6 Fall Music Activities for Elementary Students: Play-Alongs, Movement, and More!
Looking for fall music activities to get your students singing, moving, and playing instruments? I’ve gathered six favorites featuring scarf movement, body percussion, Boomwhackers, xylophones, storytelling, and rhythm coloring.
Explore the videos and lesson ideas below, along with free manipulatives and paid resources to support your teaching. Whether you need a movement break or an activity to build into a lesson, there’s something here to try!
In the Hall of the Mountain King/Hair Up Remix: Trace, Toss, and Move!
Grab a scarf—or simply use your finger—and follow the tracing patterns in this energetic movement activity!
Start by having students practice the patterns with the free manipulatives before adding the music. Then follow the video, tracing in the air or moving with scarves. No scarves? When the video prompts students to toss, they can throw their hands into the air!
Autumn Medley: Body Percussion and Movement Play-Along
Looking for a fall activity that combines movement, rhythm reading, and music making? Try the Autumn Medley Play-Along, with options to fit your students and your classroom goals.
Have students follow the movements, focus on the rhythms, or explore both. The free manipulatives give you a way to introduce and practice the patterns before starting the video.
This medley focuses on autumn months and seasonal changes without mentioning Halloween or pumpkins.
Pass the Pumpkins: Singing, Instruments, and a Steady Beat Game
One of my students’ favorite fall activities is “Pass the Pumpkins Round and Round!” There are several ways to bring this song into your classroom, including singing, xylophones, classroom percussion, and a steady beat passing game.
You can build on the activity across grade levels and add a rhythm decoding challenge when your students are ready. Explore the lesson for ways to move from singing and playing to identifying the rhythms they hear.
I Want Candy: Boomwhacker Play-Along
Get your older elementary students playing with this “I Want Candy” Boomwhacker play-along, featuring the Kidz Bop recording!
With its candy theme, this activity can fit into your October plans without focusing on spooky characters. Use the free manipulatives to prepare students before they pick up their Boomwhackers and play along.
Five Little Pumpkins: Storytelling with Canva
Add a little musical storytelling to your fall lessons with this “Five Little Pumpkins” Canva template!
This project began as an experiment with Canva’s AI tools, which turned the song into a whimsical tale. The results were amusing, and I had fun bringing the story to life through illustrations, narration, and music.
Watch my version for inspiration, then explore the template to create your own version for your classroom. Most of my video was created in Canva, with the song recorded in Soundtrap and the final videos combined in Final Cut Pro.
Color by Notes: Fall Edition
Need a quieter activity to round out your fall music lessons? This Color by Notes packet includes 10 fall-themed coloring pages for younger students.
Students use a key to match note values with colors. The key stays consistent throughout the packet, so they can become familiar with the directions as they work through different pictures.
One page features a Halloween-themed “Purple People Eater.” Choose the pages that work best for your students and school community.
Whether your students enjoy passing pumpkins, playing Boomwhackers, or tossing scarves, I hope you find something here to bring into your fall music lessons!
Which activity would your students enjoy most? Let me know what you try—I’d love to hear how you use these resources in your classroom!