Submitted by Kerrie Hodges, Bedford, Virginia
Idea posted July 16, 2002
When my students pass out rhythm instruments or recorders, I tell them that the instruments are all "sleeping" or "resting" at this time, so they have to be very careful not to "wake up" their instrument until I give the signal. It seems too simple to work, but the students who I have been doing this with since 2nd grade enjoy the game, and some even tiptoe with a finger on their lips as they go to get their instrument. They also hush their classmates who forget to hold their instrument still. No one plays until I say it is time to awaken the instruments, and at the end of class, the students get to put their instrument back to bed as they carefully place it back in the storage bin.
If you begin using this method with your youngest students, they can remember to use it through their upper elementary years.