course I had to share with all of you!! This will be a first in a series of blog posts about songs to sing with your baby and/or toddler.
One of my callings in my church is to the Nursery. When I first got called it was a hot mess, but at the start of the year we descided to do an total overhaul. I made this music time bag that has proven to be highly success with my once roudy kids. I have a bag filled with fun items that stand for different songs and each child takes turns picking an item out of the bag. It took them just 2 weeks to get the hang of our new music time. Now they are so excited to do music time. Best of all it's a great tool to keep them revrent and to sing nice and loud. They know if they do that they get to pick next and they love to pick a item out of the bag. Here are the different items I've have chosen. Wheels on the Bus: I have a flip book, the kids love flipping the pages and doing all the hand jestures. Itsy Bitsy Spider: I have this Itsy Bitsy Spider book. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed: I made this monkey glove. The kids love putting it on as we sing. Monkeys Swinging in a Tree: I have a monkey and crocodile. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam: I made these sunbeam sticks out of felt and popsical sticks. I hand them out when we sing and the loves waving them in the air as we sing. Once There Was a Snowman: I found this cute little snowman. Soon I hope I get to replace him when the snow finally stops. I Love to See the Temple: I made these fun "Magic Wands" that I hand out while we sing. The kids love waving the ribbons in the air. Like I said this bag has worked some miracles in my nursery. My kids sing more, take turns and stay reverent during singing time.
I don’t know what it is, but every once in a while, the Primary kids get a little ….WILD! All the possible reasons run through my head, “Is it a full moon? Is it the last week of school? A holiday coming up??? Murphy’s Law???!??!?” No matter the reason (or no reason at all!), it can be intimidating to stand in front of ALLLLLL the children and gain order!!!! So we thought it would be helpful to share some of the secrets we use to help get the sweet kiddos to calm down, focus, and bring the energy down to a level that can invite the Spirit. If the Spirit is felt, the love of Jesus Christ can be felt through the Primary Song words, and their faith can increase. And that, my friends, is a win! HERE THEY ARE!!!!! (shhhhh) 1 - Go up the microphone and start WHISSSSPERING. The microphone is my best friend when I need to regain order. But whispering into it, makes it hard for the children to hear – so they quiet down to be able to listen. That’s what we want people! 2 - Just going up to the microphone and folding your arms, and say “SHHHHHHH”, “SHHHHHHHHH” (pointer finger to mouth), and then walking around the room by the noisy side of children and flapping your folded arms (hinting for them to fold their arms) and “eyeing” to individual children (in a kindly stern way). Always give them a thumbs up, wink or nod and thank the Primary Children for being reverent. 3 - Start naming/pointing out the children who are being reverent. “Oh! I see ______ is being reverent, and _______ is sitting nicely in their sit, and yep, ___________ is listening etc. Walk around the room with your arms folded and dramatically “squint look” (SEE who's being reverent). 4 - If the children need a good focus back to me as the chorister, I go up to the microphone and say, “If you can hear me, touch your nose. If you can hear me, touch your head. If you can hear me, pull your ears. If you can hear me, fold your arms.” I start with “touch your nose” in a loud (er) voice and end with, “fold your arms” in a quieter voice (like a whisper). I like to switch it up and say, "If you can hear me, show me your: Book of Mormon hands (put hands together like a book) Prayer hands (put hands palm to palm) Steeple hands (touch tips of fingers together to make a steeple) Lamanite hands (like BOM Stories put feathers on back of head with one hand in front of you) Reverence arms (fold arms) You can make up as many as you'd like. The children not paying attention will wonder why others are doing these actions and will follow. 5 - Use Repeating Clapping Patterns. Tell them to repeat your clapping patterns. Mix different amounts of time you clap, rhythms and timing and then have them repeat. You could end with, “Now, get your listening ears on and please fold your arms”. 6 - “I want to you pretend like you’re going to blow a REEEEEALLY big balloon with me. So you’re going to need a big breath. (Breath in deep together – fill your lungs all the way and blow out), do it again. And one more time to make the balloon HUUUUUGE! Good, now fold your arms. Zip your lips." 7 - Keep the piano playing the WHOLE Singing Time! (so there's no time for chatting in between songs). Introduce the next song to sing and softly explain the words/meaning (show song visual on poster or flip chart or even just displaying a picture of Christ). In between singing songs, have the pianist play some music softly. Ask the children what they learn from each song after it is sung. 8 - Hold up a Reverence O Meter. It’s like a Singing Meter – but measures their volume the opposite way! The quieter, the better! 9 - This one I personally don’t use but I saw another chorister use and thought it was cute: “Everyone make a bubble in your mouth (hold breath and puff cheeks out) and don’t pop it until the start of our next song”. As song starts, use pointer finger to “pop” balloon so they can sing. This prevents chatting in between songs. 10 - Play Simon says or Sister/Brother __________ (your last name) says. I like to play the sky says when they are really wiggly or at the beginning of singing time: The sky says: Twirl like a tornado Clap like Thunder Fingers fall like rain Float up on toes like a cloud Sway like the wind 11 - Have a Rainstorm! Turn off lights. Rub palms together Snap fingers Pat legs Tap toes Stomp feet and pat legs and then do this in reverse order. 12 - When I pick a choosing stick (popsicle sticks with each having a Primary kids names on it) I say, "Let me see if this person is being reverent..." And I look all around the room and wait until everyone is quiet. If the child is not being reverent I go stand right in front of them and shuffle the sticks in the choosing-stick-can loudly. 