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 occasionally to serve both of your educational goals. Whatever the reason, here’s a big list of things you can do when Music and P.E. combine classes.

1. Rhythm & Movement Activities

• Drumming & Movement: Some students play percussion instruments and others move to the beat in different ways (marching, skipping, galloping).
• Body Percussion: Have students write their own and perform them.
• Jump Rope Rhythms: Teach jump rope chants and songs while focusing on rhythm and coordination.
• Ball Drumming! Bucket Drumming (with something to dampen the sound!)

2. Dance & Movement

• Folk Dances: A long standing favorite of P.E. teachers and Music teachers!
• Social Dances: Learn dances like The Chicken Dance or Cupid Shuffle. Check out this post for a comprehensive list.
• Freeze Dance

3. Parachute & Props Activities

• Parachute Activities: Fast/slow, high/low, or your favorites.
• Scarf & Ribbon Dancing: Use scarves or ribbons to express music through movement.
• Basketball Rhythms

4. Locomotor & Non-Locomotor Movement

• Musical Statues: Move to different styles of music and freeze in a specific pose (sports pose, dancer pose, etc.).
• Animal Action Songs: Move like animals. Even better if you can find songs to match!

5. Games!

• Pass the Beat: Sit in a circle and pass a rhythm around with claps or instruments.
• Race Games: Play a game identifying a clapped rhythm or sung pattern and students have to relay to bring it back. Maybe bust out those little wheeled sit on scooters for an extra dose of fun.
• Four Corners  – Check out this blog post for directions
• Singing Games with big movement like Our Old Sow, Cut the Cake, Naughty Kitty Cat, etc. Any chase game!

6. Sports & Music Themes

• Marching Band Basics: Teach basic marching techniques and play simple percussion instruments while moving in patterns.
• Olympic Music Games: Incorporate music from the Olympics and have students do relay races or gymnastics-inspired moves.
• Rhythmic Gymnastics: Use music with ribbons, hoops, or balls to encourage movement and creativity.
• Play a class favorite PE game and add a musical twist. Students have to improvise a rhythm, read a card, or identify a note on the staff before they move on. For instance: In a “dodgeball” type game, all students get a card. They can only get people out who have the same instrument family as themselves.

7. Mindfulness & Relaxation

• Yoga & Music: Use calming music for stretching and relaxation.
• Guided Imagery with Music: Have students lie down, listen to music, and imagine different scenes.
• Breathing & Vocalization: Use breathing exercises paired with vocal warm-ups.

8. Stations

Pick some PE stations and some music stations and set them up. Let students move around and experience them with groups of the mixed classes for a different experience.

9. Field Day Type Activities

Bust out the hula hoop activities, the balls, the buckets or other fun but musical tools. Check out this post for some ideas.

I hope this has given you some ideas!