Submitted by Pamela Rezach, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Idea posted September 10, 2002
Divide the children into groups, possibly 6 color groups. That would make about 6 groups of eight. You could divide them as they come into the door. That's the way you can easily group them each time. When you do things, do them by groups. Let two groups do the activity while the other groups watch and participate in another way.
OR, assign each child a color group for the year and don't plan to have all the groups be featured each week. You can then keep up with a color chart so that two different groups do an activity each time they come to class.
In order to keep all the children "under control" during a movement activity, have the two groups being featured do the activity while the other students are singing and/or doing some kind of EASY body percussion. Keeping all of them busy will be the best way to go.
I would also make part of every class a "sit and listen" time, even if it's just 2 or 3 minutes. With that many, you will need the quiet, and they will too. (Reading a music story would be good for this. Just take several classes to complete the story.)
I'd also use videos. I'd use a part of every class to feature a section in a video. Of course, I'm referring to videos that would promote music education.