Originally published April 3, 2024 Latest Update April 3, 2026
Learn about jazz with these EASY jazz music lessons & activities using instruments, singing, movement, and creating. Perfect for K-8 elementary music.
Jazz is perfect all year long but can be a special emphasis in February for Black History Month, March for Women’s History Month, or April for Jazz History Month.
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Originally published January 7, 2023 Latest Update April 2, 2026
Looking for the best parachute activities for elementary music? This big list guide covers everything from songs, games, and activities to exploring form, melodic direction, rhythm, beat, and vocal exploration.
These activities provide a fun application for music elements as well as physical activity for fitness, a brain break, and a social-emotional learning (SEL) outlet.
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If you are looking for an accessible instrumental piece in 6/8 meter for barred instruments with an Orff arrangement, this is it! Taught step-by-step, this classic tongue twister rhyme is perfect for winter, spring, or really any time of the year there is weather 🤣.
An added plus is the language arts lesson on synonyms. Put that on your end-of-year evaluation!
For grades 3-6, this over 50-slide resource is in both PowerPoint and Google Slide versions. Listen to the music on TPT!
Here are some favorite lesson plans and activities for the music classroom to teach The Nutcracker Ballet plus some NEW resources to spark life into our teaching of this perennial classic.
The Playlist
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For Older Students: PLAY the Chinese Tea Dance on Barred Instruments
With its call and response form, this is the perfect barred instrument activity for December!
PLUS, movement ideas using partners and the whole class with and without props!
These items from Oriental Trading Company can be used for Nutcracker Ballet-themed concert and classroom decor, student crafts, and movement activities.
Nutcracker Plates, Cups, and Napkins
Nutcracker Large Backdrop for Stage & Classroom
Nutcracker Felt Craft Kits
Nutcracker Candy Stripe Tablecloth Roll
Books
These are two of my favorite books to use in the classroom. Both are so engaging, one with the pop-up feature (on the left) and musical selections (on the right). I even bought a second copy of the pop up book because I used the original one for so many years.
At this school, students were asked to bring in a family Nutcracker and were put into this fun Nutcracker Museum display! (Remember to have the student’s name and room clearly labeled.)
Add this to your end-of-year evaluation Danielson (or similar) Domain 1b: Teacher-designed opportunities for families to share their heritages.
Nutcracker Play Along Videos
March of the Toy Soldiers-Barred & Sticks (Gr. 2-5)
Lesson Ideas
March of the Soldiers Movement Activity
Motion Terms March-in place or around room Flick-hands/fingers flick similar to flicking water on someone Wind Up Toy-arms bent (mechanical looking) and move from waist up/down like a wind up toy Scurry-fingers are like a little mouse scurrying down arm
A: March slow 8, then right hand flicks 4 times quickly from high to low, repeat on Lt side high to low, then both arms flick 7 at same time from low to high with a clap on beat 8 (repeat) B: March slow 4, wind down toy DOWN for fast 4 then UP for fast 4 (repeat) (kind of like the robot dance 🤣) A: C: Rt fingers scurry down left arm, repeat on other arm (repeat) A: B: A:
Here’s a video of the movements that I made for a newsletter subscriber while I was on vacation in Moab, Utah!
Music activities for national days are aweekly look at a national or world day that have a connection to music! The special day is highlighted with a brief informational video, then related music videos.
It’s the MUSIC answer to Scholastic News or The Weekly Reader!
Originally published April 4, 2021 Updated March 8, 2026
🚨 Music Sub Plans for Elementary
If you need music sub plans, these “In the News” segments are a lifesaver. Each weekly topic features a self-contained informational video followed by curated musical examples. Because the content is high-interest and video-based, a non-music substitute can easily facilitate the lesson—just “plug and play” with no prep required!
Note to Substitute: Please choose any “In the News” topic from the list below. Have the students watch the short informational video first, then play the accompanying musical examples. No musical background is required, just “plug and play” and enjoy the music with the class!
May Music Activities for National Days
May 12 National Limerick Day
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May 5 International Tuba Day
Big Carl-An 8′ tall tuba!
How to play the tuba.
May 17 National Bike to School Day
This classic is in 3/4 meter!
Experience the 3s: simple sway to the beat pat-snap-snap pat one leg on 1 and with the other hand tap your chest on 2 and 3.
The Wellerman-In Am, uses the full scale. If you want to play on Boomwhackers, put octavator caps on half of your A tubes. So A (oct), B (oct), C, D, E, F, G, A’ will allow you to play along!
Evolution of Dance has lots of great dances and might be appropriate for some classes. Please review it before showing.
January 3-Women Rock! Day
Aretha Franklin
Joan Jett
My ❤️ FAVORITE rocker-H.E.R.
December in the News
December 6-Walt Disney Day
Walt Disney Day-December 6
The first Monday of December (12/06/2021)
Walt Disney was born in Chicago in 1901 and began as an illustrator. One of the first characters he helped create was Mortimer Mouse who later was renamed Mickey Mouse. He is known for the animated features The Three Little Pigs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Bambi, Dumbo, and Mary Poppins. Disney was a pioneer in animation and introduced several developments in the production of cartoons.
Minnie & Mickey
Disney’s 2021 Release Movie-Encanto
December 13-National Violin Day
The violin, also known as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone in the string family. It is the highest-pitched instrument in the family, has four strings, and is played by plucking or bowing.
Pictured is a violin from 1658.
Early stringed instruments came from the Greeks, Central Asia, and the Middle East and influenced the violin that we know today which emerged in the 1500s in Northern Italy.
Here are some ideas to explore the wonder of the great jazz virtuoso, Thelonious Monk. You’ll find biography info, a movement activity to his fabulous piece, “Stuffy Turkey,” some links, and advanced movement options!
A great piece for mallet practice and tracking, almost all students are able to have immediate success!
New! Demonstration video below!
Other barred instrument resources!
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A bubbly, bouncy instrumental piece that is perfect for movement activities. This instrumental piece posted on Youtube in 2014 and became a TikTok sensation, reaching over 1 million plays in 2021.
Here you will find the piece analysis, links, and teaching ideas!
