Class Favorites: Halloween Edition
I think October might be my favorite month in the music room. Routines are established, trust has been built and it’s the perfect time to start with some meatier activities. I’ve got a long list of greatest hits that I like to touch on this month:
In the Hall of the Mountain King (Rhythm Playalongs, Boomwhackers, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes—search YouTube and Musicplay Online)
Pumpkin Bones (special thanks to Quaver for that bop!)
Skin and Bones (close blinds, turn down lights, play on boney-xylophones; an oldie you can find anywhere with a quick search)
Pass the Flying Pumpkin Round (sort of like Doggie, Doggie or Pass the Broom—checking out Singing Classroom)
…and many more.
When it comes to independent work, composing, centers, and group digital games, these are my kiddos hands down favorite activities:
Halloween
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Halloween 〰️
This print and go, candy composition packet is the PERFECT way to get your kiddos composing music, reading and notating rhythms, practicing performing quarter notes, rests, and eighth notes (and even improvising on Orff instruments). The candy theme is a guaranteed hit!
This activity gets your students up and moving WHILE practicing rhythmic notation. This version is decked out for Halloween and reinforces quarter and eighth notes.
Here's how to play:
Place (or hide, depending on how challenging you want it to be) cards all over your classroom.
Give each student a "Write the Room" recording sheet.
Have students go on a scavenger hunt to find the cards.
When they find a card, they must match the number and symbol to the correct spot on their recording sheet, and notate the rhythm.
Once they have found all ten rhythms, they are done and ready to have their work checked. (If you want to turn it into a game, you can have the first person to finish be "the winner").
There is an answer key provided, making correction easy for you, but also makes this a great activity for a non-musical substitute teacher.
These candy centered, Google Slides matching games are no-prep, interactive music lessons designed to get your students identifying and reading music. There are two levels with more basic and challenging rhythms–you can buy them individually, or bundle and save.
With three sets of rhythms per slide, students must match the candy name to its correct rhythm. This activity is guaranteed to hook your students in and will likely lead to some great debates about favorite candies.
The game can be played as a whole class or in small groups (you can easily share the presentation on Google Classroom and have students work on individual devices). It's also an excellent way to assess your students' skills (without their awareness) and a great option to keep for emergencies in your sub-tub. Just share with the substitute (no musical knowledge is needed) and you've got yourself an easy activity for them to implement.
Using pumpkins divided in two (like a puzzle), students practice and reinforce recognition of notes on the treble and/or bass clef staff.
As always, versatility is the name of the game:
This activity comes in both color and black & white and can be used for centers or individual work. If you go the centers route, there is only one prep: print, cut, laminate and then it’s at your fingertips anytime you need it. If you opt for individuals, just make enough copies for all your students and grab scissors for them to do some cutting on their own.
Included are directions for how to play the game (quite simple–just matching two components), as well as a bonus coloring page for early finishers or as a goodie to send home with your kiddos.
I’ve got even more Halloween activities for you in my TPT store. Take a look and make your October a hit!
Cheers to a great week,
Joanna