I’m Laura Bartolomeo, an elementary music educator with 40 years of public school teaching experience. Music, movement, and play are at the heart of my educator life, whether I’m creating Orff arrangements, sharing tips about elementary music, or creating resources for Oodles of Music. Outside the classroom, I'm a mom, wife, teacher, reader, gardener, trekkie, sci-fi fanatic, musician, dog lover, and a Christian. I hope my contributions bring some joy and happiness to your life!
January music lessons get an EASY kickstart with this Orff arrangement and improvisation play along to a FUN backing track.
This new year poem resource with sixteenth notes and a simple Orff arrangement, will guide you through improvising on barred instruments as you play along to a FUN backing track.
Available in both PowerPoint™️ and Google Slides™️ formats.
Let’s get away from the smartboards and screens and learn about rhythm in a more intimate setting! We’ll explore the benefits of using a rhythm activities board in elementary music class and provide a step-by-step guide on how to create one without breaking the bank.
In the world of elementary music education, sometimes the simplest tools can create the most magical moments. One such tool is the low-cost, no-tech rhythm activities board, a versatile resource that fosters an intimate learning setting, encourages student interaction, and adds a touch of hands-on magic to rhythm lessons.
Originally published December 9, 2024 Latest update May 14, 2026
Adding Orff instruments to the African-American singing game Pizza Pizza Daddy-O gives you a perfect arrangement for concerts as well as extended lessons to explore and practice mi, so, la, and syncopation in the classroom.
Integrating culturally responsive elements into these lessons is seamless, as students can incorporate dances that hold personal meaning to them into the song lyrics.
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Pizza Pizza Daddy-O is such a classic, fun game and kids love to play it year after year. This resource extends learning with an easy Orff arrangement that can become a concert showpiece!
Let’s uncover the history, meaning, and music of “Auld Lang Syne” and listen to several famous versions in this easy lesson plan. The catchy tune is a must-know as New Year’s Eve turns into New Year’s Day, as we look back on the old year and look forward to the new.
In this lesson plan…
The Epic History of Auld Lang Syne
Scottish Vibes
Picture this: It’s the 1700s in Scotland, and a super famous poet named Robert Burns is on the scene. He whips up the lyrics for “Auld Lang Syne,” meaning “old long since” or days gone by. Fast forward, and the song becomes a global sensation, making its way into celebrations worldwide.
Meet Robert Burns, the Poetry Rockstar
Robert Burns, aka the Bard of Scotland, wrote the lyrics in 1788. He was all about celebrating Scottish culture and creating poetic magic. Now, his masterpiece, “Auld Lang Syne,” is a song sung around the world!
The Feel-Good Meaning of Auld Lang Syne
Nostalgia Alert!
Ready to look back on good times? “Auld Lang Syne” is like a musical scrapbook, making us look back at good times with pals. It’s all about valuing memories and celebrating the awesome experiences that shaped us.
Friendship Rocks!
Guess what? The heart of the song is all about friendship. “Auld Lang Syne” tells us to raise our cup in a toast to the awesome connections and people in our lives.
Sing-Along with Auld Lang Syne
Echo Sing the Song
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne my dear
For old lang syne.
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
Let’s Break Down the Lyrics
The lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” are like a friendship party.
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” This means, should old friends be forgotten and never remembered? And the answer is-No Way! The song says we’re keeping those memories alive.
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?” Auld Lang Syne means “days gone by.”
“For auld lang syne my dear, for auld lang syne.” This just repeats how import the past is to us.
“We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for days of auld lang syne.” The song wraps up with a cheer for kindness and the friends of our past.
Let’s Sing & Move
Let’s continue this lesson plan by singing along with some famous performers!
Snoopy and the Gang
Jon Batiste & Stay Human
Body Percussion (Grades 3-5)
Great body percussion video with a spot to have 3-part. Highly recommend pulling back the playback to .75.
Pentatonix
Pink Martini (sung in English, Arabic, French)
Let’s Play It!
Play the chords on ukulele or the bass line (root of chords) on Boomwhackers™️.
Originally published November 10, 2023 Latest Update April 2, 2026
Here are some new ideas for music and STEM learning centers in the general and music classrooms using the TinkerTar!
The TinkerTar is an innovative instrument that provides a perfect starting point for kids in general AND elementary music classrooms. With a single string, its colorful fretboard, easy-to-read book, and sturdy construction, the TinkerTar (aff) is an excellent addition to any music and STEM learning center.
