Substitute Lesson Plan for Elementary Music Class (3rd-5th grades)

 

Emergency Substitute Lesson Plan for 3rd-5th Grade Elementary Music Classes

Ideally, the music teacher you’re subbing for would leave an easy to follow lesson plan and all the resources you need to ensure continuity in the students’ learning.  When life happens and you are not provided with a lesson plan, here are some suggestions to prepare and a sample lesson plan for 3rd-5th grades.

Recommendations:
Information - Try to get as much information about the class as you can from the teacher you’re subbing for or from the school secretary.  If you know 

•  the class size
•  what resources are available in the room
•  Population - students’ primary language, cultural background, any special needs

It will make it easier to prepare! Bring as many visual aids as possible, priotizing your class agreements and pictures of musical instruments.

3rd-5th Music Lesson Plan 45 mins to 1 hour

Introduce yourself and demonstrate your musical ability in any way you feel comfortable.  Wowing the class with your voice and or by playing another instrument will spark interest in what you have to teach them.

 

Class Agreements: explain that you want us to have a great class and you want to know if any of them want to share what instruments (including singing) so to ensure that you’re going to go over your class agreements.  

Allow time for students to share with you what instruments they have played before or if anyone in their family plays an instrument.  

“Jambo”  echo song in different languages, can be adapted to your students’ primary/ secondary language.

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 100 musical instruments from around the world and they are in alphabetical order and grouped according to instrument family.  Scroll so students can pick one instrument they want to hear plus a backup in case someone else picks the same one.  If they can’t pronounce the instrument, tell them to remember the color and first letter or its name.:

“Pass the Beat” Go over the eight syllables of the phrase with the class and explain how the game will work.  

 💙        💙        💙        💙        💙        💙        💙        💜

pass -  the -  beat  -    a   -  round - the - room - shh!

There are a few ways to play this game, of course.  In my version, students stand (in a circle) and take turns saying one of the eight beats while following your steady beat (use a percussion instrument to keep the steady beat).  If they don't match your timing, say the wrong syllable or speak out of turn they have to take a seat.  The circle gets smaller and smaller until there are only two students left and after one of them wins you can start a new game.

Guess the Instrument: this has been a successful activity for students up to 6th grade.

Review and ask students to share their favorite activity from today’s lesson

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Did you try some or all of this lesson plan?  Let us know how it went!