Up the Class Tempo with 17 Music Activities for Elementary Students

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From clapping catchy beats with hands and feet to singing for all the class to hear, amp up your lesson plan with music activities for elementary students that hit all the right notes. And these jams aren’t just for music teachers! General education teachers can sneak a little Beethoven into science or roll with bucket drums in math. Perfect for brain breaks, indoor recess games, or circle time warm-ups, each activity can be remixed to set the right tone for your class. Get ready to strike a chord and make learning sing. 

Tap, clap, and sing your way to melodious music in any class

When you think about elementary school growth, your mind probably jumps to math, reading, science, and social studies. But don’t hit pause there: Music and movement are key players in a child’s development. The University of Maryland reports that music boosts social, emotional, cognitive, and motor skills. It even helps students connect to their cultural roots in meaningful ways. 

Use songs to teach specific topics or concepts

Chants and songs are among the easiest (and most fun!) tools to incorporate into your curriculum. They crank up the energy and make it super simple to sneak in body movements like snapping, finger dancing, and clapping, turning learning into a full-body experience. They might also help your students remember some important information!

Music Circle Time Special Education, Autism, Preschool & Speech Therapy Activity
By Supporting Special Learners
Grades: PreK-K

Use classic tunes like the ABC Song and The Ants Go Marching to help students build communication and social skills through rhythm and repetition. Each activity has a song lyrics booklet, making it a perfect fit for speech therapy sessions and support classrooms. 

Turn students into rhythm detectives

This fun and sneaky rhythm game sharpens auditory skills, focus, and observation. Choose a rhythm leader and a rhythm detective. The detective puts on headphones and faces away while the leader creates a simple 4- or 8-beat rhythm using claps, snaps, and stomps. The class joins in, copying the leader’s moves. When the detective turns back and removes their headphones, the leader makes small changes to the rhythm while everyone performs it. It’s up to the detective to watch closely and figure out who’s calling the shots. 

Snap, clap, switch music class game

Keep your class on their toes with this fast-paced rhythm game about sharp ears and quick thinking. Start by creating a simple 4-beat pattern together, like snap, clap, snap, clap or clap, clap, snap, snap, and practice until everyone’s in sync. Then introduce the magic word: “Switch!” When you say it, students must instantly reverse the rhythm (snap, clap becomes clap, snap). After a few practice rounds, it’s game time. Anyone who misses the switch or loses the beat is out. Once they’ve got the hang of it, let them create their own rhythm patterns to keep the challenge fresh. 

Be spontaneous with quick, no-prep elementary music activities

Need a quick brain break without grabbing instruments or repeating directions? These no-prep music activities for elementary students are fun, fast, and perfect for subs or last-minute fillers.

Decode music notation with engaging activities

Reading and understanding music can be hard for young learners to grasp. But it’s not impossible. With the right tools, you’ll have them grasping notes with ease. 

No Prep Ta and Ti-Ti Music Worksheets 
By Aileen Miracle
Grade: 1st-2nd

Using the ta and ti-ti notes, students read and write patterns, copy patterns, and color patterns. But that is just the beginning. Answer keys and easy directions are included. 

Music Coloring Pages – Spring Winter Summer & Fall – Elementary Music Sub Plans 
By MusicTeacherResources
Grades: 2nd-5th

Combine elementary students’ love of coloring with learning music notation. These seasonal-themed worksheets help kids master notes and are great for music centers, homework, or sub plans.

Turn bodies into musical instruments

You only need a few minutes to get this high-energy music activity going. Have your students stand and start with one simple sound, like clapping or snapping, then build it into a 3-beat rhythm. Once everyone has it down, split the class into groups of three and let each group create their own part of the rhythm. Speed it up, slow it down, and let the collaboration shine. This quick, engaging activity boosts body awareness, motor skills, timing, and teamwork. Kick it up a notch for older elementary students with a 4- or 8-beat rhythm.

Pass the beat around the room

Turn up the fun with this musical twist on the classic game Sparkle. Have students stand in a circle and take turns saying one word of the phrase “Pass the beat around the room.”. Everyone must keep a steady beat and tempo as they go. The teacher controls the tempo, speeding up or slowing down to add a challenge. Once students have the rhythm down, swap out a word (like “beat”) for an action (like a stomp). If a student misses a word, forgets an action, or falls off the beat, they sit out. The last one standing is crowned the rhythm champ.

Expel energy with movement music activities for elementary students

Music and movement are the perfect duo, like a symphony your body can’t help but join. Once that beat hits, toes start tapping and hands start clapping. These fun activities help kids shake out the sillies and build music recognition, tempo awareness, and pattern-making skills along the way. Give them a try during Music in Our Schools Month in March. 

Add music to classic recess games

When you think of music in elementary school, you might picture kids pounding out rhythms with Boomwhackers or squeaking away on recorders. But music doesn’t have to be limited to instruments; it can be woven into simple games they love playing at recess.

Four Corners | Music Edition: Icebreaker, Body Break or Timekiller 
By PrimaryJuniorPassions
Grades: 2nd-8th

This musical four corners activity comes with 31 ready-to-go questions on Google Slides, plus blank slides you can customize to fit your class. Just pull it up, play, and let the music-themed movement begin. 