Designed as an alternative to the ukulele and guitar, it offers a beginning learning experience for students who may later try the guitar. Its simplicity also offers the chance for some great STEM learning as well.
This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure.
Rhythmic building bricks are often used in the Orff process and let students take simple rhythms and then create more complex ideas. Let’s look at the basics of how to use them for teachers new to the process and some special extensions for those who’ve used them before.
The Origin of Rhythmic Building Brick
Rhythmic building bricks were designed by Carl Orff’s contemporary, Gunild Keetman, and explained in detail in her wonderful book, “Elementaria.” They are simple note patterns that can be combined into more complex patterns.
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What Are Rhythmic Building Bricks?
Rhythmic building bricks, sometimes called rhythm blocks, are 2-beat patterns using only quarter notes, quarter rests, and paired eighth notes.
Students brainstorm and find words that have the same number of syllables as the simple patterns so 1, 2, 3, or 4 sounds.
Then they string 4 or 8 bricks together to create a more complex pattern.
Teachers often use themes to support cohesiveness to the complex patterns that are created.
Older students can explore bricks in compound meter using 1 (dotted quarter), 2 (quarter eighth), and 3-note (3 eighth notes) combos. Valentine’s Day and February is the perfect time to try this variation.
How Are Rhythmic Building Bricks Used
Halloween/October is the perfect time to use rhythm bricks. Here’s what one class created.
The top of the board shows their brainstorming. The bottom shows the bricks they put together to create a more complex pattern.
In the above 8-brick pattern, students used repetition to create their “beat.”
Haunted House (3), Halloween (3), Jack-o-lantern (4), Boo (1). Black Friday (3), Frankenstein (3), candy (2), Boo (1).
Specific Learning Goals
Repetition: It’s a perfect time to teach them about repetition and that it might not sound the best to use “one of each pattern.”
Exploration: When working with a partner or in groups, learning to try different combinations is optimal. The idea of “one and done” is a big NO.
Form: What you create from the new patterns makes a perfect “B” section for a song or poem.
The Halloween beat above would be the perfect B section to an A of Pass the Pumpkin for a final ABA form.
If working in multiple groups, it becomes a great way to teach rondo form. ABACADA where “A” is Pass the Pumpkin and B, C, and D are the 8 measure beats created by different groups.
Tone Color: Taking the patterns and transferring to instruments is a great way to let students learn about tone color. What instrument(s) will sound best with your pattern and the overall theme?
Extensions
Centers
Using whole-class instructions is a great way to learn about and work with bricks. You can extend and expand the learning in other ways.
Individual/Partner/Small Groups: Students can explore in these groupings in a regular class setup or in centers.
Your music center setup will be a BREEZE with this easy-to-use and effective “Create a Songtale” rhythm resource using quarter notes and rests and eighth note pairs in a rhythmic building brick format.
Making Bricks
Make blocks for centers using building blocks or foam cubes. On the building blocks, use stickers or a permanent marker. I sprayed a coat of polyurethane on my blocks and it really helped keep the notes from rubbing off.
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I got the Mega Bloks below from my local Goodwill. Prextex Blocks are currently the closest I can find to them.
Written Activities
A fun writing rhythm activity using building bricks where students create a rhythm menu and take-out orders!
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Here are actionable ideas and examples of effective teacher talk in the elementary classroom with direct, intentional, and engaging language for positive classroom management.
A recent social media post about training students like you do a dog reminded me of when I took our first family pet to training. As the leaders impressed upon me, it’s actually not the dog you’re training but YOURSELF! And this is SO true in teaching.
The Playlist
For New Teachers, How to Be Firm in the Classroom
New teachers often reach out for help because they try to be “firm” but nothing works.
Sometimes we need an out-of-body experience. We need to step out of the moment to think objectively, not react or overreact, and do something logical and thought out. This is hard for new teachers or when we are in new situations.
Here are a few ideas to train the teacher to be firm, backed with engaging and appropriate activities, learned the hard way by ME, and observed in other teachers in many schools over the years.
Crafting Effective Teacher Talk
The Power of Precise Communication
Effective teacher talk hinges on the power of precision. A common pitfall is the overuse of threats, which often lose their impact over time.
Don’t threaten over and over again.
They are just empty words. Actually, maybe don’t threaten, warn, or cajole at all. Instead, consider engaging activities that direct behavior.
Example: We can’t get rhythm sticks until everyone is sitting in their spot.
