Less than $5 8th Grade Music Activities (by price, low to high)

Included in these rhythm bundle are 25 resources that you can utilize in grades 3-6. Games, dictation, worksheets, races, and more are in this bundle as the resources discuss longer rhythmic patterns, sixteenth notes, triplets, and long durations of rests.

Definitely a semester filler in here, terrific for reinforcing your 2nd half of the year with some of your upper grades, and with 30% off when bundled together, it's a sale you can't beat!

Nothing like catching two curriculum areas in one. This assignment will help you meet expectations in both music and language. Students are asked to analyze poetry and lyrics, both those used in class and those of their own choosing. The assignment has students looking at: * vocabulary used * structure * techniques * important words * feelings Students are also asked to consider how the poem/music is meant to be performed. They are also asked to consider the background of the poet/musician.

This is a great back to school activity to get to know your students in music class: Music: Getting To Know You Questionnaire and Your Ideal Music Classroom (Back to School Activity). The questionnaire is a chance for you to get to know your students and their experiences in music. I use this for grade 6-8. The second part of this activity is for students to design their ideal music classroom. Typically I pair this activity with my Apple Curator Assignment which can be found here: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Apple-Music-Curator-Playlist-Assignment-Great-for-Back-to-School-2739247 These two activities will usually take the better part of September to complete. TIPS: 1. Be sure to leave feedback to earn your TeachShare credits! 2. If you like what you see - follow me for new products and updates (click the star by my store name MsNerdWood).

***75% OFF FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!***

9.9.22 to 9.18.22!

Inspired from the MyRhythm App, here's a fun game you can play with some of your older kids to help reinforce rhythms, independence, steady beat, and more!
In Rhythm Latitudes, students will see two rectangles stacked on top of each other. In each rectangle (now known as a beat), there are two circles inside (denoted as eighth notes).
Top Rectangle

· If the first circle is illuminated green on the top rectangle, the students will play using their LEFT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap
· If two circles are illuminated green on the top rectangle, the students will play using their LEFT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap like two eighth notes

Bottom Rectangle

· If the first circle is illuminated green on the bottom rectangle, the students will play using their RIGHT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap
· If two circles are illuminated green on the bottom rectangle, the students will play using their RIGHT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap like two eighth notes

You will receive 4 levels of mastery with this (4 beats, 6 beats, offbeats, and rests) and accompanying mp3 groove background tracks (or you can play it with some of your favorite pop music).
Procedure:

· Teach the first pages of Left Hand rhythms on top, Right Hand rhythms on bottom
· Review included practice rhythms
· Then count off the kids and go!
· If they master it, move onto the next slide until completed (or until time runs out)

Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities or music sub plans? Each page offers creative ways for students to learn more about the music of this composer! The music of Duke Ellington is featured in this Ella Fitzgerald mini activity pack! Ella was born on April 25, 1917, in Newport News, Virginia. She is known as "The Queen of Jazz!"

Themes: USA, American composers, Women's History Month, Black History Month

What's Included:

1-page Resource Guide - This guide will get you started quickly! Just print and play.

Listening Sheet Star Rating Guides - A reference sheet illustrates the five-star rating system included in most listening sheets. Each frame has a description, with one being "okay" and 5 stars as "Wow!"

Listening Sheets - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more. There is a space for drawing and several non-musical elements to consider, such as animals and nature.

Weather and Emotions Listening Sheets

Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

2 Biography Pages - Fact sheet (1 or 2 facts are already provided, a box to paste/draw the composer's portrait, and a birthday box to color in and decorate cupcakes! A duplicate blank page is included for students to do their own research.

Composer Research Sheet - Students can use their favorite reference materials to compile a full page of facts about the composer's home country. Some of the research options include capital, continent, population, food, and more.

Composer Rating Activity - There are more options to profile the composer on the rating sheet, including which season and musical style they belong to. This can also be used as a listening sheet or as a bulletin board display.

Word Composer Activity - The classic letter puzzle, students can use all the letters from the composer's full name to create new, shorter words and record their scores. Add a timer for an extra challenge.

Musical Selections (two pages per piece)

1. Take the 'A' Train
2. It Don't Mean a Thing
3. The E and D Blues

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

In "Walk it Out, introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos, learn the music by rote by taking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C],). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands with some syncopated rhythms

The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher). There are a few measures with a clap that's indicated on a top line F

At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?

• Have tambourines or shakers play on specified beats (try 2 and 4)
• Have shakers play 16th notes all the way throughout or in specific sections
• Have half the class play 1st and 3rd measures, the other half play 2nd and 4th measures
• Do it in a round! :)

Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!

(Remember the repeat in the beginning :D)

Have a terrific time with this one :)

In "DRUMITY", introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos, learn the music by rote by taking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C], and so forth). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands and triplets

The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher)

At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?

