Warmer weather hits and everyone is ready for Spring. 45 degrees is sometimes enough in Michigan for people to be walking around without coats. Guilty. With warmer weather, our brains start thinking about that end that maybe feels like it’s in sight, or at least getting closer. For students, that can be a breakdown in engagement, concentration, and motivation. Who are we kidding? For adults too. Hopefully this post will give you some ideas for keeping students engaged in the spring.
Move Quicker
Sometimes it’s easy to get involved in teacher talk. If we talk too much, students disengage. If we spend too much time on one thing, students tune the activity out. Keep them engaged by limiting your talk as well as making sure you move from activities before they are done, or really ready to move on. Stopping the game, the work, the song, the whatever it is before they seem disinterested can make sure they stay on task for each activity. The younger the student, the shorter the attention span.
Move More
Get out some wiggles, or help students channel their energy into creative movement.
- Freeze Dance
- Statues
- Singing Games
- Folk Dances
- Common “party dances“
- Creative Movement – check out some ideas in this post.
- Body Percussion
- Move Its
- Parachute Games
- Use props: stretchy bands, scarves, ribbons, bean bags
- Drumming including ball or bucket drumming
Embrace the Outdoors
Take class outside! Get some fresh air and play games, or dance. Run your regular lesson plans in the sunshine and fresh air. Bust out the sidewalk chalk and learn outside. Unless what you are working on can’t go outside, sometimes acknowledging that we want to enjoy the weather is just enough to help them stay on track.
Check out these sidewalk chalk activities.
Looking for good activities for outdoor music class? Check out this post.
Get Stuff Done
If you still have to do some assessments, try games that let them move around AND they won’t know they are being assessed! This is one of my favorite ways to assess students that feels natural and allows for fun too! Check out this post to find out more.
Other great ways to assess and move are:
- King of the Mountain
- Write the Rooms
- Race Games like Springtime Find the Flower – have students race to bring it up to you. I like playing in teams sitting in spokes so it is a more even playing field.
I hope this helps you keep your students AND yourself engaged this spring!