Replacement Action: Simply give out rhythm sticks (or pick a leader, choose who is “it”) by choosing someone sitting in their spot or doing something else that you consider appropriate. Tell the students why that person was chosen. “Here you go, James. You get sticks because I can see you are sitting down and ready to go.”
The Payoff: The class lesson doesn’t bog down, you’ve made it known that sitting in your spot is a requirement for getting an instrument, and you’ve asserted yourself as the one in charge.
The Art of Mindful Communication
I spent a LOT of time thinking about logistics and language. How I wanted them to move around the room and how I’d phrase my directions.
LESS IS MORE! Avoid falling into the trap of excessive chatter. Overexplaining can cloud directives and overwhelm students.
Example: vocal exploration. If you start out saying, “Now we’re going to echo each other…” or “Now I’m going to sing then you be my echo…blah, blah, blah” you’ve said too much.
Replacement: “My turn (point to yourself), your turn.” (point to them) and then immediately bark like a little dog (high) three times. They WILL echo. Then you follow up with “Yoo (so) Hoo (mi)” then bark like a large dog (low), then an up/down swoop, etc. Or for older kids, just start singing that new song you want them to learn.
The Payoff: Better student focus and engagement.
Communicate Through Student Choice
Empowering students and student behavior through choice is a remarkable strategy. Games like “Charlie Over the Ocean” allow leaders to select participants based on desired attributes. This approach cultivates leadership qualities while promoting desired behaviors.
Example: When playing a group “it” game, student chooses whoever they want as the next leader.
Replacement: Let students choose who is following the parameters of the activity. When playing games that have a leader, such as Charlie Over the Ocean, tell the leader to choose someone who is (whatever you want here) in their assigned spot to be the next leader. The whatever could be sitting cross-legged, singing beautifully, etc.)
Communicate With Actions
Don’t group negotiate. (similar to repeated threats)
Example: “When everyone is standing still in the circle we can play this game.”
A kindergarten class had a couple of students in a hold-hand circle who continued to yank on the arms of students next to them.
Replacement: I told those unsafe students to step back and sit down while the rest of us played the game. I also told them to watch how safe and kind everyone was to the person they held hands with. After a minute or two I asked the kids who were out if they had learned how to hold hands and they of course said yes and came back into the game.
You can’t discuss any part of classroom management without addressing quality and appropriate lesson planning. One size does not fit all when it comes to classroom dynamics. It’s not always just about effective teacher talk.
You can’t expect kids to be focused and engaged when you are not planning appropriate and quality learning experiences.
Example: Determine the optimal lifespan of activities for specific grade levels and classes. Flexibility is key – adapting your strategies ensures sustained engagement.
For instance, a 6-minute read-aloud may captivate one class, while a 3-minute version is better suited for another. I’ve taken a 6-minute read for a 3-minute class and paraphrased to turn those pages faster to keep their interest.
Pacing & Variety. In general, the younger grades need lots of different activities: sitting still (listening, singing), moderate (body percussion, instrument play, video play along), active movement (stepping, skipping, circle games, etc.)
Learning from Master Teachers
Throughout my career, and during transitions to different schools and challenges, I’ve actively sought out and observed exceptional educators who used effective teacher talk. These professionals possessed the knack for balancing authority and approachability. Incorporating their techniques was a deliberate process, as effective teacher talk wasn’t a skill that came naturally to me.
The True Test From the Students: She Doesn’t Play
Students often offer profound insights. When certain teachers were discussed, kids would remark, “She doesn’t play.” This resonated deeply and underscored the essence of effective teacher talk, the learning environment, and the teacher-student relationship – being genuine, caring, and staying true to one’s words.
“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
Cheat Sheet for Effective Teacher Talk
There were times when I needed a script!
Not kidding.
As I gained experience, I got better at remaining calm and non-reactive to certain behaviors but good teacher talk did not come naturally to me.
A reactive phrase such as “What were you thinking?” doesn’t usually help.
✍🏽 So, I wrote things down that I could say in the heat of the moment. 👩🏼💻 I put them on a Post-It and stuck it on my computer and used them instead of what was about to come flying out of my mouth.
The more I did it, the more natural I became at communicating with my students.
I’ve always admired those who could get past the emotion of the moment and tune into the child.
If that’s you, what a gift!
If not, try the Post-It trick.
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Classroom lighting doesn’t have to be like a scene in a horror movie: “The fluorescent lights flickered, casting pale light against the beige concrete walls while the yellowed shades all hung awkwardly at different lengths against the windows that wouldn’t open.”
YES! You know we’ve all been in that room in a school!
