Simple Steps to Get Started with Fun Easy-to-Use Music Boom Cards

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Boom Cards in elementary music can be an important tool for developing music literacy. See how to get started using this FREE rhythm set.

I was AMAZED when I saw how Boom Cards could be used in the music classroom and you will be too! They’re the perfect tool to hook your students and help develop REAL music reading skills.

So, what are online task cards and how do you use Boom Cards in elementary music classes? Boom Cards are a set of digital task cards which have one question or task for students to complete.

Boom Cards are versatile and can cover any subject or topic. They may be used for individual learning activities, in centers, with partners or small groups, or even as entire class activities.

Simple Steps to Get Started Using Boom Cards in Your Elementary Music Classroom

Boom Cards are compatible with most whiteboards, iPads, Chromebooks, or computers. They may be assigned with Google Classroom™, your school’s LMS (learning management system), or even email.

What’s in this post? Click to open the Table of Contents

Introduce Music Elements with Song-Based Activities

Boom Cards are NOT the best choice to introduce musical elements. Initial music reading skills should be introduced through song-based activities. These first steps of teaching young children to read music are often the hardest.

See the posts for tips to help elementary music teachers design a solid sequential music reading song-based program.

After your students have had experience reading, singing, and performing the targeted musical elements, Boom Cards are the perfect choice to reinforce and/or assess learning.

Boom Cards are perfect to reinforce

and/or assess Music Reading Skills.

Advantages of Using Music Boom Cards

Boom Cards are. . . . .

Easy to assign. Use a FastPlay Link or FastPlay Pin for super simple options.
Self-checking and give students immediate feedback.
FUN! Students are motivated to earn gems, coins, and lightning bolts.
Students fix mistakes. When a student makes a mistake, they listen again and fix it.
Students may repeat a deck until it is mastered.
Differentiation is easy. You may choose which decks to assign to each student. Or, you may allow students to work through a series of decks at their own pace.
No-prep activities. Since Boom Cards are a digital resource, there is no need to print, copy, and cut to create paper task cards. (Boom Cards may be printed and used in the classroom, but they’re meant to be used online.)
No grading. Boom grades each card automatically and generates reports with student accuracy and speed. (Paid account required to generate student reports.)
Economical. You do NOT have to purchase a deck of Boom Cards for each student. You may assign the same deck to all students who are working on a particular skill. And we have many free decks available.
Online resource. Because the product is online, you never run out of cards.
You can create your own Boom Cards. Teachers can create up to 5 decks of their own and tailor them to students’ specific needs with the FREE Boom teacher account. Click the link and scroll down to see the various membership plans.

Rhythmic Dictation Becomes a Fun and Challenging Game

Watch the short video below with this simple set of Rhythm Builder Dictation Boom Cards in action.

How to Get Started Using Music Boom Cards

Follow these simple steps to get started.

Create a Free Boom Teacher Account. Go to boomlearning.com to sign up for a FREE account. I would appreciate it if you use this referral code.
Try Out a FREE Deck of Boom Cards. You will need at least one deck of cards to assign to your students. Download this FREE Rhythm Dictation Set.
Redeem Your Boom Cards. These simple step-by-step directions (with screenshots) are included in all of our Boom Cards downloads.
Locate the Deck you want to assign in your Boom Library.
Click “Assign” and choose “FastPin” from the dropdown menu.
Copy and share the “FastPin” or “FastPlay Link” with your students.

Video Tutorial – Get Started Using Music Boom Cards

The short video below walks you through how to download a FREE set of Boom Cards from TpT, redeem those cards to BoomLearning, and assign cards to students.

Watch all the way to the end, because there is a tip for how students can submit their scores using the free FastPin mode.

Using FastPlay Mode is FREE and Easy!

Elementary music teachers often have hundreds of students. Many students are transient and move from school to school. We do not have time to set up and maintain student logins. With FastPlay mode, student accounts are not necessary. And FastPlay mode can be used with FREE teacher accounts.

Please note to generate student reports and archive student data, you will need a paid Boom account. Boom Learning has three different levels of low-cost premium accounts. As a music teacher with approximately 400 students, I have found it unfeasible to set up individual accounts. Instead, I have always opted to use the FREE FastPin option.

Important Note: Boom Learning FastPlay pins and links are now valid for 15 days. After the pin or link expires, the teacher simply logs in again to generate a new one and sends students the updated link.

Use Boom Cards as Authentic Assessments

I picked up a great tip from another music teacher who is using our Boom Cards. She assigned her decks with FastPins links. Then, she had students take a screenshot of their scores and submit it. This allowed her to hold students accountable and monitor their progress using only the FREE Boom account.

Great idea!

Decks are Available on Boom Learning or TpT

You may purchase more advanced Boom Cards on TpT or through Boom Learning. Both platforms have their advantages. But the main difference is Boom Learning uses a points system. On Boom Learning, you purchase points and redeem those points for Boom Cards.

One advantage of purchasing through TpT is when you provide feedback on paid resources, you earn credits toward any future purchases. Need help earning or redeeming your credits? See this post – How to Earn and Redeem TpT Credit.

The first set in each of our bundles is FREE. Give them a try. You and your students will love them too!

Boom Learning: Music Literacy Boom Cards
TpT: Music Literacy Boom Cards

Boom Learning Video Tutorials

Boom Learning has a library of helpful video tutorials if you decide to go with a low-cost paid teacher account and create individual student accounts.

Music Boom Cards are FUN!

Yes, Boom Cards are an AMAZING addition to your elementary music lesson plans! They made be used in MANY fun ways in the elementary music classroom. But Boom Cards goes beyond FUN activities. This technology provides REAL authentic learning. Boom Cards can be an integral tool to develop music literacy in the elementary grades.

See this post for more Ways to Use Boom Task Cards and let me know if you need any help.

5 Free Boom Cards Decks for Your Elementary Music Classroom

Click to subscribe to our email list and get 5 FREE Sets of Music Boom Cards. See what a few teachers have to say about our Boom Cards.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a great time saver! These Boom Cards are appropriate for several different grade levels, they work well, and are fun for kids to do! Thank you so much for making this available.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sally G. – These are brilliant and the kids really love them!! Shh, don’t tell them that they are learning!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tami N. – My students have thoroughly enjoyed using these boom learning cards as part of their learning about rhythm notation. I have used these during full group instruction and as independent work.😊

Pick Up Your Free Sets

Meet the Author

Terri Lloyd

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.

She is currently active in music education through blogging, 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.

More Ways to Connect – Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.

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