Sing a New Song

Here is a game for St. Patrick's Day that has students adding and subtracting rhythms.  Players try to be the first one to fill up their pot of gold! Here are the directions: Each player chooses a rhythm card that has an addition/subtraction problem on it.  You can make some or use my Rhythm Addition Cards .   Students calculate that answer and take that number of gold pieces to put on in their pot.  You can use pennies or bingo chips for your gold.  My students love my Magic Notes , so I will most likely be using them. You could also roll rhythm dice, if you have any of them.  Another idea I had was to make time signature cards and have a missing rhythm.  The note value of the missing rhythm would be how many gold pieces the student gets to add to the pot. Google Doc: Pot of Gold Game Pot of Gold Game

Music Matters Blog has come up with another wonderful new game using Scrabble tiles called  Fun Group Music game for knowing your terms and symbols This game has students naming different terms and symbols and drawing the symbol on a whiteboard as well.  I could see using this to name instruments and composers as well, maybe even your favorite piece. If you don't have scrabble tiles, consider using some boggle dice, letter tiles or beads with letters on them.

I wanted to focus on tempo and expression, so I came up with a game that uses those cute little candy hearts for Valentine's Day. I created heart cards with musical expressions on them and tempos.  Students will pick a expression card and perform the correct expression or tempo with the candy heart.  You can purchase the candy hearts or conversation hearts they sell at the store or use the ones I made below. The student then reads the candy heart with the correct tempo (you can use a metronome) or expression.  I found it helpful to have the student say the words on the candy heart three times.  So, they would say "Be Mine, Be Mine, Be Mine" with a ritardando or  stacatto or a mezzo forte voice.  Afterwards I let the students eat their candy hearts, which they throughly enjoyed. Goggle Docs: Candy Hearts Game Candy Heart Game

Here are some staff note stickers I created using labels.  The label I used were an Avery Template 8160, size 1 x 2 5/8.  Once they are printed, they can be cut and stuck to just about anything.  I used them in my Valentine's Letter Game . You could stick them to any foam shape and create a wonderful game.  Share any ideas you have.  I would love to hear any suggestions or ideas! Google Docs: Staff Note/Key Signature Stickers   Staff Note Stickers

In this Valentine Game, students pretend to mail letters or valentines out while matching staff cards to their letter name. Take some envelopes and write a letter on it from A to G.  Pass out the Staff cards so that each student has an equal amount of cards.  Place the envelopes face down.  Turn over the first enevelope and whatever letter is on the envelope, is the one the student must place in the envelope to mail.  If they do not have a card that matches the letter, then they don't get to play.  The first student(s) to get rid of all their cards win.  A fun idea I had was to put the notes on foam Valentine's.  I got these last year at a great discount after Valentine's Day.  Be on the look out and you may find a good deal on these as well.  I used my labels and stuck the notes on them. As we played this game this week, we tried to think of exciting places that the letter was going to.  A for "Atlanta" or D for "Dallas."  You could even add these

Five little valentines Five little valentines, I bought at the store. gave one to Mother, now I have _____. Four little valentines, pretty as can be. I gave one to Daddy, now I have _____. Three little valentines, red, white and blue. I gave one to brother, now I have _____. Two little valentines, enough for everyone. I gave one to sister, now I have ______. One little valentine, what should I do? I know what, I'll give this one to you! Teaching Idea:  1. Have Hearts cut out or foam ones to give to five children.  During the song they give their valentine to a fellow classmate. 2.  Ask the children who else could they give a Valentine to and put it in the song. If you Love me and you know it Sung to: "If your happy and you know it" If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands. If you love me and you know it, Clap your hands. If you love me and you know it, Then your face will surely show it. If you love me and you know it, Clap your