Fall Lesson Plan Ideas for Elementary Music – November 2024
These multitasking fall elementary music lesson plan ideas are perfect themes for music classroom activities or elementary music program ideas.
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The school year is flying by, and with the winter holidays approaching. November feels even shorter with several days off from school. Simplify and choose lessons that serve multiple purposes to help you make the most of your limited class time.
These FUN activities are jam-packed with music literacy skills and incorporate seasonal themes.
Read on for inspiration and ideas that will quickly become your go-to elementary music activities for November and beyond.
What’s in this post? Click to open the Table of Contents
Fun November Holidays and Observances
- November 2 – Cookie Monster Day
- November 6 – Saxophone Day
- November 8 – STEM/STEAM Day
- November 10 – International Tongue Twister Day
- November 11 – Veterans Day
- November 13 – World Kindness Day
- November 15 – National Drumming Day/America Recycles Day
- November 28 – Thanksgiving
- November 29 – Square Dancing Day
Weekly Observances
- November 3-9 – National Polar Bear Week
- November 4-10 – National Cat Week/National Children’s Book Week
- November 20-26 – Game and Puzzle Week
Month-Long Observances
- Native American Heritage Month
- National Model Railroad Month
- Peanut Butter Lovers Month
6 Patriotic Songs ALL American Citizens Should Know
When you weave patriotic songs into your music lesson plans throughout the year, it’s much easier to prepare for patriotic performances such as Veterans Day, 9/11 Remembrances, Memorial Day, or the 4th of July.
Tap a peek at this blog post with tips to develop a core repertoire of patriotic songs and a leveled list of the 6 Patriotic Songs ALL American Citizens Should Know.
Body Percussion – Treat People with Kindness, Harry Styles
The third week of November is Random Acts of Kindness Week. This fun body percussion activity is perfect all year, especially during November!
Thank you to Music with Mrs. Gibbs for posting this fun, upbeat song with a positive message about kindness. 😊
An American Indian Legend
The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomi dePaola is a meaningful storybook for the elementary music classroom. GoodReads describes the book as “An ideal complement to Native American and Texas studies…”
As you read this storybook, play Native American music softly in the background to set the tone. Then, challenge your students to create simple Orff accompaniments or a speech piece based on this legend.
**IMPORTANT NOTE – This story tells of a famine where many people died. This topic is similar to the pandemic. This story may NOT be right for your students yet. Talk to your counselor before you use this book in your classroom.
Fall Harvest Song with Differentiated Orff Accompaniments
The Mill Wheel K-5 Orff Arrangement provides the simplest rhythm reading patterns for grades K-1 and challenging ostinato patterns for the mid and upper-elementary grades.
Your students will enjoy the varied activities included in this multitasking resource.
- Learn about mills
- Optional video links to tours of real working mills
- Simple song
- Rhythmic ostinato patterns
- Melodic ostinato patterns
- Recorder notation
- Simple game for early elementary
Celebrate Train Month with Songs and Storybooks
There are SO many fun songs with train themes. Below are a few of the standards.
- Engine, Engine #9
- Down by the Station
- Get on Board (Little Children)
- This Train (is Bound for Glory)
Pair one or more of these songs with a train storybook.
My favorite train story is still the old standard – The Little Engine That Could. This classic story has been re-illustrated by Caldecott Award-winning artist Dan Santat in a 90th Anniversary Edition! It’s a fun way to help teach grit, determination, and perseverance and help your students develop a growth mindset.
One of My Students’ Favorite Songs
You know a song has become a favorite for MANY students when you hear them sing it on the playground or the bus.
Land of the Silver Birch includes a differentiated Orff arrangement with attainable performance activities while challenging more advanced students.
Note: This song is a Canadian folk song. It’s not a song of Indigenous peoples.
Practicing Rhythm Skills is Fun
You don’t have to choose between focusing on music literacy skills or celebrating a holiday theme. These Thanksgiving Interactive Rhythm Flashcards include 8 differentiated levels for grades K-5. Level 1 features simple icons for your youngest students, while levels 2 through 8 use standard rhythmic notation and build sequentially.
Learning rhythms can be fun! Take a peek at this post for 10 Fun Ways to Use Interactive Rhythm Pattern Flashcards.
Note: These interactive flashcards are in PowerPoint format. You must have PowerPoint to use the flashcards as designed.
Free Rhythm Clip Cards
Looking for a fun Thanksgiving music activity to practice or assess rhythm reading skills? These FREE Rhythm Clip Cards are ideal for early elementary students. Kids are engaged as they listen and identify the rhythm patterns they hear.
Print a classroom set and laminate the cards to use with multiple classes for several years. The Complete Set includes 22 leveled clip cards for grades K-6.
Thanksgiving Rhythm Play-Along Video
Thank you to Elementary GrooveTracks for this fun simple play-along for found instruments. It uses the following rhythms and music symbols.
- Quarter note/rest
- Eighth notes
- Repeats signs
Printable Music Playing Cards
The third week of November is Game and Puzzle Week, making it the perfect time to play a few music card games in your classroom. Don’t have music playing cards? Don’t have any music playing cards? Take a peek at our Printable Music Playing Cards decks.
Ways to use our music playing cards.
- Class game day
- Centers or stations
- Fast finishers
- Indoor recess. Print and laminate several decks to use with large groups.
Our children need to learn how to play simple games. They need to practice taking turns, following simple rules, and positively interacting with each other.
Card decks include the following customizable sets.
- Instruments of the Orchestra and Band
- Music Symbols (Set 1/Set 2)
- Master Composers
- Jazz Musicians
💡 Tip: Print decks with different colored card backs to make it easy to separate decks.
Celebrate Game Week with Digital and Printable Puzzles
These versatile puzzles can be printed as standard worksheets or completed digitally. Have you tried Easel, TpT’s online digital tool? These no-prep activities are ready to assign and complete on Easel.
Click to access the Free Brass Instruments Puzzles and assign them as digital activities. Afterward, leave a review on TpT and let us know how Easel worked for you!
Elementary Music Program Ideas for the Winter Holidays
At this time of year, many music classes are preparing for winter holiday programs. With diverse student populations in most districts, it’s important to reflect that diversity in our music selections.
Even if your school has a less diverse population, it’s still important to learn about other cultures and traditions. Take a peek at this blog post on Diverse Winter Holiday Songs in the Elementary Music Classroom. (You don’t want to miss the links to FREE songs with mp3 accompaniments.)
Finding songs that offer both meaningful musical performance opportunities and music literacy skills for different ages and abilities can be challenging. Over the years, I’ve collected and created differentiated Orff arrangements for the elementary music classroom. Some of my students’ favorites are listed below.
These Orff arrangements will become fast favorites for you and your students.
Plan Ahead, Pare Down, and Enjoy
November is a short month and the holiday season is a hectic time, especially in today’s teaching environment. Save some time for yourself. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each year.
Take a peek at a few of the tried-and-true resources above to find your new favorite elementary music activities.
Plan ahead, pare down, and enjoy. 🎶
Best wishes,
Lesson Plan Ideas for Planning Ahead
- Elementary Ideas and Activities for December
- Diverse Winter Holiday Songs
- Winter Holiday Songs – African Noel
- Elementary Ideas and Activities for January
Meet the Author
Terri Lloyd is a former 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.
Terri is active in music education through blogging, presenting and attending workshops, and curriculum development. She 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.
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