Activity Instructions:

Play music as children are entering at the start of class. This is a shorter song, so you may want to put it on repeat.

Activity Instructions:

Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.

I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my Tots
Rock, rock rock with my Tots
Rock, rock rock with my Tots
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class

Let’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class

Activity Instructions:

Pass out Rhythm Sticks. Allow children to explore hitting them together, hitting them on the ground, etc. Older children can also hold one up straight and use the other to tap the top like a hammer. Tap the beat and sing the song. You may also choose to use a train whistle to enhance the activity.

I’ve been work-ing on the railroad
All the live-long day.
I’ve been working on the rail-road
Just to pass the time away.
Can’t you hear the whistle blowing,
Rise up so early in the morning;
Hear the engine driver shouting,
“Children, come along!”

Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come along along
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come along

Sing-‘in fee, fie, fid-dl-y-i-o
Fee, fie fid-dl-y-i-o-i-o-o
fee, fie, fid-dl-y-i-o
Children, won’t you come along

Activity Instructions:

Have children seated on parents lap. Begin singing song. On glissandos, you will tip child to side, then back upright. When repeating, tip right first time, left second, etc.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall  [lightly bounce]
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
[glissando descending, tip child to side,
glissando ascending – tip child back upright]
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men  [lightly bounce]
Couldn’t put Humpty together again

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall  [lightly bounce]
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
[glissando descending, tip child to side,
glissando ascending – tip child back upright]
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men  [lightly bounce]
Couldn’t put Humpty together again

Activity Instructions:

Talk to children about the colors in a stoplight and what each means. Then have everyone stand up and introduce the activity. Start Rhythm on keyboard, then sing song through several times, following directions. Feel free to yell “STOP!” at the end of the song, and have children face the middle before repeating.

Red circle, green circle, yellow circle too (face middle and tap knees)
Stop, Go, Slow!
What do we do? (stand up tall)
Red means stop, 
and green means go, (run around the circle)
Yellow means pay attention, watch, go slow. (walk slowly)

Activity Instructions:

Distribute triangles. Show children how to hold by the handle and hit with the striker. Then introduce song. Keep beat in first part, then hit fast with words in second part. Repeat several times.

Triangle Triangle, you are a shape
Triangle Triangle, strike and vibrate
Triangle Triangle you have three sides
Triangle Triangle, you make some noise

Ring-a-ling-a-ling,  (meter changes and faster)
Ring-a-ling-a-ling,
Ring-a-ling-a-ling, [ting, ting]
Ring-a-ling-a-ling,
Ring-a-ling-a-ling,
Ring-a-ling-a-ling, [ting, ting]

Activity Instructions:

Invite everyone to stand up. Practice the motions in the song. Then start music, following motions. Repeat as desired.

Wiggle my fingers, hands to the sky, [wiggle fingers]
Reach my arms out – look I can fly! [airplane arms]
Arms in close, I’m drivin’ my car, [steering wheel arms]
Hands on my knees, I’m crossin my arms. [cross and open hands on knees]

I’m having some fun with my fingers [wiggle fingers]
Havin’ some fun with my hands [clap hands]
Moving myself to the music [twist]
Playin air guitar with the band [play air guitar]

Activity Instructions:

Pass out microphones to children. Ask for some of their favorite songs, and sing them together. Then sing through solfege syllables, allowing class to echo. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, Fa, Mi, Re, Do. Then introduce song for the week.

Do Re Mi Do
Do Re Mi  Do
Mi Fa Sol
Mi Fa Sol
Sol La Sol  Fa  Mi  Do
Sol La Sol Fa Mi Do
Do Sol Do
Do Sol Do

Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping
Brother John
Brother John
Morning bells are ringing
Morning bells are ringing
Ding dong ding
Ding dong ding

Frère Jacques,
Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines!
Sonnez les matines!
Ding, dong, ding.
Ding, dong, ding.

Activity Instructions:

Pass out balls to children, explore tapping, rolling, etc. Then introduce song, following directions in lyrics. Repeat several times.

I’m tapping on my ball today [tap on ball]
I’m Tapping on my ball
I’m tapping on my ball today
until you holler STOP!

I hold my hands so very still
I hold my hands so still
I hold my hand so very still
until you holler GO!

I’m tapping on my ball today,  [sing and tap super fast!]
I’m tapping super fast,
I’m tapping on my ball today,
until you holler holler SLOW!

I’m tapping on my ball today,  [slow tempo slow taps]
I’m tapping very slow,
I’m tapping on my ball today,
until we say no more!