March together to create a symphony of sounds

Elementary students may not be pro composers just yet, but they love making music together. Have each student create a short, 4-beat body percussion beat using claps, stomps, snaps, or any creative movements they choose. Play music and let them move around the room. When the music stops, they partner with the nearest classmate and teach each other their beats. Each pair then performs their new 8-beat creation for the class. Before you know it, your classroom will turn into a lively symphony of student-made rhythms.

Pair beats with beasts 

Need a fun way to keep your lower elementary kiddos laughing and moving? Try this animal-themed rhythm game that goes beyond notes and beats. Start with a simple 4-beat rhythm everyone can play together. Then call out an animal and have students move like it:  Shuffle like a rhino, sway like an elephant’s trunk, or hop like a frog. Switch to a new animal every eight beats and let their creativity shine as they make animal sounds with their bodies. Add a fun chant like, “It’s an animal beat, don’t stop your feet!” It’s a blast and a great way to build fine and gross motor skills.

Blur the lines with cross-curricular music activities for elementary students

Brain breaks are a must for elementary students, but finding ones that tie into your lesson can be tricky. Music to the rescue! You can shake out the wiggles and sneak in learning with musical brain breaks. Whether you’re teaching math, reading, or science, there’s always a way to bring in rhythm, movement, and a little melody to keep things exciting. 

Serenade your science lesson

You might think science and music are as far apart as the Sun and Pluto, but think again. These two subjects actually make a stellar duo. From sound waves and vibrations to patterns and energy, there are plenty of fun and creative ways to tie music and science together in one harmonious bundle.

Journey to “The Planets” by Gustav Holst – Music Virtual Field Trip 
By Music and Motivate
Grades: 2nd-4th

Blast off into learning with this space-themed lesson that uses Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite to explore our solar system. Students will take a virtual field trip through Google Slides, combining music, movement, and imagination to journey through the galaxy. With engaging activities and curated YouTube videos, this out-of-this-world experience brings science and music together in an unforgettable way.

Create a soundtrack to my story for a music and ELA mashup

Reading, especially poetry, is packed with rhythm and musicality. After all, songs are just poems set to music. Tap into that lyrical energy by creating a custom soundtrack for a story. Read a story aloud to your students and pass out instruments. Assign different actions in the story specific sounds and have students play their instruments when those actions occur. Take it up a notch by giving each character or story element a unique sound. Let students use their imagination. What would the villain’s theme sound like? What about the hero’s big moment?

Make a mathematical beat together

Math is all about numbers, and music is all about notes — combine them for a magical music math activity. Assign each note a number value and show students how to clap or snap the different notes. Then give them simple math equations to solve by clapping out the beats. While students can do this individually, pairing up or working in groups turns it into a fun ensemble. This activity boosts musical notation skills and number sense. 

Tune in and reflect on the music

Music education goes far beyond the walls of elementary music class. For many students, simply listening to music can calm the mind and boost focus. Professor Psyche Loui shared in Northwestern Global News that music can also improve concentration in students with ADHD. Try adding these musical activities to your classroom routine and see if they make a difference. 

Make music a creative adventure

Music is packed with emotion — the highs, the lows, the drama — all beautifully woven together, especially in orchestral masterpieces students don’t often hear. Pair music with art to take those emotional responses to the next level.

Cheerful Brain Breaks | Classical Music Listening Activities 
By Agee and Row Classical Music Appreciation
Grades: 1st-4th

Mash music and writing, art, or self-expression using fun tools like a listening sheet, weather-and-feelings chart, color carnival, or emoji listening box. Students match the mood of the music in imaginative ways through colors, symbols, and emotions. 

Celebrate different musical decades with fun elementary activities

Time shapes music. Think about how the sounds of the ’80s differ from today’s hits. The world around us influences every beat and style. Let your students dive into different decades to explore how music has evolved and broaden their musical horizons.

90s Music Bingo Game Retro class reward activity, 1990s history, 90s Spirit Day 
By Enharmonic Education

Rock your ’90s day with a fun Bingo game perfect for all ages. This ready-to-go resource includes Bingo cards in black and white or full color, plus a curated playlist packed with all the classic ’90s hits. 

Strike up a sound with fun and easy musical instrument activities

Instruments are what kids look forward to most. They love to bang, beat, and ring their way to musical magic. But handing them an instrument without direction? That’s chaos waiting to happen. Instead, teach even your littlest learners fun, structured ways to make music and appreciate the incredible symphony of sound.

Try easy warm-ups to get muscles moving

You can’t just dive into rehearsal cold. Warm-up activities help students become familiar with their instruments and prepare to play them properly.  

Easy Warm-ups | Concert Band by Classroom Composers
By Classroom Composers
Grade: 4th-6th

This resource covers 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-note rehearsals for clarinets, mallets, and percussion, to name a few. It offers easy, student-focused warmups that emphasize long tones and simple harmony.

Strike out the sounds of color

Understanding the basics of instruments can be tricky for younger kids. Boomwhackers and bells are perfect for little learners because they’re fun and easy to play. After handing out the instruments, pick a simple song like Jingle Bells. Assign a color to each note and display the colors on a slide so students can follow along and play the song successfully. You’re helping them build visual-motor coordination and learn the song’s patterns. 

Jam along with TPT music activities for elementary students

Music is everywhere, but knowing how to bring it into your classroom, whether for music class or general education, isn’t always simple. That’s where elementary music resources from TPT Teacher-Authors come in to save the day. Perfect for no-prep days or substitutes, these resources offer everything from reading music to playing instruments. There’s something fun and engaging for every teacher looking for music activities for elementary students.