As summer comes to a close, many teachers begin preparing for the new school year. To help you out, I have gathered three of my favorite “welcome back to school” classroom activities. They include a fun “Move It and Groove It Name Game“, a great “Welcome Walk” activity from my friend Betsy Bevan, and one of my favorite early childhood activity songs from Lulu Leathley called the “Nothing Song“, where students make the song up as they go along which turns into hilarious fun!
1. Move It & Groove It! NAME Game
Activity Goals and Outcomes
- steady beat
- community building
- active listening skills
- focus and concentration
- spontaneous composition
- collaborative problem solving
Mary’s Viewpoint
Our name is our unique identity in the world and finding fun and creative ways to learn names is always an adventure! This name game is the perfect way to begin the new school year in rhythm, movement and song! I like to stand with older students and adults but I prefer a crisscrossed seated position on the floor with younger students.
Materials
- Body percussion & voice
Activity Outline
Begin in a standing or seated circle. The leader models their name with several variations to show the possibilities for rhythmically saying your name with different rhythmic patterns and with varied movements.
2. Welcome Walk
Objective
To feel a strong pulse in the body while becoming tuned in to others in the room.
Skills and Concepts
- Steady beat
- Synchronicity
- Awareness of others
- Listening
- Tempo
Materials
- Sticks or drums (optional)
Activity Outline
- Leader claps or plays a medium steady beat while students walk on the beat for 4 steps
- Participants stop and clap their own hands for second group of 4 beats
- Walk 4 more beats, mixing it up about the room
- Participants stop walking and clap a partner’s hands for the fourth set of 4 beats
- Walking around the room, participants move to a new partner each time they walk 4 beats, working with a new partner each time
- Instructor hums a tune on the “walking” 4 without clapping or tapping and the group claps 4 beats in response to the tune
- Participants can hum their own created tune as the walk 4 counts, then stop and clap
- Now speed up the beat
- This is an excellent “get aquainted” activity
3. The Nothing Song
Population
Pre-school, primary grades
Benefits
- Introducing musical concepts
- Quick/Slow
- Loud/Soft
- Crescendo
- Introducing the mathematical process of substitution
- Listening skills
- Group interaction
Materials
- Drums
- Small percussion instruments
Setting the Space
A circle or space where the children can move
Step by Step
- Sing the song and ask them to repeat after you
- Sing it several times before asking them what they could do other than “Nothing”
- Give out drums and percussion toys that the students can play and move with(frame drums, bells, shakers, wooden instruments).
- Playing a steady beat on your drum, invite the students to go for a walk,playing their instruments while singing:
Walking, walking, walking, walking
Walking. walking, walking song
Walking, walking, walking, walking
How’d you like my walking song?
- Play a faster beat on your drum, inviting the class to join you in a Running
- Song, singing and playing a little louder.
Extension
- Ask for other movement/playing ideas from the students.
- Have half the class on larger drums that they have to sit down to play.
- Have the other half on percussion toys doing the movements.
Click here to download a pdf of Mary’s activities