If you’re looking for classroom lighting ideas to create a peaceful MOOD and groovy VIBE, keep reading!
IMPORTANT: Rules change from district to district, so it is imperative that you check with your administration about fire safety and the use of “extra” lighting. All of the images from my classroom show lighting that was approved by my district.
Table of Contents
Classroom Lighting Benefits
Numerous studies have demonstrated a clear connection between lighting quality and student performance. Well-designed lighting in educational settings can enhance student focus, comprehension, and overall achievement.
Proper lighting not only reduces visual discomfort but also creates an environment conducive to active participation and cognitive engagement.
And sometimes, lighting can be SO FUN!
It can set a mood from calm to celebratory that takes a lesson to the next level.
Let’s look at how we can do damage control to the bad and ramp up the good!
Fluorescent Light Covers for Damage Control
Fluorescent lighting is a common feature in many classrooms, but it often comes with drawbacks that can hinder student focus and comfort. Light covers provide a creative and effective solution to transform the harsh glare and flicker of standard fluorescent lights into a more inviting and visually appealing environment.
Let’s explore safety features, designs, and placement of these fluorescent light covers.
Safety & Permission
Not all schools allow these covers so you need to make sure you get permission from your administration and/or custodian. Also called light diffusers or panels, these covers are specially designed overlays that fit over standard fluorescent light fixtures.
They attach to the light frame with strong magnets sewn into the edges. These covers are usually made from various flame-retardent materials and come in a range of patterns and designs.
I had the basic blue covers and placed them over the center back light and all across the middle. You can also see a desk lamp (on a broken conga drum) in the back corner and the natural light coming from the windows.
Designs and Placement
The covers come in such fun designs and colors. I was going for calm and cool so I got the blue for my classroom and put them on banks of lights toward the back/middle of the room. I had the ability to turn on/off all of my ceiling lights in several configurations. Some classrooms don’t and it’s either all on or all off for them.
TIP: If you have just all on/all off light switches, ask your principal if the district can send an electrician and give you more options for your ceiling lights. You never know if you don’t ask!
I almost always turned off the bank of lights at the front of the room (where my screen was located) and depending on the class, time, and activity had one or two banks on. I had floor and table lamps so sometimes I had no ceiling lights on at all.
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Floor and Table Lamps
Effective learning is fostered in an environment where students feel comfortable and engaged. Floor and table lamps play a pivotal role in setting the mood by creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
This was my favorite way of changing the atmosphere in my room! I had 5 or more table lamps and one floor lamp spread all throughout my room. In all my years of teaching, I rarely had good natural light. My classrooms were often in basements or facing north.
Lamp on broken conga drum “stand” for ambient lighting in a dark corner of the music room.
Table lamps to the left and right of the door provide warm light while ceiling lights are not on at all.
What are the benefits of ambient lighting in the classroom?
Use more subdued lighting when
classes are coming from PE, recess, lunch, and other active times.
you’ve had high energy parts to your lesson and are ready for students to listen and focus.
you’ve had a classroom event or conflict and need to restore calm to the class.
you are setting the mood for something new or mysterious.
The gentle glow they emit can transform an ordinary classroom into a space that encourages collaboration, creativity, and focused learning. The soft, diffused lighting from these lamps can help reduce eye strain and contribute to a sense of well-being among students. It just feels like home with lots of ambient lighting.
I found my lights at Target during their back-to-college sales or at Goodwill.
SAFETY TIP: If you have a cloth shade, many times you will be required to spray it with a flame-retardent material and in some districts are not allowed to have cloth shades at all!
Shelf Floor Lamp
I did not have this shelf lamp in my room but saw it requested in a DonorsChoose project and fell in love with it! A soft glow lamp and SHELVES! If I’d known about these, I’d have had one (or two) in my room!
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Using String Lights in the Classroom
String lights, known for their enchanting glow and versatile design, have found their way beyond holiday decorations and into educational spaces. These whimsical lighting solutions offer a creative and engaging way to enhance the classroom environment, fostering a sense of comfort, creativity, and inspiration.
Create focus for the bulletin board with the neon lights and a fun presentation mood with white lights around the presentation screen.
Supernight LED RGB strips change colors and have a remote control.
Infusing Magic into Learning Spaces
String lights have a unique ability to infuse spaces with a touch of magic and wonder. By draping them along walls, bulletin boards, or bookshelves, you can instantly create a captivating atmosphere that captures students’ attention and imagination.
