This variation on the original musical chairs game will have students dancing around the classroom in no time. Prepare samples of several different styles of music (classical, jazz, hip hop, pop or others) and ask students to boogie around the circle of chairs in a way that goes with the music. When the music stops, students must grab a chair and be prepared to describe the selection of music and how it made them feel.
Students can experiment with how different lengths of sound waves create different types of sound by manipulating the tension of rubber bands -- the tighter the band, the higher pitched the resulting sound will be. Allow each student to build their own rubber band instrument using supplies from around the classroom and create a Rubber Marching Band or Rubber Rock Bands. This activity is ideal for students in the third to fifth grades.
Teachers should demonstrate a C major scale for students and ask them to describe what they've heard. Students should then be asked to line up and each assigned a note in the C major scale. Teachers can demonstrate how to "play" a simple song on the human keyboard and then invite other students to "play" the human keyboard as well. This activity is best suited for students in the third to fifth grades.
Help students understand the basics of timing and rhythm while simultaneously enhancing their motor skills with this rhythm lesson. Teachers should choose several different musical selections and lead their students in clapping to different beats. After students have mastered the first several rhythms, a student leader may be selected to lead the class in a new beat to the next song. This lesson is most ideal in first to third grade classrooms.