Innovative Ways to Use Boom Cards – Elementary Music Lesson Ideas

Music Boom Cards are an important tool to develop music reading skills. Check out these elementary music lesson ideas for your classroom.

Some of the links on our site are affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Develop a Well-Rounded Song-Based Music Reading Strategy

Simple songs should form the foundation of any elementary music reading program. After you lay that foundation Music Literacy Boom Cards are the perfect way to practice, reinforce, and assess students’ skills.

See the post below to develop a solid music reading strategy for your elementary music classroom – How to Develop and Assess Music Reading Skills.

Integrate Innovative Elementary Music Lesson Ideas

Music Literacy Boom Cards gained popularity as valuable 1:1 digital activities when we abruptly transitioned to distance learning. However, these activities are still effective resources for whole-class and small-group instruction in the music classroom.

The techniques below are designed to be used in a large classroom setting with ALL students answering ALL questions.

Elementary Music Class Activity – Question/All “Write”

Display each question on the classroom whiteboard while the entire class writes or builds their own answers on paper or individual write/wipe boards, or even by using simple manipulatives.

Rhythm Dictation Boom Cards Make Dictation Fun

Dictation is an integral part of developing music reading skills and dictation can be fun! Vary the activities and use the elementary music lesson ideas below to actively engage all of your students. Help them become successful music readers and develop life-long musicians.

All of the activities below are compatible with our sequential Rhythm Dictation Bundle.

Melodic Dictation Boom Cards

Students don’t mind fixing their mistakes when it’s as simple as moving a marker. Use one of the same activities above with different types of manipulatives for Melodic Dictation.

Pair the activity below with our Melodic Dictation Boom Cards.

Other Types of Music Boom Cards

💡 Answer with Sign Language or Signals

Display each question on the classroom whiteboard and have ALL students respond using sign language and/or signals. This works well when students select the correct answer from provided examples, such as in the sets below. Students simply display the number of the correct answer on their hand.

• Identifying Rhythmic Patterns
• Identifying Melodic Patterns.

Bonus: No copying or cutting is required. Using sign language is a no-prep activity. 😊

Ensure Accountability and Give “Think Time”

To promote independent thinking and accountability, have students hide their answer hands where no one can see them. (Under the bottom of their shirt usually works well.) Then, prompt them to “show your answer” simultaneously.

This not only provides everyone with adequate think time but also ensures that each student gives their own response. It’s an effective strategy for fostering individual engagement and learning.

Sign Language for the Music Alphabet

Sign language is a perfect complement to Treble Clef Note Names and Bass Clef Note Names Boom Cards. Students can easily learn the signs for the first seven letters of the alphabet to indicate their answers. Using sign language helps to make the learning experience more interactive and inclusive as well.

The Music Alphabet
A, B, C, D, E, F, G

Tape a sign language poster to the back of your piano or somewhere else near the front of your classroom so all students can refer to it when necessary.

Use Boom Cards as Centers or Stations

When teaching centers or stations, I always recommend teachers have some way to hold students accountable at each center. If you use Boom Cards with individual student accounts, their scores will automatically be recorded. I often do not recommend this option if you have large numbers of students as most music teachers do. I DO recommend setting up individual accounts if your Tech Support maintains and updates those accounts.

If you do not have tech support, I recommend that you use the FastPlay Link option. This will not record individual student scores but the biggest advantages are you will not have to maintain student accounts and you can use the FREE teacher account.

Try one of the following methods to monitor students’ progress when using FastPlay Links.

• Create a simple response sheet for students to fill out and turn in their scores. Have another student or teacher initial the score to verify, OR
• Require students to take a screenshot of their scores and submit the screenshot to “turn in” their assignment.

Whatever method you choose, ensure students know your process for turning in scores.

Use Boom Cards for Pre/Post Tests 

Boom Cards work well for pre/post tests. If students score above 90%, allow them to progress to the next set. If students score low on the pre-test, they may repeat and practice the same deck of cards until they reach proficiency.

You may consider assigning a student a simpler set if necessary. Meet your students where they are.

Boom Cards Facilitate Music Literacy

You still might be a bit skeptical that an online “game” that kids enjoy can facilitate music literacy. I used to be until I learned what Boom Cards can do. Boom Cards are an important tool to help your students develop REAL music literacy skills.

Choose a couple of the free sets and pair them with a few of the elementary music lesson ideas and activities from this post. You and your students will be hooked. Music Literacy Boom Cards go beyond simple FUN.

Real learning is happening here.

---