Elementary Music Lesson Ideas – February 2025
Fun ideas and activities include Black History Month and many more activities that will become your new favorite elementary music lessons.
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February might be the shortest month, but it’s packed with opportunities for meaningful and fun activities in the elementary music classroom! With Black History Month at its center, this is a perfect time to explore the rich history behind songs in your music repertoire and introduce students to new music, stories, and activities that deepen their understanding and appreciation.
Beyond that, February is full of holidays and observances like Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. Each offers creative ways to connect music lessons to themes your students will enjoy. February is a dynamic and engaging month for music educators.
What’s in this post? Click to open the Table of Contents
- February Holidays and Observances
- Songs to Pair with Special Observances
- Get Up and Move
- Follow the Drinking Gourd | Black History Month
- Pair Spirituals with the History of Civil Rights Leaders
- Chinese New Year
- Favorite Elementary Music Activities for Valentine’s Day
- February Freebie for Your Early Elementary Kids
- Brush Your Teeth Song – Dental Health Month
- Prepare Your Students for Band and Orchestra
- Help Foster Life-Long Musicians
- Digital Interactive Notebooks
- Just for FUN!
- Conclusion
- 5 FREE Music Literacy Boom Cards
- More Lesson Planning Ideas
February Holidays and Observances
Take a peek at the February holidays and observances below for inspiration and fresh ideas for your next music lesson!
- February 1 – National Freedom Day
- February 2 – Ground Hog Day/National Ukulele Day
- February 4 – Thank a Mail Carrier Day
- February 5 – National Weatherman’s Day
- February 7 – Send a Card to a Friend Day/National Wear Red Day
- February 8 – National Scout Day
- February 9 – Super Bowl Sunday
- February 11 – National Guitar Day
- February 12 – Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday/National Pizza Day
- February 14 – Valentine’s Day
- February 17 – Presidents’ Day/Random Acts of Kindness Day
- February 20 – Cherry Pie Day
- February 22 – Walking the Dog Day
- February 27 – International Polar Bear Day/National Chili Day
- February 28 – Ramadan Begins
Monthly Observances
- American Heart Month
- Black History Month
- National Bird Feeding Month
- National Cherry Month
- National Children’s Dental Health Month
Weekly Observances
- February 4-10 – Random Acts of Kindness Week
Songs to Pair with Special Observances
The following Grade K-2 Songs pair nicely with these February monthly observances.
- Skinamarinky Dink (I love you) with Valentine’s Day
- Here Comes a Bluebird with National Bird Feeding Month
- Brush Your Teeth with National Children’s Dental Health Month
Get Up and Move
This SUPER FUN Rhythm Stick Line Dance by F. Willis Music will have your students up and moving while performing simple rhythm patterns and incorporating common solfege patterns with hand signs. There are even a few measures of “freestyle” movement at the end.
Perfect for your upper elementary kids.
Follow the Drinking Gourd | Black History Month
Introducing the Underground Railroad to elementary students is challenging. The concept is complex and deeply rooted in our country’s historical struggle. The storybook Follow the Drinking Gourd provides an overview and a structured way to introduce this topic. The book and song help students grasp the hardships faced by those who sought freedom and the courageous people who created this network.
However, both the book and the song have sparked some debate. Dr. Prince Brown, Director of the Northern Kentucky University Institute for Freedom Studies, offers insights in this brief afterword, Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Cultural History, “Is This Song ‘Authentic’?”
When teaching this song and its history, it’s important to consider the age and maturity of your students. Several versions of the storybook are available, along with two videos that bring the story to life.
The Rabbit Ears video is suitable for grades 1-5. It offers a straightforward and age-appropriate portrayal of the story. However, the Reading Rainbow version takes a more intense approach, depicting enslaved individuals in chains and presenting a realistic view of their struggles.
*DO NOT show the Reading Rainbow version of this video in your classroom without previewing it and first consulting your administrator. The realistic depictions are not suitable for many classrooms.
Pair Spirituals with the History of Civil Rights Leaders
Spirituals are timeless and meaningful. They are an ideal addition to your elementary music lessons any time of year. Many of these songs pair naturally with the inspiring history of civil rights leaders. This helps your students connect music with important cultural and historical events.
The song-based resources below feature differentiated Orff arrangements paired with two short biographies of civil rights leaders. These thoughtfully designed lessons are perfect to help students learn musical skills while learning about the people who shaped the Civil Rights Movement.
Click below to listen to the arrangements.
Chinese New Year
Don’t miss out on this FREE SONG with an mp3 accompaniment track! A few years ago, I discovered a beautiful piece by Nancy Stewart called Gung Hay Fat Choy. The translation is “wishing you good fortune and happiness.” This tasteful and well-written song is perfect for celebrating Chinese New Year in your elementary music classroom, And Nancy is generously sharing it for FREE.