13 - Start singing an Action/Wiggle Song where they mimic your actions. For example, Do as I’m Doing, Book of Mormon Stories, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, If You’re Happy and You’re Know it, etc. At the end of the song, fold your arms so they mimic you and start speaking softly to give directions. 14 - In the microphone, start counting down slowly, “5…4…3…2...1 aaand reverence”. Fold your arms to show the example. 15 - Bring some hand bells, a rain stick, fun leading wand (tap it on the music stand), anything that makes a noise or grabs their attention. Not too big of a noise, but noise. I once said, “I have a challenge for you. Let’s see if we can hear this push pin drop on the floor. Shhhhhhhh. Listen for it. Are you ready???? Here is goes!” It was probably to most quiet they've EVER been! 16 - Before our closing song, I usually end with something like this, “Now everyone stand UP! Jump three times, turn around in a circle. Now reach way up high and take a deep deep breath in. Bring your arms down as you breathe out. And do it one more time.” Do the actions with the kids. Then fold your arms so they are ready for the closing prayer. 17 – Recite a quick reverence poem. Here is an example: (author unknown) I wiggle my fingers. I wiggle my nose. I wiggle my shoulders. I wiggle my nose. No more wiggles are left in me. So I will be still, as still as can be. Or the Butterfly poem CLICK HERE. You can recite this poem in the microphone before the closing prayer, at the very beginning of Singing Time or at any time you’d like them to settle down. 18 – Show a picture of Christ. Say, “Stand up if you know who this is. Clap twice because He is the Christ. Jump three times because He is your Brother. Sit down, He is your Redeemer. Take a deep breath for He is The Life. Fold your arms in reverence, He is your Savior and the way back to our Father in Heaven”. "Now, let's sing a song from our hearts for Heavenly Father and Jesus so they can feel our love for Them". Now, trust me, I’ve had some train wreck Sunday’s. Some Sunday’s just don’t come together for some reason or another. But hopefully you can feel prepared and armed (ha!) and not feel helpless when you can feel the energy in the room going crazy and out the roof! Hopefully one or two of these ideas can help you with restoring and keeping REVERENCE during your Primary Singing Time. Have confidence in yourself! If YOU have confidence in YOU, the children will have confidence in YOU. You can do this!!!!! (*Last side note: If you feel your children are extra irreverent every week, speak with your Primary President and make sure to enlist the Presidency’s help, the teachers, the Bishopric, or even the Stake Primary’s. Make sure ALL are on board with the reverence expectancies and that they model and are examples themselves. Communication is key so that you don’t feel alone. All leaders and teachers in the Primary room should be your advocate for respect and reverence!) -iheartprimarymusic
Scarf movement activities are perfect for preschool, elementary music, elementary P.E. and special needs classes as well as Preschool activities. Use scarf movement activities to help your students channel energy and learn directions concepts too! Scarf movement activities can help develop gross motor skills, coordination, reading ability and build classroom community too! Movement activities are fun way to engage students and TEACH. Tons of activities to keep your students moving and learning with music. Perfect for: Preschool, Home School, Music, PE, Drama and Special Needs Teachers. Best for Preschool through 3rd Grade. (*This resource DOES NOT include any music-BUT comes with 2 pages of suggested Classical music suggestions and ideas) RESOURCE INCLUDES: • 20 Easy to use Activity Ideas • 20 scarf movement cards and flashcards. • Power Point Presentation with Scarf Rules, How to Move, Bubble Space, Directions for students and Movement posters. • Rules • Teacher Guide (8 pages) Create a Slide Show Directions Musical selection suggestions Scarf Movement Directions Rules Activity Directions USE THIS RESOURCE: Connect concepts like : High/Low, Fast/Slow, Short/Long, Connected/Choppy Assessment for Dynamics concepts Reward days Movement Activities Drama- as props Puppets- shape the scarves to represent characters in a story. PE activities 20 Activities in this resource! Please see the PREVIEW video so that you can visualize how you can use these cards in your classroom. HOME SCHOOL APPLICATIONS: Children will love waving their scarves with the movement cards. Easily adaptable to other topics. Best for children ages 4-10. SCARF ACTIVITY BUNDLES: SCARF ACTIVITY BUNDLE #1 SCARF ACTIVITY BUNDLE #2 20 SCARF ACTION WORDS: ZIG ZAG FREEZE TOSS DROP MARCH TWIST WIGGLE CRISS-CROSS HIGH LOW HIGH-LOW SWIRL SIDE TO SIDE TOSS ACROSS MELODY AROUND OVER-UNDER FAST SLOW FAST-SLOW SWISH PASS MORE CREATIVE MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES: Buggy Bean Bag Activities Buggy Movement Activities Buggy Scarf Activities Buggy Stretchy Band Movement Activities Creative Movement Category Link Parachute Activities Move Your Body Activity Video Scarf Activities Bundle Move Your Body Video Movement Activity Bean Bag Activity Songs Nutcracker Creative Movement and Scarf Activities Creative Movement Bundle-Bands, Scarves, Parachutes Stretchy Band Songs and Activities *********************** ABOUT SING PLAY CREATE LLC. All products and works are copyrighted by Sing Play Create LLC. Buyers may get Free store credit by going to "my purchases" and click on "Provide Feedback". Ratings and helpful feedback are welcomed. Want a Freebie every month? Subscribe to my Website Newsletter. SING PLAY CREATE NEWSLETTER QUESTIONS? Please use the "Ask a Question" section of my TpT store. Or, you can email me at [email protected] CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Sing Play Create YouTube Channel Sing Play Create Blog Sing Play Create on Instagram Sing Play Create on Facebook Sing Play Create on Pinterest Let's Move and Learn with Music! Sandra
How to make a musical shaker, and toddler games with musical shakers for speech and language development