Music Lesson Plan for Special Education Grades K-2nd (Mild-Moderate)
If
you are a music teacher new to Special Education, or need ideas for
your lessons you've come to the right place. The lesson plan below
contains activities my students have not only participated in and
enjoyed, but that do not require a musical background to lead.
K-2nd Grade Special Education Music Lesson Plan - 30 minutes
Students should sit at their desks or on the floor in a semi circle
Block easy access to your instruments (i.e. with a desk)
Class Greeting
A class greeting with an instrument helps establish music time. Sing "Time for music" with a doorbell "ding-dong" melody.
Hello Song: Have
students play along with an instrument such as a drum or tambourine
while the class sings their name. Hello song suggestion: "We've Been
Waiting for You" which can be sung a capella (with no background music)
and include everyone's name.
Drum Dream Girl: Share the book Drum Dream Girlwith the class and try to use big motions and add "sound effects" as you read to keep students' attention.
"Al tambor": Using a djembe or similar drum, announce that we'll now be singing a song about a happy drum.
"Can you say tambor? I'm going to say
Al tambor,
Al tambor,
Al tambor de-la-legría
Which means the happy drum en Español."
Start by playing a steady beat on the drum, then singing the chorus of the song. After singing it a couple of times, go up to each student and have them tap the drum while you sing the verse of the song contatining their name (Maya, o, Maya, Maya amiga mía).Here is the recording I learned it from by José Luis Orozco:
Once everyone has had a turn, encourage the students to give themselves an applause.
Quick song
they probably know: if you are able to find out a song from their
regular repertoire that you can lead, great! If not, try “If You’re
Happy and You Know It."
Transition: distribute one colorful scarf per student.
Movement with Scarves: Depending on the time of year you can use different music selections, but this is my go-to song for moving with scarves:
Folding the scarves: This song is encourages slower legato (connected) movement and instructs students to fold the scarf before putting it back.
Goodbye Song: You can sing "Music Time is Over" in the same ding-dong (sol mi) melody you used at the beginning of class or the song of your choice. Here is an example:
During
the goodbye song, you can distribute hand sanitizer to students and
other teachers present. Finally, encourage the class to give themselves
an applause for doing so well in Music Class.
Music Lesson Plan for Special Education Grades 3-5 (Mild-Moderate)
If you are a music teacher new to Special Education, or need ideas for your lessons you've come to the right place. The lesson plan below contains activities my students have not only participated in and enjoyed, but that do not require a musical background to lead.
3-5th Grade Special Education Music Lesson Plan - 45-60 minutes
Materials:
Instrument (such as a bell, drum, ukelele or glockenspiel)
Block easy access to your instruments (i.e. with a desk)
Class Greeting
A class greeting with an instrument helps establish music time. Sing "Time for music" with a doorbell "ding-dong" melody.
Hello Song: Have students play along with an instrument such as a drum or tambourine while the class sings their name. Hello song suggestion: "We've Been Waiting for You" which can be sung a capella (with no background music) and include everyone's name.
Wide World of Music:If a projector/ Smartboard and internet access are available to you: share the Wide World of Music website
with the class and explain that it contains musical instruments
from around the world. Students take turns going up to the board and tapping on the instrument they want to hear. Make sure to mention what type of instrument it is (Wind, String or Percussion) which is indicated by the background color of each image.
Classification Game* Now that students have been hearing the three categories of instruments during the activity, it's time to play a game!
Use with whiteboard using magnets, pocket charts, or on posters
Set up a 3-section
chart (option: project it) with the headings "String" "Wind" and
"Percussion" and go over the basics of and differences between each
musical instrument family.
Ask for volunteers to pick a card, read it to the class (kindly help them if needed), and put it in the right musical family. Tip: play the sound of each instrument from the Wide World of Music site.
Ask
class if they are correct (if they are), and if they are not make
indirect suggestions such as "Does it have strings?" "Does it need air
to make a sound?" "Do you need to tap it, shake it, or scrape it to play
it?"
*Printable cards available for purchase at my TPT site.
"Seven Jumps" with Bean Bags: Model the movements before distributing the bean bags to students. Prompt them to say the color of beanbag (or egg, or scarf, etc.) to give them a choice and encourage verbal communication.
Transition: collect one bean bag per student.
Humpty Dumpty: Students love this activity that challenges them to keep the bean bag on their head until we recite the word "fall!" and they lean their head forward to catch it. With my special ed students, I found it very effective to have them "practice" three times or so with the bean bag, and then I collect them and give them a "real egg." Below is a wonderful example:
Shake and stop + Freeze dance: This song is fun and challenges students to freeze / follow along, and can also be played as a freeze dance game with or without the recording. I demonstrate it myself once before inviting students to move around safely, and encouraging them to return to their seats when the song is about to end.
“I Know A Chicken” I usually play this song for students on a ukulele, but the recording can work as well. Students shake along and many sing along as well. After a couple of weeks, many students are able to be the "caller" in this song, and I like selecting three students per verse and I do three rounds of the song with them.
Goodbye Song: You can sing "Music Time is Over" in the same ding-dong (sol mi) melody you used at the beginning of class or the song of your choice. Here is an example:
During the goodbye song, you can distribute hand sanitizer to students and other teachers present. Finally, encourage the class to give themselves an applause for doing so well in Music Class.
There is a dire need for culturally responsive materials for elementary music education. Ms. Cosquilla is an award-winning songwriter who has a Certificate of Achievement in music with Mariachi Specialization from Southwestern College, a BA in Latin American Studies from Harvard University, is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Music - Music Education, and 19 years experience in music education that includes curriculum writing and arts integration with a focus on Social Emotional Learning. She currently teaches general music in Los Angeles and works closely with Chicx Rockerxs South East Los Angeles and the Mariachi Women’s Foundation.
