6 Ways to Integrate Camp Songs in Elementary Music

Traditional camp songs can be a valuable addition to your elementary music classes. See these fun ways to actively engage your students.

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Why Use Camp Songs in Elementary Music

There are MANY reasons to use traditional camp songs in elementary music classes.

• Kids need to learn how to have “good, old-fashioned fun.” Silly camp songs are fun by nature. Help your students learn how to unplug and have fun.
• Camp songs naturally draw students in and increase engagement in music class activities. Even reluctant singers will be more likely to engage in these fun songs.
• Many children are exposed to a lot of inappropriate media. Even cartoons and television shows which are written for children often send negative messages. Choosing our literature carefully can help build character and show students how to have fun without being disrespectful or demeaning anyone.
• Many of your students will probably never get the opportunity to go to summer camp. They may not learn these traditional songs elsewhere. Pass on the tradition.

How to Integrate Camp Songs Into the Elementary Music Curriculum

At first glance, camp songs may seem to be a silly form of entertainment, but not all camp songs are silly. And these traditional songs can provide REAL MUSIC LEARNING opportunities. It is important to integrate music reading activities into every class. Read on for tips to teach music skills through traditional camp songs.

1. Develop a capella Singing Skills

Many of our students are bombarded with recorded music all day long. Very little, if any, is a capella. A capella singing is the best way to help students build vocal performance skills. It also teaches students that they can sing anywhere at any time. They do not need accompaniment.

2. Integrate Rhythmic Orff Ostinato Patterns

Even if a song has complex rhythms it still may be the perfect song for integrating simple rhythmic ostinato patterns. Rhythmic ostinati may be added to any song. And you can tailor ostinato patterns to specific elements that your students are learning. Better yet guide students to create their own rhythmic ostinato patterns.

3. Add Melodic Ostinato Patterns

Many traditional camp songs have tricky melodies that elementary students are not yet ready to read. If a melody is too complex create simple Orff melodic ostinato patterns to match the music reading skills of your students.

4. Add Chordal Accompaniments

5. Add Ukulele Accompaniment

The simple chord progressions in most camp songs are perfect for beginning ukulele players. Adding ukulele creates a “campfire” ambiance. You might even want to set up a faux campfire in your classroom to help create the camp vibe.

6. Use Camp Songs as Performance Assessments

Ostinato patterns and other performance activities may be used as assessments as well. Music assessments that are naturally integrated into the flow of class save time. They are efficient, authentic, and valid.

K-5 Differentiated Activities

Other activities include movement and fun facts to provide enrichment and help students make connections. These “add-on” activities help to extend the lessons over several class periods without becoming stale.

Click to listen to each arrangement in the video previews.

Teach Part Singing with Camp Songs

Let’s Have Some Good Old-Fashioned Fun

Using camp songs in elementary music class can be a fun way to engage your students in REAL MUSIC LEARNING experiences and integrate music literacy activities. As a positive by-product, you get to teach your students to have some good old-fashioned fun!

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If I haven’t convinced you that camp songs DO have a place in elementary music yet, click to see this guest blog post by Zach VanderGraaff for 8 More Reasons to Teach Camp Songs in Music Classes.