You can download both the Full Performance mp3 and the Accompaniment mp3 to use with your students. We incorporated sign language for a truly touching and memorable presentation. One school parent was so moved by this song that it brought her to tears, and she requested it for several years in a row.
Important Tip: To avoid all the giggles and snickers from singing the word “fat”, I admit that I changed the word to “fa” with the same “short a” sound. We simply left off the “t” sound. That small change made sure that students were all focused on the beautiful message of the song and not being silly about the lyrics
Favorite Elementary Music Activities for Valentine’s Day
If sappy lyrics turn off some of your students (like they did mine) take a peek at Valentine, Valentine with Orff Activities. With the various instrument activities, it’s been a K-5 tried and true favorite in my classroom.
The resource includes differentiated music literacy activities tailored to each grade level. The Orff accompaniments and recorder notation also provide attainable but challenging options for differentiation within grade levels.
Do you need activities to teach and practice rhythm reading? These interactive digital rhythm flashcards include 8 sets of leveled flashcards with 16 cards each. That is 128 rhythm cards!
My favorites are the iconic reading for your youngest musicians. But, your more accomplished musicians will be challenged by sixteenth note patterns, syncopation, and dotted rhythms.
Need some fun ideas for ways to use any rhythm pattern flashcards? Take a peek at this blog post with 10 Ways to Use Interactive Flashcards in your elementary music classroom.
February Freebie for Your Early Elementary Kids
This Free Valentine Clip Cards primer set is perfect for your early elementary students. Students are engaged as they listen and identify the rhythm patterns they hear.
Ways to Use Rhythm Clip Cards
- Practice
- Review
- Assessment
- Group activities
- Centers or stations
Simple Prep: Print a classroom set on cardstock and laminate them for use with multiple classes. See this post for more FUN ways to use your clip cards – Fun Rhythm Activities for Elementary Music.
Do you need more advanced sets of Valentine Clip Cards for use with all elementary music classes? Click to see the Complete Set.
Brush Your Teeth Song – Dental Health Month
This simple song by Raffi is perfect for early elementary kids. Add body percussion or sand blocks for the toothbrush sound. Enjoy!
Prepare Your Students for Band and Orchestra
February is the time when many students begin to register for classes for the upcoming year. This may be the first time your upper-level students get to choose any of their classes. They may have options to register for beginning band, orchestra, or choir.
You are the best advocate for these programs! Help your students make informed decisions by teaching them about the various music programs and the instruments they can choose in your district. Build excitement for these programs.
These complete, no-prep lessons include the major instruments in each family and optional student worksheets. Links to short, quality performances by professional musicians are embedded into each lesson.
*Note: PowerPoint lessons are compatible with Google Slides.
Help Foster Life-Long Musicians
Your influence as an elementary music teacher can spark a life-long passion for music. I’ve had the joy of performing alongside former students in community events and have even seen several of my students pursue music as their career. Never underestimate the role you play in guiding students toward meaningful, positive musical experiences that can shape their future.
Digital Interactive Notebooks
Interactive notebooks offer a fun and flexible way for students to learn about the instruments of the orchestra or band. These activities can be completed as a whole-class lesson, in centers or stations, individually, or even as homeschool assignments.
These digital interactive notebooks are available in PowerPoint and Google Slides formats, making them easy to use no matter your teaching setup!
Just for FUN!
Looking for a simple, fun activity? This activity is perfect for party days, fast finishers, or sub plans – FREE Valentine Puzzle. It’s quick to prepare – just download, print, and you’re ready to go!
Prefer digital? Assign the DIGITAL VERSION through Google Classroom, email, or your school’s LMS. Students can complete it online using Easel (TpT’s digital tool). Using either format, this activity is an easy and engaging addition to your Valentine’s Day plans!
Conclusion
February might be a short month, but it’s packed with fun and meaningful opportunities for your music lessons. Prioritize activities that build music literacy skills to meet your educational goals. Multitasking lessons that combine music literacy with seasonal events are a fun and efficient way to integrate themes into your classroom.
Enjoy, friends!
5 FREE Music Literacy Boom Cards
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More Lesson Planning Ideas
- Designing Black History Lessons for Elementary Music
- Black History Music Lessons that Teach History and Music Skills
- March is Music in Our Schools Month
Meet the Author
Terri Lloyd is a retired elementary music teacher with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Master’s in Education, an Instructional Technology Certificate in Curriculum Design, and a Bachelor of Music. Her resources focus on helping music teachers develop students’ music literacy and performance skills while making learning fun.
She is currently active in music education through presenting and attending workshops, curriculum development, and blogging. Additionally, she serves on the music staff at her church and leads a church children’s program. Terri is an active community musician, performing with a local Big Band, pit orchestras, and at various events.