Favorite Games for 5th and 6th Grade

 It can be really tough getting fifth and sixth graders to "buy in" to different music activities. At this age, they can be really self conscious and worried about what their peers think. But they're still just kids who need to play. These are my favorite games for fifth and sixth grade:

Ye Toop Doram: I was initially taught this song in my Kodaly levels and it was presented as being an authentic folk song from Afghanistan. It has since come to light that it is a composed song. There's a great interview with the composer you can find at the blog O For Tuna. I still teach this song and game to my students, but I don't present it as an authentic Afghani folk song. Instead, I introduce it as a song in Farsi, which is a language spoken in Afghanistan.

   

Translation:

Ye toop doram        The ball is mine

Yek do seh!             1, 2, 3!

Lohl behday            Roll it away

Game: Students are seated in a circle with one student standing in the center. The ball is passed around on the beat (I use a tennis or racket ball). Just before speaking "Yek do seh," the ball freezes wherever it is in the circle. Students speak "lohl beh day" and then the person with the ball rolls it at the student standing in the center and tries to tag them with the ball. The ball gets passed around and rolled at the center student until they're out. Whoever gets the student out gets to be in the middle next. For an added challenge, additional balls can be added. 

Modified Musical Chairs:

I resisted playing this game for so long because it seemed like such a waste of time with no musical merit. I've since had a change of heart. With a few adjustments, this is a great game to get even upper elementary kids singing, and yes--even dancing!

Setup: Set chairs up in a large circle with seats facing out. There should be enough chairs for everyone. Put one chair facing in. Find a clean pop song playlist or create your own (my kids love Imagine Dragons). Go through your playlist--if you choose the right music, students will sing along, I guarantee it! When you stop the music, the student that doesn't have a seat goes to the chair that was turned in. After each round, place another chair inwards. As more and more students get out, the center of the circle becomes a mosh pit, or a place where students can take turns showing off their break dancing skills.

I save this game for special occasions (i.e. right before winter or summer break) so that it's a special treat. 

Fjerskern with sticks: this is a folk dance from Sweden that I use for my lower elementary kids; however, it's loads of fun in upper elementary with sticks. You'll need a recording of the song (I use Phyllis Weikart version, though there's also a great one from Shenanigans). The melodic theme repeats over and over, getting progressively faster so the motions with sticks gets more challenging.

Game: Students stand in a circle holding a single rhythm stick in their right hand. After the introduction, students tap the palm of their left hand on "hand hand" then they tap their right hip on "hip hip." On "foot foot," they're going to alternate tapping their left foot and then their right foot (they'll need to hop). On "tap tap," they'll tap the floor twice and then set their stick on the floor in front of the person to their right. The two bar rest gives students enough time to take their new stick, stand up, and get ready to do the motions all over again.