Elementary Music · Ages 7–8 · 2nd Grade

2nd Grade Music
Lesson Plans
Songs That Match Where
They Are Right Now

2nd grade music lesson plans built around folk songs and singing games — do pentatonic complete, low sol intro, half note, half rest, barred notation, and repeat sign, first/second ending, simple rounds. Every song demonstrated on video.

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150+

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2nd grade is its own world

The right repertoire for exactly this age

2nd graders are at a specific developmental stage — musically, physically, and socially. The songs that work perfectly in 1st Grade don't always land the same way a year later. And the songs you'll teach in 3rd Grade aren't quite right yet.

The Singing Classroom library is tagged precisely by grade level so you can find repertoire that meets 2nd graders exactly where they are — with the right musical content, the right game complexity, and the right social dynamics for this age.

"2nd grade is when it really clicks — they have enough musical foundation that the games feel genuinely musical, and enough independence that they can handle real partner work. It's one of my favorite grades to teach."

James K.

K–4 Music Teacher, Washington

What 2nd graders learn

Musical concepts for 2nd grade

Every song in the library is tagged with the concepts it teaches. Here's what 2nd grade music focuses on — searchable by any of these criteria inside the library.

Concept	What it means for 2nd grade
Do pentatonic complete	The full five-note pentatonic set — sol, mi, la, do, re — used confidently in songs and games. The foundation for all pitch work in 3rd grade and beyond.
Low sol	The first pitch below the staff in the Kodály sequence, introduced through songs where it arrives naturally in the melody.
Half note & rest	Rhythmic vocabulary extended to half notes and rests — felt through movement before it's notated.
Simple rounds	2nd graders experience simple rounds for the first time — holding their part while hearing something different. The first step toward independent part-singing.
Barred notation	Rhythm notation on a single line or simple staff — connecting what students hear and feel to what they see on the page.
Complex partner games	More demanding partner activities — longer sequences, more precise timing, real musical accountability in a two-person context.

Sample repertoire

Songs for 2nd grade music class

A sample from the library. Every song includes a full teaching video, printable sheet music, and a classroom poster.

Apple Tree

K–2

Do pentatonic · Passing

A Do pentatonic passing game — 2nd graders know the melody confidently and can focus on the passing element and beat accuracy.

Lemonade Crunchy Ice

K–4

Student-led · Improvisation

Two teams take turns performing and guessing. 2nd graders are old enough to take real ownership of this game — it becomes genuinely student-led.

Draw A Bucket of Water

PreK–3

Do pentatonic · Meter

A groups-of-four movement game where the rocking motion embodies the meter. 2nd graders manage the four-person group formation with real independence.

A Tisket A Tasket

Grades 1–4

Fa · Circle chase

Fa introduced in a game 2nd graders already know and love. The familiar context makes the new pitch land naturally.

Black Socks

PreK–4

Round · Low ti

A simple round — 2nd graders' first experience holding their part while hearing something different. The humorous text keeps them engaged through the challenge.

Bate Bate Chocolate

K–3

Accelerando · Partners

The partner clapping game that 2nd graders often remember as one of their favorites from the year. The accelerando is irresistible at this age.

+ Many more 2nd grade songs inside · Start free trial to access all →

How it works

Find a song. Watch it. Teach it Monday.

Search by concept

Filter by solfège set, rhythmic concept, activity type, or any combination. Find exactly what fits your 2nd grade sequence in seconds.

Watch the video

Every song is demonstrated with real 2nd graders by Deborah Skydell Pasternack — Kodály, Orff, and Dalcroze certified. See exactly how to teach it before Monday.

Print the materials

Download sheet music, poster, or manipulatives. Everything formatted for classroom use and ready to go.

Teach confidently

Know the song, know the game, know the musical objective — lesson planning and documentation for 2nd grade takes minutes, not hours.

Questions

About 2nd grade music lesson plans

Second grade completes the Do pentatonic set, introduces low sol, extends rhythmic vocabulary to half notes and rests, and begins simple notation reading. Students are also ready for their first experience with rounds — holding a musical part while hearing something different, which is the foundation of all ensemble work. The game complexity increases significantly in 2nd grade, with students managing longer sequences and more precise partner timing.

Yes. Deborah Skydell Pasternack holds complete Kodály certification and has Orff and Dalcroze training. Every song is tagged with solfège content, rhythmic concepts, and activity type — so you can search from any methodological angle. Teachers using any approach find what they need quickly, and the demonstrations show the pedagogical thinking behind each song, not just the performance.

Yes — it's designed to work that way. Most members use The Singing Classroom alongside a published curriculum or their own unit plans, searching for repertoire that fits their sequence. Others use it as their primary resource. The library is organized by concept and grade, not by publisher sequence, so it slots into whatever approach you're using.

The monthly plan is $19.95/month. The annual plan is $219.95/year ($18.33/month), with full access to the complete library of 150+ songs across PreK–6. The 7-day free trial gives you complete access from day one. A credit card is required, and you can cancel any time before the trial ends without being charged.