Teaching classroom instrument names is a standard in many states (Florida included). Here are some of the ways that I introduce classroom instruments with my kindergarten students throughout the year.
Click here for my worksheet set on Classroom and Orchestral Instruments!
Beginning of the Year: Introducing Classroom Instruments
At the beginning of the year I like to use a simple song each week to introduce a new instrument. The “Going to the Farm” unit from the Gameplan series is great for this, but you can really use this idea with almost any song.
Kids love this unit because they are craving the chance to get their hands on an instrument from the first time they walk in your room, but they aren’t ready to just grab an instrument and go. I use this unit to introduce the instrument, learn it’s name, and most importantly, learn how to use it correctly. It’s highly structured and allows students to be successful on classroom instruments very quickly. This first exposure will help them remember the instrument names later on when it’s time to assess their growth.
Mid-Year: Continue to Highlight Classroom Instruments
Throughout the year we continue to find songs to play along with classroom instruments. At Christmas we do Feliz Navidad and Jingle Bells. Somebody’s Knocking at My Door uses the woodblock (or hand drum). We create rhythmic “valentines” on hands drums in February and play triangles along with the Liberty Bell March when we learn about patriotic music.
This is just a small list of some of the activities that I add instruments to. Honestly, you can add instruments to pretty much any song you want! Whenever I add instruments, we review its name and how to play it. Usually instead of me TELLING them the name and how it’s played, I ask students to tell me what they remember, and that just engages their brain so much more. Honestly, anytime you can make the kid do the thinking instead of you, you are doing BOTH of you a favor. It might take a little extra time to arrive at the correct answers and get where you want to go, but it is time well spent.
Reviewing and Assessing Classroom Instruments
Then, as it gets close to the point that I will assess them, we play games where I play a mystery instrument sound from behind my desk and they have to name the instrument. Artie Almedia even has a fun game called Percussion Penguins on her Music Madness SMARTboard game, where you can touch pictures on a SmartBoard and match them with sounds.
Finally, when it’s time to assess, I use this classroom instruments worksheet.
I’ve adapted this worksheet over time to make it as kindergarten friendly as possible. I read through the choices and have students circle their choice. Granted, there are still a couple students that I have to help out more in depth but the majority of the class can easily handle this task by the end of the third quarter.
And those are the ways that I incorporate classroom instruments into my kindergarten lessons. Have someone you think would like this post? Please feel free to share this post with them!
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