Games and Activities

Each new school year brings about an opportunity for all of us involved in education to refresh, renew, and re-commit to what we do, and how we do it. I thought it would be nice to poll a few teachers and ask about some of their favorite classroom activities K-12 in music. The following is a list of different games/activities you can try with your students this year!

“Charley, Charley Stole the Barley” from Dr. Julie Hagen Director of Choirs at Choate Rosemary Hall

Charley, Charley, stole the barley Out of the baker's shop, (snap snap!) The baker came out and gave him a clout, Which made poor Charley hop. (snap snap!)

The students line up in equal lines. There needs to be enough space for someone to get through so when they line up, they should only have fingertips touching. Then when they turn (all the same direction), the spacing should be the same with their new neighbors. The teacher calls out "Streets!" or "Alleys!" so that the students turn, effectively blocking "Charlie" and "The Baker." The objective is that the baker is trying to catch Charlie.

Musically, I teach the chant doing a pat-clap-pat-clap pattern. At the end of the second and fourth line, I add two snaps to make the rhythm complementary.

I typically have three students transfer those rhythms to instruments: one student on the pats, one on the claps, and on the snaps. They play, the students making the "streets" and "alleys" speak (thus assisting the instrumentalists), and then there's a baker and a Charley that get to play tag through the streets and alleys.

“Bungalow” from Kirci Wagner Choir Teacher at Central Cass Public Schools

Look up the song “Bungalow” to get the basic song pattern down. Teacher then

selects students or allows students to select other students to show how they “bungalow.” Selected students speak the rhyme and show a small dance move. I like it because it allows students to sing and be silly. Every student also gets a chance to have a moment. Even my high school students enjoy it!

“Sight Reading (Factory) Race” from Sarah Waller Choir Director at Mounds View High School

I assign students into 2 teams, and we will sing through a solfège scale (Do, Re, Mi…) I have them sit on opposite sides of the room, and I will show them an example of sight reading. The first goal of the game is to have the students run up one by one to write down a solfège syllable on the board. (I stand between so no cheating occurs.) Once a team has the correct line of solfège, we go to the next round. Whichever team can sing the solfège line correctly as a group, wins the round.

This activity brings the group together and encourages them to discuss with each other during the activity.

“Living Nametag” from Sarah Barnum Choir Teacher at Discovery Middle School

Students write their name in the center of a note card. Then you ask the students to write down the answers to any 4 questions, one answer in each corner. They partner up and get 2 minutes to memorize the info on each other’s cards. They then introduce their partner to the class WITHOUT looking at the note card. Depending on the size of the class, they can introduce their partner to everyone, or to a size group of your selection.

Example questions: • What do you want to be when you grow up? (I always answer by saying “retired”) • What is your most prized possession? • What is your favorite sports team? • Who is a role model for you? • What is your favorite color? • What is your favorite movie/TV show?

The best thing about putting this article together was witnessing the energy that

my teaching colleagues had in answering the question, “What is a game or activity that you really enjoy doing with your kids?” Their positive responses were a shot in the arm for me as well. Lesson learned then: collaborate with your colleagues! One of the great parts about being in ACDA is the community of our fellow directors & teachers. We have so much to learn from/offer each other. Never hesitate to ask a question and steal an idea from a friend in ACDA!

Patrick McGuire Sts. Anne and Joachim, Fargo Content Coordinator, The Chorister