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!
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 May 8, 2022 Latest Update August 5, 2026
Here’s a BIG list of elementary movement activities for K-5 music with DETAILED lesson plans and creative options for your students. Music & movement activities inspire play! You’ll find movement activities that integrate with the Orff approach, Dalcroze, Kodaly, and First Steps in Music.
Finding GOOD elementary movement games & activities for grades K-5 can be a challenge. Ideas need to be engaging and repeatable. If they offer a creative component, they get the ALL-STAR status! Here are my best multi-layered lessons for some of my favorite movement activities.
The best elementary movement activities are integral to a quality music education experience for children by providing ways to express, explore, and learn.