• Have shakers play 16th notes all the way throughout or in specific sections
• Have half the class play 1st and 3rd measures, the other half play 2nd and 4th measures
• Do it in a round! :)

Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!

Have a terrific time with this one :)

Chord quality galore! Help your kids understand to identify Major and Minor chords in "Major Problem, Minor Adjustment"!

Students will hear 3 to 4 chords back-to-back and have to select the chord (represented by a box from left to right) they think is "minor" or "major" as indicated by the slide

Advance the slide to discover the answer!

There are 8 questions and answers in this series

We got notes, yes we do, missing notes, all the way through! This is terrific on reinforcing aural training in the upper elementary students. Students are to listen to a short phrase of music made up of 5-9 beats. The music will be displayed on the powerpoint with several beats missing. Their job? Fill them in! I cut out paired eighths, quarters, and half notes and allow them to build them out on the floor and see if they can dictate what I'm playing. Only difference between regular dictation is there are a few cheaters in... but as we go through the examples (10 included), more beats disappear. Fill 'em in! If you have any questions or comments, you know where to leave 'em! Enjoy!

The ultimate Boys vs Girls competition! If you're working on notes of the treble clef staff, this is a fun way for kids to competitively spell them out. First, we made a boys side (on the left of the screen) and girls side on the (on the right). A word will appear and the students have 10 seconds to spell the word out (there is a timer attached to the powerpoint and it will count down as soon as the slide appears). This games works best on a whiteboard that has magnetic backing as I print out notes and have the kids race as fast as they can to put them on. After the kids lock in their answer, the next slide reveals the notes. For notes that have F's and E's, the answer key has both top line, top space notes -- those F's and E's both count! :) Some are easy (CAB, DAB, DAD), some get a little tricky (BECCA, CABBAGE, DECADE) and so on. Towards the end they repeat, and feel free to edit and make your own! Have fun with this and if you have any questions, let me know!

Looking for a creative way to boost social-emotional learning (SEL) in your classroom or at home? This student mixtape activity is the perfect blend of fun and self-reflection!

Craft a Personalized Playlist:

• Pick your favorite songs - the ones that spark memories, lift your mood, or simply bring pure joy.
• Dive deeper! Explore the stories behind each song - when did it resonate most with you?
• What emotions does it evoke?

Unleash Your Inner Music Guru:

• Craft your unique soundtrack - a reflection of your personality and experiences.
• This activity isn't just about the music - it's about self-expression!

The Power of Music & SEL:

• This creative journey promotes social-emotional learning by:
  • Fostering self-expression
  • Encouraging reflection
  • Celebrating the emotional connection we have with music

Ready to embark on this adventure of self-discovery? Join us and create your very own SEL mixtape today!

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In Stick it to the Rhythm, we used popsicle sticks to identify quarter and eighth note notation in our classrooms. What happened if we didn't give the kids a blank slate and they had to use eyes, ears, and minds? In this follow-up, "Stick it to the Rhythm Part II", students are instructed to put a number of sticks on the floor (6 to 12 'quarter notes') and will listen to a musical example made up of quarter and eighth notes. They are then to interpret that example and use the last sticks and place them where they think they heard the eighth notes... In essence, they are taking the quarter notes at the end of the phrase and making them into eighth notes by beaming the quarter notes together -- this will really get your kids thinking! There are 10 examples (all with an 8 beat count off to establish tempo) and the examples range from easy to difficult with the mp3 embedding into the file. Have a great time and let me know what you think in the comments :) As always, any questions or concerns, you know where to find me!

Working on alternating hands and reading down true percussive stickings? Try on "Stick it to the Buckets" with 30 great exercises that will get your upper elementary and lower middle kids reading with ease!

All regular notation is to be played on the middle of the buckets (the head of the drum) and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as side clicks on the bucket (or on the rim, however you choose!)

In this resource, there are multiple levels of rhythms along with percussive background tracks to get your kids grooving (or you can select any song of your choice in common time!)

• Level 1: Quarters and Eighths in Four Beat Patterns
• Level 2: Adding in Quarter Rests in Four Beat Patterns
• Level 3: Adding in X Notation (side clicks) in Four Beat Patterns
• Level 4: Adding in X Notation Eighth Note Pairs in Four Beat Patterns
• Level 5: Eight Beat Patterns in Four Beat Patterns

Cup rhythms are terrific for your students of all ages! Inexpensive plastic cups from the dollar store, Target, or others make excellent substitutes for percussion instruments and in unison played together, solidifies steady beat, rhythm acuity, and gets everyone playing as an ensemble!

In this arrangement of everyone's favorite (and yours!) Don't Stop Believin', from Journey, students will read each corresponding colored section along with the form identifier for the amount of times played.

Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats. Then, apply it your class set of cups (to be done on the ground, in their seat, or however)!

