Teaching children to recognize and name colors is a goal in early childhood clasrooms. Introduce your little learners to songs about colors set to familiar children's tunes. The Preschool Express website lists more than 30 short, simple songs about specific colors. Choose two or three of these to teach to youngsters. Locate objects in the classroom that match the colors in the songs and point to them while you sing. If children are wearing clothing in the color mentioned in the song, ask them to stand while everyone sings.
Plan a music activity paired with painting. Visit the library to borrow a CD of classical music. In class, pass paper and paints to the children. Play an instrumental piece and encourage youngsters to paint a picture of the music. Repeat this music activity periodically, choosing up-tempo music one day and a slower-paced melody the next. Write the title of the musical piece and the name of the composer on each painting.
When teaching children about the weather, plan a music activity that will have them moving like the wind and rain. Assemble the children in an open area. Play instrumental music and ask the youngsters to wiggle their fingers while extending their arms up and down to dance to the music like the rain. Tell them to swirl and move like gentle breezes to the music. Play an up-tempo song with booming drums so children can dance and jump to the music as if they were a thunderstorm.
If you have access to a set of preschool rhythm instruments -- sticks, small drums and cymbals -- make time each week to allow the children to play along with recorded music. Pass each child an instrument, turn on the music and let the children play along using the instruments. Turn off the music and ask the children to place their instruments on the floor. Replay the same song and ask children to listen to the rhythm. Clap along with the beat of the music. Play the song once more, with instruments. This time, ask children to play the instruments with the beat of the music.