Spring is a good time to plan for easy lessons in the midst of a busy testing and concert season. If you’re looking for a few practical ideas for reviewing rhythm and pitch, along with some spring-themed listening lessons, these posts would be a good place to start. They cover a variety of music skills, movement, manipulatives, and Western art music connections.
5 Ways You Can Review Rhythms in Elementary Music
As the summer break approaches for us in the states, it’s a good time to review what students have learned thoughout the year. This post includes active games like Rhythm Chairs, hands-on ideas like stickers and manipulatives, and a no-prep review option, so it’s easy to choose what works best for your unique classroom situation.
Teaching Rhythm With Erasers and a Free Worksheet
This is a simple spring manipulative idea that works especially well for centers or small-group practice. Students can use bunny and chick erasers to build four-beat rhythm patterns, speak them on a steady beat, and get extra practice with simple rhythm patterns.
5 Ways to Review Pitch in Elementary Music
This post is a helpful companion to the rhythm review ideas. It includes vocal exploration, clapping games, movement activities, and ways to review specific pitches like do, re, mi, and mi, so, la. It’s a practical list if you want a few different ways to review pitches without too much added prep.
Vivaldi’s Spring
If you want a spring listening lesson with a clear sequence, this is it. Students begin with steady beat movement, move into form using a listening map, and then respond with creative movement using paper plates. It’s a good option when you want a Western art music lesson that keeps students active.
Teaching The Rite of Spring in Elementary Music
This post would work best with upper elementary students. Instead of focusing on form, it uses Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring as a way to talk about music history, audience reaction, syncopation, and movement. It would work well if you want students to think and respond to a piece that sounds very different from what they may expect. Plus, it’s a good way to connect how music from the past shapes the music of today.