Movement Archives - Page 2 of 2

The Best Elementary Movement Activities for the Music Classroom

Originally published May 8, 2022
Updated March 20, 2026

Cover image of elementary movement activities outside and inside with props.

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.

Check out our new guide for 2026 Winter Olympics music activities for movement tied to this special event!

🎯 Key Takeaways

Activities/lesson plans sorted by grade level
- K-5
- Prek-2
- 3-5
Challenging Behaviors and Movement Ideas
Movement Books & Music
How-To Teach Movement Video

👇🏽 Skip to the video

St. Patrick’s Day Elementary Music Lesson Plans, Songs, & Games

St. Patrick's Day elementary music lesson plans, songs, and dances top image.

Originally Published January, 2022| Last Updated March 3, 2026.

Find great Irish and St. Patrick’s Day elementary music lesson plans, songs, dances, play alongs, and more.

The music, instruments, dance, and culture of Ireland create great learning opportunities in the music classroom.

St. Patrick’s Day is a prime time for these resources but also any time you want to talk about folk instruments, dances, and music.

The Playlist

Encanto Song Ideas and Music Activities for Teaching Right Now

Celebrate the magic of Encanto in your music room with activities that inspire movement, creativity, and cultural exploration. On this page you’ll find engaging videos featuring songs from the movie (movement, parachute, ukulele) plus my original Orff piece The Charm of Encanto, a Latin-inspired song that captures the spirit of encanto (“charm”) while offering a vibrant extension to the beloved Disney film.

We Don’t Talk About Bruno

Let’s talk about Bruno! Here’s a new MOVEMENT video for Bruno with the ending movement matching the contrapuntal lines of the ending. This is for parents, classroom teachers, music teachers, and anyone who

The Charm of Encanto

Want your students to play Latin-flavored music?

Not from the Disney movie, this original song inspired by the Spanish word, encanto, is accompanied by an Orff arrangement, Latin rhythm and melodic elements, and is a great extension to the movie that charmed the world.

It’s a perfect concert selection or classroom exploration of Latin-flavored ostinati!

🌺 Find other Latin and Hispanic music connections on the Hispanic Latino Heritage Month blog post.

Colombia, Mi Encanto

Encanto Lessons on Google Slides

Thank you Cathy for these Google Slide lessons!

Who Has Seen the Wind? Song & Lesson Rhythmic REMIX

The classic song, “Who Has Seen the Wind?” has been REMIXED and is ready for winter, spring, summer, and fall windy weather!

How to Teach Jazz Music With Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk, Jazz Pianist

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!

Monkeys Spinning Monkeys

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!

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Page Index

It’s About Time

“What animal keeps the best time?

A WATCH dog!