Submitted by Anne Lyon , South Dakota
Idea posted May 15, 2003
1) Have students decorate paper grocery sacks for the grocery stores. Get paper grocery sacks from the stores, and then return when decorated. I usually have them put their name/grade on the sacks also. We've used markers, crayons, and/or glue glitter. Be sure "March is Music In Our Schools Month" is printed on the sack! It's great when they go to the store with mom or dad and get one of the sacks they decorated!
2) Invite the local newspaper/radio to come and take pictures of and interview the students as to why music is important in their lives. Put articles in your local parent newsletter also.
3) Have high school students come down and teach a new song or game to the students. They could also sing or play instruments for them.
4) Have students write papers on "Why Music Is Important To Me." Hang the papers in the halls and at local businesses.
5) Interview members of the staff who sing or play instruments and submit them to the local paper and parent newsletters.
For older students:
6) Invite parents and staff who are musically inclined to perform for classes.
7) Have a music trivia contest for students/staff/classrooms. You could either speak the question each morning over the intercom or have it written in the daily announcements. Have some sort of prize for the winner. Could also be used as a fund-raiser for a group such as Tri-M. We have students give a quarter along with their trivia answer to selected students at lunch time, and the grand prize is a free pizza!