Outside Music Classes
For those of you in the south, you’ve had nice weather for a while now. But up north in Alberta, the last snowfall was May 5th. After a long winter, when nice weather finally arrives everyone wants to be outside – students AND teachers.
I really enjoy taking music class outside. Singing games, especially chase games, are better played outside than inside. Inside, you have to find ways of slowing down chase games, but outside you can let the kids run!
Singing Games – Chase Games in Musicplay
Lucy Locket
Mouse Mousie
Charlie Over the Ocean
Tisket a Tasket
Let Us Chase the Squirrel
Cut the Cake
Ickle Ockle
Our Old Sow
Hill Hill Come Over the Hill
Kye Kye Koolay
Turkey Lurkey
King’s Land
Frog in the Middle
I Like Turkey
Built My Lady
John the Rabbit
Frog in the Middle
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This is a seriously fun game! And if your students are finding frogs outside, this is a great game for spring! |
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Game Directions: The children form a circle. Choose one child to be the frog in the middle. The “frog” stands with eyes shut and arms outstretched. While the children sing the song, the “frog” turns. At the end of the song, the two children closest to the frog’s hands step out of the circle and race in the same direction. The first one back to tag one of the frog’s hands, wins. |
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Teaching Purpose/Suggestions: This song is great preparation for low la and low so. Your students should be able to read the rhythms in the song. |
Ickle Ockle
Musicplay 5
Fun chase game – and so much more fun outside than inside.
Great reading song – ls m and ta, ti-ti
View the kids demo video at www.musicplayonline.com
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Hill Hill
Musicplay 2
View the kids demo video at www.musicplayonline.com
We played the game outside because it’s way more fun outside where you can run, than inside.
Teaching Purpose: great reading song – so-mi, and introduces half notes.
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Directions, music and kids demo movies for all the games are found at www.musicplayonline.com.
All of these songs can be found in Musicplay and in the
Singing Games Children Love Collection!
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Volume 1 with lots of chase games |
Volume 2 clap games, movement |
 Volume 3 games for K-3 |
Volume 4 games for Gr. 3-6 |
Recorder Composition
30 recorder players composing at the same time could drive you crazy in the classroom. But outside, students can improvise and compose melodies in their own space and using the template in the Recorder Resource Kit, they will create compositions that are playable and musical.
Limit students to the rhythms ta, ti-ti, rest
Limit the notes the students can use to BAG or BAG E or BAG ED (depends on their playing ability) . If using BAG E they should end on G or E. If BAG, end on G.
1. Have students create a rhythm pattern under the hearts. Check it.
2. When rhythm is successful have them improvise melodies on that rhythm using the notes BAG or BAG ED. When they have a melody they like, write the letters in. They should then play their melody for you. If it’s successful, they should write the notes on the staff.
3. Accompany melodies that end on G with a G-D bordun on a bass metallophone or xylophone. Accompany melodies that end on E with an E-B bordun.
| This is the template that I use for composition. It’s in the Recorder Resource Kit 1. it’s also in the files at Musicplay Teachers Group on Facebook. |
This is an example of a 4th grade student composition – ends on E, so accompany with E-B bordun, sounds great! |
Boomwhacker Composition
Divide your students into groups, give them pentatonic Boomwhackers and invite them to create a rhythmic composition with movement. (Melodic composition is possible, but takes longer) My students really enjoyed this and all groups were on-task, engaged, and successful. We did this for 2 periods, then groups performed for each other.
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Drumming or Bucket Drumming
I’ve been teaching bucket drumming in several elementary classes this month. It’s tons of fun, but would be fun to teach outside. You wouldn’t have the ability to project music to teach, so you’d have to plan to teach everything by rote. More bucket drumming ideas will be coming to musicplayonline.com
Easy Bucket Drumming is an excellent resource.
Order Bucket Drumming in Canada. USA/International – order here
Playground Balls
Plainsies Clapsies
This is the best game ever with playground balls. In the classroom, I use beanbags, but this game would be fun to try with playground balls. Are you old enough to remember playing with playground balls in elementary school?
View the kids demo video at www.musicplayonline.com
This game is way easier to figure out from the kids demo than directions.
Great teaching piece: ls m and ta, ti-ti
And kids LOVE it!!!
Skipping Rhymes in Singing Games Vol. 1 |
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Cinderella |
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Watch this week’s teaching tip:
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Classroom
Instrument Bingo
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Orchestra Bingo
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Melody Flashcards: print or download Order in Canada Order in USA TPT |
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Match the Melody 1-2
Order USA or International |
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Rhythm Flashcards Order in Canada |
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Which Rhythm Do You Hear? Order in Canada USA/International |