Activity Instructions:

Pass out scarves, and have children bounce, dance, etc. This song was the theme of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and features Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte.

Activity Instructions:

Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play and try different instruments. Teacher’s choice on background music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!

Activity Instructions:

Print out pictures of Keyboard, Tuba, and Piccolo before class. Show the children each picture, and play the matching tone on the keyboard. Then hang the pictures around the room. The children will start in the center of the room. You will play a sound, and they have to go to the matching picture. Try to play in three different octaves (ie C3 tuba, C4 piano, C5 piccolo) so pitch as well as tone quality can help them distinguish between the different sounds.

Activity Instructions:

Get puppet, and ask children if they know what this puppet is? You can be silly and say a few things it’s not. Ask them what sound the bee makes (Buzz) Then begin song.

|: Bzz Bzz Bzz goes the honey bee
Bzz Bzz Bzz to the hive
Bzz Bzz Bzz with some news to share
Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz :|

Waggle dance, figure -8
that’s how he communicates
Waggle waggle waggle goes the bee Buzz Buzz
Waggle dance, happy day
Pollen, nectar, right this way
Waggle waggle waggle goes the bee Buzz Buzz

Activity Instructions:

Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.

Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now

|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    We’ll rock again next time :|

Activity Instructions:

Play music as children are entering at the start of class. This is a shorter song, so you may want to put it on repeat.

Activity Instructions:

Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.

I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my big kids
Rock, rock rock with my big kids
Rock, rock rock with my big kids
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class

Let’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class

Activity Instructions:

Distribute triangles. Show children how to hold by the handle and hit with the striker. Then introduce song. Keep beat in first part, then hit fast with words in second part. Repeat several times.

Triangle Triangle, you are a shape
Triangle Triangle, strike and vibrate
Triangle Triangle you have three sides
Triangle Triangle, you make some noise

Ring-a-ling-a-ling,  (meter changes and faster)
Ring-a-ling-a-ling,
Ring-a-ling-a-ling, [ting, ting]
Ring-a-ling-a-ling,
Ring-a-ling-a-ling,
Ring-a-ling-a-ling, [ting, ting]

Activity Instructions:

Invite everyone to stand up. Practice the motions in the song. Then start music, following motions. Repeat as desired.

Wiggle my fingers, hands to the sky, [wiggle fingers]
Reach my arms out – look I can fly! [airplane arms]
Arms in close, I’m drivin’ my car, [steering wheel arms]
Hands on my knees, I’m crossin my arms. [cross and open hands on knees]

I’m having some fun with my fingers [wiggle fingers]
Havin’ some fun with my hands [clap hands]
Moving myself to the music [twist]
Playin air guitar with the band [play air guitar]

Activity Instructions:

Show the children a picture of the letter B and talk about the sound it makes. Then ask the children to identify things that start with the Letter B, the ones in the song are: baby, ball, bounce, bed, birthday balloon. Sing the silly story several times.

The BABY loves the BALL, loves the BALL
The BABY loves the BALL, loves the BALL
The BABY loves the BALL, as it BOUNCES down the hall
The BABY loves the BALL, loves the BALL

The BABY loved to BOUNCE on the BED
The BABY loved to BOUNCE on the BED
The BABY loved the BED, till he BOUNCED upon his head (oh no!)
The BABY loved to BOUNCE on the BED

The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY BALLOON
The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY BALLOON
The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY , he loves his BALLOON
The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY BALLOON

Activity Instructions:

Pass out microphones to children. Ask for some of their favorite songs, and sing them together. Then sing through solfege syllables, allowing class to echo. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, Fa, Mi, Re, Do. Then introduce song for the week.

Do Re Mi Do
Do Re Mi  Do
Mi Fa Sol
Mi Fa Sol
Sol La Sol  Fa  Mi  Do
Sol La Sol Fa Mi Do
Do Sol Do
Do Sol Do

Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping
Brother John
Brother John
Morning bells are ringing
Morning bells are ringing
Ding dong ding
Ding dong ding

Frère Jacques,
Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines!
Sonnez les matines!
Ding, dong, ding.
Ding, dong, ding.

Activity Instructions:

Pass out handbells: CDEFG, and high C. (If less than 6 children, teacher can take 2, or have parents have their own color) Allow children to explore ringing them. Ask who has red, yellow, etc, and then cue them to play bells. Tell them that you are going to play a song together. Then cue children with voice and pointing, or play on xylophone with them on bells.

Row, Row, Row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily
Life is but a dream

Activity Instructions:

Before the lesson, make sure you have posterboard or tape a line on the wall with four measures, and have printed the printables for this activity. Explain that each block (measure) has to have a whole pizza pie. Students will decide how to order the pizza slices to make a simple four measure rhythm, with four beats in each measure. Then have students play the rhythm together on percussion instruments from the variety bucket. Repeat as desired.

whole pizza = whole note = 4 beats
half pizza = half note = 2 beats
quarter pizza = quarter note = 1 beat
eighth pizza = eighth note = 1/2 beat

Activity Instructions:

Pass out Rhythm Sticks. Allow children to explore hitting them together, hitting them on the ground, etc. Older children can also hold one up straight and use the other to tap the top like a hammer. Tap the beat and sing the song. You may also choose to use a train whistle to enhance the activity.

I’ve been work-ing on the railroad
All the live-long day.
I’ve been working on the rail-road
Just to pass the time away.
Can’t you hear the whistle blowing,
Rise up so early in the morning;
Hear the engine driver shouting,
“Children, come along!”

Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come along along
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come along

Sing-‘in fee, fie, fid-dl-y-i-o
Fee, fie fid-dl-y-i-o-i-o-o
fee, fie, fid-dl-y-i-o
Children, won’t you come along

Activity Instructions:

Pass out scarves, and have children bounce, dance, etc. This song was the theme of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and features Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte.

Activity Instructions:

Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play and try different instruments. Teacher’s choice on background music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!

Activity Instructions:

Print out pictures of Keyboard, Tuba, and Piccolo before class. Show the children each picture, and play the matching tone on the keyboard. Then hang the pictures around the room. The children will start in the center of the room. You will play a sound, and they have to go to the matching picture. Try to play in three different octaves (ie C3 tuba, C4 piano, C5 piccolo) so pitch as well as tone quality can help them distinguish between the different sounds.

Activity Instructions:

Get puppet, and ask children if they know what this puppet is? You can be silly and say a few things it’s not. Ask them what sound the bee makes (Buzz) Then begin song.

|: Bzz Bzz Bzz goes the honey bee
Bzz Bzz Bzz to the hive
Bzz Bzz Bzz with some news to share
Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz :|

Waggle dance, figure -8
that’s how he communicates
Waggle waggle waggle goes the bee Buzz Buzz
Waggle dance, happy day
Pollen, nectar, right this way
Waggle waggle waggle goes the bee Buzz Buzz

Activity Instructions:

Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.

Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now

|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    We’ll rock again next time :|

Activity Instructions:

Play music as children are entering at the start of class. This is a shorter song, so you may want to put it on repeat.

Activity Instructions:

Call children to circle. Start rhythm on Keyboard, and use each child’s name in the song.

I’m gonna rock rock rock with with my families
Rock, rock rock with my families
Rock, rock rock with my families
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class

Let’s all rock with [Name Here]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “together”]
Let’s all rock with [Name Here or “and have fun”]
in Rockin’ Rhythms music class

Activity Instructions:

Pass out Rhythm Sticks. Allow children to explore hitting them together, hitting them on the ground, etc. Older children can also hold one up straight and use the other to tap the top like a hammer. Tap the beat and sing the song. You may also choose to use a train whistle to enhance the activity.

I’ve been work-ing on the railroad
All the live-long day.
I’ve been working on the rail-road
Just to pass the time away.
Can’t you hear the whistle blowing,
Rise up so early in the morning;
Hear the engine driver shouting,
“Children, come along!”

Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come along along
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come
Children, won’t you come along

Sing-‘in fee, fie, fid-dl-y-i-o
Fee, fie fid-dl-y-i-o-i-o-o
fee, fie, fid-dl-y-i-o
Children, won’t you come along

Activity Instructions:

Pass out scarves, explore, playing peek-a-boo. Then begin singing song as you play.

Where is baby,
Where is baby,
Here he is “boo”
here he is “boo”

Where is baby hiding
Where is baby hiding
Peek a boo – “boo!”
Peek a boo – “boo!”

Activity Instructions:

Show the children a picture of the letter B and talk about the sound it makes. Then ask the children to identify things that start with the Letter B, the ones in the song are: baby, ball, bounce, bed, birthday balloon. Sing the silly story several times.

The BABY loves the BALL, loves the BALL
The BABY loves the BALL, loves the BALL
The BABY loves the BALL, as it BOUNCES down the hall
The BABY loves the BALL, loves the BALL

The BABY loved to BOUNCE on the BED
The BABY loved to BOUNCE on the BED
The BABY loved the BED, till he BOUNCED upon his head (oh no!)
The BABY loved to BOUNCE on the BED

The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY BALLOON
The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY BALLOON
The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY , he loves his BALLOON
The BABY loves his BIRTHDAY BALLOON

Activity Instructions:

Invite everyone to stand up. Practice the motions in the song. Then start music, following motions. Repeat as desired.

Wiggle my fingers, hands to the sky, [wiggle fingers]
Reach my arms out – look I can fly! [airplane arms]
Arms in close, I’m drivin’ my car, [steering wheel arms]
Hands on my knees, I’m crossin my arms. [cross and open hands on knees]

I’m having some fun with my fingers [wiggle fingers]
Havin’ some fun with my hands [clap hands]
Moving myself to the music [twist]
Playin air guitar with the band [play air guitar]

Activity Instructions:

Pass out handbells: CDEFG, and high C. (If less than 6 children, teacher can take 2, or have parents have their own color) Allow children to explore ringing them. Ask who has red, yellow, etc, and then cue them to play bells. Tell them that you are going to play a song together. Then cue children with voice and pointing, or play on xylophone with them on bells.

Row, Row, Row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily
Life is but a dream

Activity Instructions:

Pass out balls to children, explore tapping, rolling, etc. Then introduce song, following directions in lyrics. Repeat several times.

I’m tapping on my ball today [tap on ball]
I’m Tapping on my ball
I’m tapping on my ball today
until you holler STOP!

I hold my hands so very still
I hold my hands so still
I hold my hand so very still
until you holler GO!

I’m tapping on my ball today,  [sing and tap super fast!]
I’m tapping super fast,
I’m tapping on my ball today,
until you holler holler SLOW!

I’m tapping on my ball today,  [slow tempo slow taps]
I’m tapping very slow,
I’m tapping on my ball today,
until we say no more!

Activity Instructions:

Pass out scarves, and have children bounce, dance, etc. This song was the theme of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and features Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte.

Activity Instructions:

Dump a variety bucket of instruments out for children to play and try different instruments. Teacher’s choice on background music, make sure that the song lyrics are clean and the topic is child-appropriate. You may want to find out some of your participants favorite popular songs and include them here!

Activity Instructions:

Before the lesson, make sure you have posterboard or tape a line on the wall with four measures, and have printed the printables for this activity. Explain that each block (measure) has to have a whole pizza pie. Students will decide how to order the pizza slices to make a simple four measure rhythm, with four beats in each measure. Then have students play the rhythm together on percussion instruments from the variety bucket. Repeat as desired.

whole pizza = whole note = 4 beats
half pizza = half note = 2 beats
quarter pizza = quarter note = 1 beat
eighth pizza = eighth note = 1/2 beat

Activity Instructions:

Print out pictures of Keyboard, Tuba, and Piccolo before class. Show the children each picture, and play the matching tone on the keyboard. Then hang the pictures around the room. The children will start in the center of the room. You will play a sound, and they have to go to the matching picture. Try to play in three different octaves (ie C3 tuba, C4 piano, C5 piccolo) so pitch as well as tone quality can help them distinguish between the different sounds.

Activity Instructions:

Get puppet, and ask children if they know what this puppet is? You can be silly and say a few things it’s not. Ask them what sound the bee makes (Buzz) Then begin song.

|: Bzz Bzz Bzz goes the honey bee
Bzz Bzz Bzz to the hive
Bzz Bzz Bzz with some news to share
Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz :|

Waggle dance, figure -8
that’s how he communicates
Waggle waggle waggle goes the bee Buzz Buzz
Waggle dance, happy day
Pollen, nectar, right this way
Waggle waggle waggle goes the bee Buzz Buzz

Activity Instructions:

Start rhythm on keyboard. Then sing song, putting each child’s name in the song. Adjust the ending based on the number of children you have – feel free to repeat or not, and add goodbyes to mommies, daddies, instruments, etc, if needed to finish the musical phrasing, depending upon the size of your class.

Goodbye, Cya later, adios my friends
Our time in Rockin’ Rhythms class has come to an end
au revoir, auf wiedersehen, bon voyage, chiao
Until we meet again my friends, I’ll say goodbye for now

|: Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    Goodbye [Name goes here]
    Goodbye [Name here]
    We’ll rock again next time :|