Favorite Music Games for Second Grade

I teach some of my very favorite games in second grade, and then bring them back in subsequent grades because students love them so much. These are some of my favorites:

1. Mouse Mousie: You'll need a large parachute to play this version--the bigger, the better. Take the game outside if you don't have the space in your classroom.

Game: Everyone sits while holding the parachute. One student is chosen to be the mouse. They go UNDER the parachute. The mouse can crawl around underneath. After the song has been sung, everyone holding the parachute starts shaking it to conceal the mouse. Another student, who has been chosen to be the cat, crawls ON TOP of the parachute and tries to find the "mouse" and tag them. After the mouse has been tagged, another cat and mouse are chosen and the game repeats. 

This is a great song for teaching "Do," and practicing quarter notes, and two eighth notes!

2. Apple Tree: Another great song for teaching Do, and a great game to get kids moving!

Game: Students form a line and go through a bridge created by two people (I typically form the bridge with one other student, who gets to join the group after the first student gets out). The students forming the bridge, or "tree trunk" drop their arms on the word "Out," capturing a student who is then out and joins the tree trunk. Each student that gets out makes the tree bigger, and bigger until you're left with two students running through a giant circle made by the class trying to avoid getting out. The last student left is the winner. This is definitely a favorite game of my students!

3. No Robbers Out Today: There are many games you can play with this song. This is my personal favorite that I use in second grade.

Game: form two lines with students facing each other, leaving enough space for another student to walk between the lines. Choose a student to be the "police officer" and have them look away while a robber is chosen. The "officer" walks between the lines while the "robber" has to make it down their line without being detected--they do this by quickly trading places with their neighbor when the "officer" appears to not be looking. If the robber makes it all the way down to the end of their line without being detected, they win.