Rick Charette

Some Ways To Use Music In The Classroom

Follow Up

WRITE OUT SONG LYRICS ON CHART PAPER AND DISPLAY IN CLASSROOM. Have children read the lyrics as they sing the song. Once the children know the lyrics to a song, learning to read it becomes easier. Teacher or student points to the words as they are sung.

MAKE A BIG BOOK OF THE SONG. Give each child or a small group of children a line or a verse to illustrate. Put the pages in sequence and bind it into a big book. Display it with other class books.

CREATIVE WRITING. Rewrite the song or adapt it. Give students a copy of the song with some of the words missing. Have them rewrite it using some of their own ideas and new vocabulary.

ORIGINAL SONGWRITING. Have students create original songs using their own lyrics and melodies. Record them. Write out the lyrics and illustrate or put them into a songbook.

DRAMA. Have the students act out the song. Create puppets to go along with the song if appropriate.

POETRY. Select some of your favorite poems that are rhythmic or have predictable rhyming patterns and set them to music.

USE A SONG TO TEACH VOCABULARY AND LANGUAGE USAGE.

SONG MURALS. On large sheets of paper, illustrate verses of song. Display in classroom or in hallway.

PERFORM FOR OTHER CLASSES. With song rewrites or original songs, visit other classrooms or share song with everyone when entire school assembles.

USE MUSIC AS A SPRINGBOARD INTO OTHER AREAS SUCH AS MATH, SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY. Songs that relate to what a child is studying provide another means to motivate and an additional way to enhance learning.