🦃 Surviving November in the Music Room with Thanksgiving Centers!

Nov 3

Hello and Happy November!

We’re entering that whirlwind stretch in the elementary music classroom! Halloween’s behind us, and with Veterans Day around the corner, Thanksgiving and concert season aren’t far behind. It’s a wonderful, high-energy time, and one of the best ways to channel that energy (while saving your sanity!) is with Thanksgiving-themed centers.

Centers are small group activities that can run themselves once directions are clear, giving students a hands-on, engaging experience. They’re fantastic for maintaining focus, and I love using this setup as a chance to observe and assess (hello, progress reports!)—often without students realizing! I usually set rotations to 5-6 minutes, letting each activity’s timer help manage the flow.

With centers, kids get to enjoy the excitement of November in a structured way, and the game-like format keeps their enthusiasm high. Plus, with the variety of activities, there’s always something new to keep them engaged!

Want to give centers a try, but not sure what activities to use? Don’t worry–I’ve got you covered.

Here are TEN suggestions that provide a nice balance: