Fun Ideas for Your Elementary Music Lesson Plans April 2023
Develop music literacy skills with engaging spring elementary music activities for all learners. Update your lesson plans with creative ideas.
April includes an abundance of fun holidays and observances that provide inspiration for your elementary music activities. Incorporate some of these special observances into your lesson plans to add a cohesive framework for your weekly or monthly activities.
Check the dates below, freshen up your lesson plans, and SPARK JOY in your classroom.
What’s in this post? Click to open the Table of Contents
April Holidays and Observances
- April 1 – April Fool’s Day
- April 2 – Children’s Book Day/National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
- April 4 – School Librarian Day
- April 5 – National Walking Day
- April 7 – International Beaver Day/Good Friday
- April 9 – Easter
- April 10 – National Siblings Day
- April 11 – Barbershop Quartet Day/National Pet Day
- April 15 – World Art Day
- April 18 – Patriot’s Day
- April 20 – National High Five Day
- April 21 – Kindergarten Day
- April 22 – Earth Day (U.S.)/Ramadan Begins
- April 23 – National Picnic Day
- April 24 – National Skipping Day
- April 25 – World Penguin Day
- April 28 – Arbor Day
- April 29 – International Dance Day
- April 30 – International Jazz Day
Weekly Observances
- Week 1 – Library Week
- Week 2 – Garden Week
- Week 4 – Administrative Assistants Week
Monthly Observances
- Jazz Appreciation Month
- International Guitar Month
- Keep America Beautiful Month
- National Kite Month
- National Poetry Month
StoryBooks to Read, Sing, and Move
Sing-along books are an excellent choice for elementary music activities, especially on sub days.
Celebrate Children’s Book Day and National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2 by incorporating “Peanut Butter & Jelly,” illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, into your early elementary lessons this month. If you don’t have the book, try using a real peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a prop!
Over in the Meadow, illustrated by David A. Carter, is another beloved sing-along book. Verse 10 features beavers, making it a perfect activity for International Beaver Day on April 7. If you can’t find the book online or don’t have a physical copy, you could print out or display pictures of each animal to use as props instead.
When I was rummaging through my book box, I stumbled upon The Bunny Hop by Teddy Slater, illustrated by Larry Di Fiori. This easy reader is an excellent way to introduce The Bunny Hop dance and get your students up and moving.
Spring Play Along Video
Springtime is a good time to make Recycled Rhythm Instruments. And, this spring-themed play-along by Elementary GrooveTracks is a perfect way to integrate your new instruments or “found sounds”. Enjoy!
I Don’t Care if the Rain Comes Down
If you don’t know this song, you need to look it up! This song is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE for April. This is a joyous song that will brighten everyone’s day.
I don’t care if the rain comes down. I’m gonna dance* all day. I don’t care if the rain comes down. I’m gonna dance all day. Hey, hey, carry me away. I’m gonna dance all day. Hey, hey, carry me away. I’m gonna dance all day.
*In each verse substitute a different activity – jump, clap, snap, read, walk, etc. I always like to end with “I’m gonna SING all day.”
Challenge your students to create their own verses.
Spring Folk Song with Orff Accompaniments – Sakura
Are you looking for a lyrical spring song? Sakura is a beautiful serene Japanese song with simple rhythm reading patterns.
The differentiated Orff accompaniments with varying levels of rhythm and pitch reading and performance activities make this song accessible for students in grades 2-5.
Click to listen to the accompaniment in the video preview.
Camp Songs to Develop Music Skills
Yes! Fun camp songs CAN help your students develop music literacy and performance skills. And, they are also the perfect “hook” for your reluctant singers.
These NO-PREP camp song resources are specifically designed for the elementary music classroom. They have been created with differentiated activities for multiple grade levels.
Each of these common camp songs includes Orff accompaniments with 2 rhythmic and 2 melodic patterns of varying degrees of difficulty.
Other activities include movement and fun facts to provide enrichment and help students make connections. These activities help to extend the lessons over several class periods without becoming stale.
Click to preview and listen to each arrangement in the video previews.
New – Free Spring Rhythm Clip Cards
Do you need a FUN spring music activity to practice or assess students’ rhythm reading skills? These FREE Rhythm Pattern Identification Clip It Cards are perfect for your early elementary kids. Students are engaged as they listen and identify the rhythm patterns they hear.
Need some ideas for using clip cards in your classroom? Take a peek at this post – Fun Rhythm Activities for Elementary Music.
No-Prep Digital Activities
Boom Cards are perfect elementary music activities to further music reading skills in the classroom, private studio, and/or in the homeschool setting.
If you are new to Boom Cards, click the links below to learn more about getting started and using Boom Cards in the music classroom. You will be glad you did.
- How to Develop Students’ Music Literacy Skills Using Boom Cards
- Subscribe to Our Email List and Get 5 FREE Sets of Boom Cards
Have You Tried Our Music Literacy Boom Cards?
Our Music Literacy Boom Cards offer a game-like learning experience that promotes real music literacy. Unlike other online games, these Boom Cards are not just fluff, time-filler activities. They help students develop real music reading skills.
These Boom Cards may be used for individual or group learning, or as centers or stations. They are perfect for practice or as assessments. Our sets are structured sequentially, similar to instrumental band, orchestra, or piano method books, which allows for easy differentiation.
Each series is designed to support gradual and systematic learning, building important skills in a sequential way. It’s like building blocks – each set provides a foundation for the next!
Click on the links below to see more and find the perfect series for your students.
Rhythm Dictation Boom Cards
Students listen and build the rhythms they hear by dragging and dropping rhythm blocks. Watch the short video to see a set in action. Click to see more.
Melodic Dictation Boom Cards
Students listen and build the melodies they hear by dragging and dropping melody blocks. Watch the short video to see a set in action.
Available in the Key of C, Key of F, and Key of G.
“What Do You Hear?” Ear Training Boom Cards
This series does NOT include the “cute” clipart of some of the other sets. Because it does not look “elementary,” these Boom Cards may be used in the middle and high school settings as well depending upon the needs of your students.
Set 1 of this sequential series begins VERY simply with just So-Mi for young elementary students. With six sequential sets, the upper levels will challenge more advanced students.
Available in the Key of C, Key of F, and Key of G.
Treble Clef Note Names
This series includes 6 different sets which are scaffolded to provide a supportive systematic learning environment building skills in a sequential manner.
- Set 1 – Basic Spaces
- Set 2 – Basic Lines
- Set 3 – Basic Lines and Spaces
- Set 4 – Extended Spaces
- Set 5 – Extended Lines
- Set 6 – Extended Lines and Spaces
Click to see the Treble Clef Complete Set and learn more.
Bass Clef Note Names
This series of 6 different sets follow the same scaffolded pattern as the treble clef note names.
Set 1 – Basic Spaces
Set 2 – Basic Lines
Set 3 – Basic Lines and Spaces
Set 4 – Extended Spaces
Set 5 – Extended Lines
Set 6 – Extended Lines and Spaces
Click to see the Bass Clef Complete Set.
Make Your Classroom a Joy-Filled Safe Space
Teaching is always challenging. But the past couple of years have presented even more obstacles. Our children feel this too. Make your classroom a JOYOUS safe space with simple engaging elementary music class activities that teach real music literacy skills.
Spark joy!
Get 5 FREE Music Literacy Boom Cards
When you subscribe to our free email list, you will receive 5 FREE SETS of Boom Cards! And, you will have free access to our short video tutorials that walk you through the simple process of getting started and using Boom Cards. I am just an email away if you need more help.
More Lesson Plan Ideas for the Upcoming Months
- Elementary Ideas and Activities for May
- Summer Elementary Ideas and Activities
- Free Lesson Planning Charts When You Subscribe to Our Newsletter
- Two Free Interactive Elementary Activities Your Students Will Love
Meet the Author
Terri Lloyd is a retired elementary music teacher with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Science in Education, and a Technology Certificate in Instructional Design.
She is currently active in music education through blogging, workshops, and curriculum development. She also serves on the music staff at her church and volunteers for an after-school children’s program. Terri is an active musician in the community, performing in a local Big Band, pit orchestras, and various events.