Perfect for creating zones of focus and learning, the soft, twinkling lights create a cozy ambiance that encourages relaxation and exploration, making the learning environment feel less formal and more inviting.
Safety and Practicality
I had white string lights around a back bulletin board and rarely turned them on. Speaking honestly here, I was afraid that I’d forget to turn them off. I never had the same fear with my lamps for some reason.
Once again, you would need to know your school rules for using this type of lighting.
Black Lights for that Fun Vibe
A very popular choice these days is to pair black lights with songs and activities for a fun effect at concerts. These UV lights also are being used more and more in the classroom to set a mood and to use directly in lessons.
Black Lights for Concerts
There’s an entire blog post dedicated to black lights in concerts with buying ideas and specific songs and activities to use. Check it out!
Inspiring Creative Projects in the Classroom
One of the standout features of black lights is their ability to reveal hidden patterns and colors. In the classroom, this characteristic can be harnessed for creative projects that captivate students’ interest. Students love “Glow Days.”
Have students use fluorescent markers or glow sticks to write rhythms then turn the lights out to reveal the neon creations!
Use fluorescent paint and a stencil to spray paint your school mascot on bucket drums and have a bucket drumming Glow Day!
Use glow tape on rhythm sticks for a Glow Stick Play Along day.
Have these anytime of year but for sure during Halloween week. (Think Addams Family theme)
Use white cups for cup routines or white gloves for body percussion routines.
Write clues around the room using a fluorescent dry erase marker for a Scavenger Hunt. Turn the lights off and let the game begin.
While black lights can be both educational and entertaining, safety considerations are paramount. Direct exposure to UV radiation should be minimized, and proper precautions should be taken to prevent eye strain. Educators should also ensure that any materials used for projects are safe and non-toxic.
Conclusion
I found so many positive student outcomes from having a lighting plan for my classroom. And the win-win is that I benefitted too.
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Bring the folk song Tideo into your elementary music classroom with an easy Orff arrangement and a full sequence of activities. This multi-lesson resource gives students opportunities to prepare, present, and practice mi-re-do and sixteenth-note rhythms through singing, movement, rhythm, and playing. The step-by-step slides do the planning for you, so you can focus on your students and let the teaching magic begin!
Melody & Rhythm Practice
Students will love the singing games/dances while experiencing mi, re, do in the melody (a video Poison Pattern game) and sixteenth notes in the rhythm.
January Beats is another great resource that uses four sixteenths!
What Music Teachers Are Saying
On Student Engagement & Classroom Flow:“I taught my kids the song and game Tideo. Then I had my kids play the song on the xylophones/Orff. This was perfect for my class. My kids loved it!”
— Hannah W. (4th & 5th Grade Teacher)
For Interactive Tech & SMART Boards:“I have used many of the pages to have students fill in the rhythm or the solfège on the smart board. I will incorporate the Orff instruments soon.”
— Denise K. (3rd Grade Teacher)
For Visual Learners:“The color-coding is so helpful for my students who learn visually as well.”
In C pentatonic, Tideo’s easy Orff arrangement using three ostinati can be expanded to include an optional instrumental B section and an improvised C section.
The instrumental parts are taught using speech and body percussion in easy-to-follow slides. Use this multi-lesson low/no prep format in either Google Slides or PowerPoint.
The Presentation
Singing Game/Dance-the presentation teaches a double circle routine.
Rhythm-*quarters, paired eighths, and 4 sixteenths in the song.
Rhythm-*Eighth note with 2 sixteenths in the B section
Melody–mi, re, do is highlighted in the presentation
Melody-the song also includes high do
Orff Arrangement-a 3 ostinati arrangement with additional parts for optional B and C sections
Other Instruments: Recorder/Boomwhacker-notation and melodic color-coding using C, D, E, G, A, C’
Ukulele-LOVE these pentatonic tunes so one chord, C, the entire time.
*Rhythms aren’t labeled so you can use your classroom rhythm counting system.
My Favorite Part I LOVE that you can extend the form and add lots of different instruments to the point this fun song could easily become a concert piece.
The resource includes: A presentation in both PPT and Google Slides versions A video preview of the song arrangement in each presentation A PDF copy of the song arrangement sheet music
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Originally published July 2, 2023 Updated April 7, 2026
Even if you’ve never played the ukulele, learning yourself and teaching kids to play the ukulele is so fun and actually quite simple. We will explore an effective sequential curriculum that will help you learn how to teach kids to play the ukulele in elementary or middle school music, providing a step-by-step guide to help you engage and inspire your young students.
