Do you need a ukulele storage solution for your classroom? Maybe the ukes are new or you’ve had them a while and your current storage isn’t working. Here are lots of ideas for hanging, shelf, and rolling cart solutions, or repurposing storage in your classroom.
Commonly Used Hardware
Some of these items are from Amazon and as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Wall Mount Hanger 6 Pack, with Screws – Easy To Install – Fits All Size Guitars, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo, Ukulele Set of 6
Heavy Duty Vinyl Coated Screw-In Tool Hanger 50 lbs from Home Depot. A little over $2 each.
I initially used this toy storage bin (to the right) to store my ukuleles. (to the left) I used the tubs, which are SO strong, for small percussion storage in a shelving unit. Loved that the bins were in different sizes.
Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and is celebrated on different days every year. Based on the Hebrew lunar calendar, it usually falls in December.
In music, I like to take all celebrations, holidays, and observances and look at several factors that are common to all of them-food, colors, traditions, and music!
I then love to teach about them using a book, game, dance, and music. Wish we could add FOOD!
Exploring Cultural Traditions With Music
October through December is a perfect time to talk about traditions including Diwali, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.
I always asked, “Does everybody in the world celebrate everything?” It was a way to say that we can learn about it all, even if we don’t personally celebrate it.
It’s a great way to honor each child, which is culturally responsive teaching, and expose them to new cultures.
It was especially wonderful if there were children who celebrated Hanukkah and would share about their traditions.
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Hanukkah Resources
Books About Hanukkah for the Classroom
Board books and simple rhyming texts work beautifully in the music room because students can absorb meaning visually while you highlight musical or cultural elements.
Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
I love to use board books or ones with rhyming words. I want the learning to come mainly from the images.
Hanukkah Songs
I Have a Little Dreidel SONG
This classic song is an easy entry point for students. You can:
Sing the traditional melody
Add simple motions
Let older students accompany on classroom instruments
Connect the lyrics to the real dreidel game
HanukPop Demon Hunters Maccabeats Hanukkah Medley
What a combo! The Medley includes Latkes, My Idol, Spinning Top, Still Golden, and What It Sounds Like.
Hanukkah Games
The Dreidel Game
We always played the Dreidel game in class. Slides with the meaning for each side of the dreidel were projected so groups could refer to it. I played with K-5 and they always looked forward to this every year.
I found dreidels in bulk at Target (ages ago before Amazon) 🤣 and then bought pony beads for the “candy.”
Hanukkah Music Activities with Instruments
Easy Ukulele Chords C & G7 for The Dreidel Song
If your students play ukulele, Hanukkah is a great time to introduce or practice C and G7 chord changes using simple songs like “I Have a Little Dreidel.”
Hanukkah Google Slides Presentation
This Google Slide presentation was shared by Ms. Stern from the Facebook Music Teachers Idea Bank group. It has lots of different activities to learn about Hanukkah. She says to feel free to change the bitmoji and make it your own!
I remember my older brother playing (on guitar and recordings) José Feliciano songs. I instantly fell in love with Feliciano’s sound and cool vibe and have followed him for years.
Pull out this versatile echo song for primary students that’s about appreciation, thanksgiving, and thankfulness in November or for other celebrations throughout the year. A simple Orff arrangement, one-chord C ukulele part, scarf activities, and movement will make this a great concert piece or SEL activity in the classroom.
Give Thanks is available as a single resource or part of this Thanksgiving Bundle!
Many of us are familiar with the Jan Brett book, but this
Ukrainian folk tale has a very interesting history! Here are songs, lesson plans, and resources for the beautiful story.
A list of books from newly published to classics for the music classroom with links, music connections, activities, and lesson plans!
If you are looking for captivating books that seamlessly blend literature and music in your classroom, look no further! This e-x-p-a-n-d-i-n-g list of recommended books will provide musical connections information and valuable lesson plan ideas.
Whether you’re seeking to expand your library or searching for fresh ideas to enrich your music curriculum, find great ways to integrate literature into your music curriculum.
This 2-chord song for voice, ukulele, and rainbow instruments (Boomwhackers & bells) is sure to be a hit! There’s no warbling going on here, just cantabile singing!
This resource of the Thanksgiving classic, Over the River and Through the Wood, includes parts for Boomwhackers, bells, and ukulele. Each part has audio and video files to support student learning AND in two different tempos-lento and adagio. Students learn about beats per minute (bpm) as they play their parts.
Play and learn in class or use it as a wonderful performance piece for winter concerts!
Here are some options if you can’t play all the chords!
Play just the chords you know and skip/stop strumming the ones you can’t play yet.
Strum only ONE time for every chord. That may give you time to get your fingers set for the next chord, even if it’s a hard one for you.
If you are in a group, divide the chords up.
I’m always ok with exchanging a seven chord for a triad. If a song has G7 and you know G, substitute. (Exchanging major and minor chords will not work. For example, Am and A sound very different)
Ukulele Songs for Christmas, Winter, and December Holidays & Celebrations