Notation is as follows:

• CUP WITH ARROW - to be played by striking the cup (upside down) on the floor
• CUP WITH HAND - to be played with cup on the floor and patting the top of the cup
• CLAP - hands clap once
• QUARTER REST - one beat rest
• HALF REST - two beats rest

Any notation that is smaller in groups of 2 are played as two eighth notes

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLvUrpFJCo

Working with identifying rhythms and want a little challenge? In "Eyes on Rhythm", a rhythm example will be played and multiple rhythms will be shown on the screen. Students will then select the rhythm they think best sounds like the rhythm being played. The correct rhythm will be shown on the next slide!

This is terrific for distance learning as it is self paced and also has "point values" assigned to each rhythm. With 9 rhythm examples in the lesson, the first ones start quite easy with a few beats, but gradually increase in difficulty and tempo throughout.

Use in class or at home!

Working with identifying rhythms and want a little challenge? In "Eyes on Rhythm", a rhythm example will be played and multiple rhythms will be shown on the screen. Students will then select the rhythm they think best sounds like the rhythm being played. The correct rhythm will be shown on the next slide!

This is terrific for distance learning as it is self paced and also has "point values" assigned to each rhythm. With 9 rhythm examples in the lesson, the first ones start quite easy with a few beats, but gradually increase in difficulty and tempo throughout.

Use in class or at home!

One of the favorite end-of-the-year (or even beginning-of-the-year) activities for the kids to get them sight reading and of course, keeping their eyes and ears out for one of those DEADLY Poison Rhythms/Poison Patterns! Boom Oops Boom! takes students through 78 slides and 5 levels of Boomwhacker sight reading. Students will play a variety of rhythms as the teacher scrolls through the slides. Each slide contains one rhythm they will play and after advancing to the next slide, you can elect to give them a 4 beat or 2 beat prep to read the next rhythm, whichever works for you. The less prep they have, the better because... there will be one rhythm (the poison rhythm, poison pattern, or OOPS! rhythm as we'll call it) that students DO NOT play! If they do, they're out of the game. Students learn the rhythm before the round is played. Be careful or you will be ELIMINATED! You can play this in teams, colors, chords, however you wish! There are 5 background grooves that go from 80 bpm to 120 bpm to challenge your kids as they go through the levels. Levels begin with 4 beat rhythms and end with 6 beat rhythms with rests, quarter notes, and 2 eighth note patterns. Have a great time with this!

Want a better flashcard game to review your musical instruments? Try Instrument Rally Race! In this colorful powerpoint, you can review the instruments of the Brass and Woodwind Family in a great game format. Included are Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, Bassoon It's fairly easy to play. Students are shown an instrument and have to name it as soon as they can! I do boys vs girls in my class and we do this in a "around the world" format, so the winner of the game remains to compete against the next kid in class. Or you can do side 1 vs side 2, north vs south, east vs west -- however you wish! It's great for review to have the students identify all the instruments in the Brass and Woodwind families. Included are a powerpoint file, PDF, and instructions how to install the system fonts that go with the powerpoint. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments or email me at jasonlitt@gmail.com Have fun with the Rally!

Was that Presto or Largo? Staccato or Tenuto? Forte or Piano? Use "Who am I" to reinforce the music terminology you've been working on in your class! After a brief review, 6 musical examples will be played with all examples ascribing to either Presto or Largo, Staccato or Tenuto, and Forte or Piano. Students can do this in a variety of ways: -- On whiteboards and dry erase markers -- Through collaborative grouping or partner activity (using pre-cut cards as an idea -- On a SMARTboard or brightlink -- As a race (maybe boys vs girls, side A vs side B) After the example is played, you can advance the slide in the powerpoint to reveal the answer! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave a comment in the Q&A or email me at jasonlitt@gmail.com!

Working on the lines of the treble clef staff? Here's a fun way to have your students use their knowledge and solve a puzzle with Mystery Word! The Mystery Word package includes 50 challenging words and/or phrases that are spelled using the musical letters (A,B,C,D,E,F, and G) of the treble clef staff. Blank letter boxes are below the note on the staff for the students to fill in. Some words and phrases are easy, but some get pretty difficult! Included are three files: The teacher version, a PDF file with 50 pages in PDF format to use as a class activity. The student version, a PDF file you can print out with 25 pages, 2 puzzles to each page you can individual give to students. (If printed out and copied back-to-back, it only runs 13 pages per booklet) The answer key (just in case a substitute teacher needs it) ;) You can use this as a warmup to your lesson, or a lesson in itself -- it makes a great substitute teacher plan as well! It gets kids to critically think about the lines of the staff to fill in the blanks... my kids love it as it's fun and challenging. Would love to hear feedback how it's working in your classrooms. Any questions, you know where to find me. Have fun!