by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 10, 2026 | General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play
Passing games are some of the most engaging student activities. Everyone is involved, the games are FUN, and then of course there is the opportunity in some games to either guess who has the object, or to get a classmate out. But passing games aren’t just an...
by Melissa Stouffer | Dec 9, 2025 | Holidays, Learning Through Play, Lesson Planning
Once December hits, you better have the sleigh bells ready because kids are INTO it. Whether you lean into the Christmas holiday or if you are simply looking for winter activities with bells, here are a few that you can do with your students. Jingle-y Songs Listen to...
by Melissa Stouffer | Oct 28, 2025 | Kodaly, Learning Through Play
One of my favorite folk songs is also a favorite for multiple concepts at very different age levels! Cut the Cake, sometimes called Clap Your Hands, is a song that even my middle school students have asked to play again. It’s a great song to use when you teach...
by Melissa Stouffer | May 27, 2025 | Learning Through Play, Lesson Planning
Some of us get to teach summer music classes and camps which is such a fun way to get to dive into a little bit of extra. But what do you teach? Conceptual learning is difficult because you will have to come back to it since not all students have summer classes. Often...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 25, 2025 | Folk Dance, General Music, Interactive Learning, Learning Through Play, Movement
Sometimes it happens. You partner with the Phys Ed teacher. You combine because the students have lost their minds with 30 straight days of indoor recess. Maybe your room has been commandeered by an event or you all are just friends and know that you can combine class...
by Melissa Stouffer | Jan 21, 2025 | Folk Dance, Folk Songs, General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play
Since the Michigan Music Conference has been eating my life the last few weeks, I thought I’d give you a quick preview of what I’ve got coming up at my sessions at the Michigan Music Conference later this week. For those of you not in Michigan, I hope you...
