Name games, community-building circle games, and first-week songs for every grade — every one demonstrated on video so you walk into that first class completely confident.
See the library →The first week sets everything
Students decide in the first week whether music class is a place they want to be. Not because you gave a great speech about music education — because the activities you chose made them feel included, energized, and genuinely glad they came.
The Singing Classroom library has been built and refined over years of back-to-school teaching. Every song in this collection was chosen because it works from day one — building community, establishing your presence, and immediately signaling that music class is going to be worth showing up for.
"The way I start the year in music class has changed completely since I found The Singing Classroom. The first week used to feel chaotic. Now I walk in with a clear plan and activities I know will work — and the whole year is better for it."
What makes a great first-week activity
Browse by grade
A sample of the back-to-school repertoire inside The Singing Classroom. Every song includes a full teaching video and printable materials.
PreK and K first-week activities — gentle, welcoming, and immediately engaging. The goal is to make every child feel seen and safe before any musical learning begins.
The single best first-day-of-school song for PreK and K. Every child hears their name sung by the whole class — music class immediately signals that every child belongs here.
A ball-bouncing game that works with zero prior musical knowledge. Children are giggling and playing within 60 seconds — exactly the energy you want on day one.
A song for settling young children into focused listening. Perfect for the transition moments in first-week lessons when you need to gently bring the energy down.
An arch game where everyone participates and nobody waits. Perfect for early in the year when you're still learning names and building trust with a new class.
A counting and play-acting song that even the most hesitant PreK child will follow along with. The narrative structure makes it easy for new students from day one.
A beloved nursery song that PreK students often already know from home. Starting with something familiar signals immediately that music class is a safe and joyful place.
Grades 1 and 2 back-to-school activities — energetic and social, with enough structure that you can establish expectations while students are genuinely engaged.
A Spanish-language partner clap game that students take to immediately. By the end of the first class they're chanting it — and they'll be asking for it again next week.
A clean, simple circle game with a passing element. Perfect for the first week — easy to learn, musically genuine, and a natural way to establish the circle as your primary formation.
A cumulative Irish folk song that hooks students in the first verse and keeps them completely absorbed as the verses grow. One of the best first-week songs for this age group.
A circle and movement game from England. The skipping and movement element gets students physically active immediately — and the circle formation naturally builds community.
A play-acting game where student teams decide what to perform. Immediately gives students ownership and agency in music class — powerful for establishing the right tone from week one.
Works for grade 1 and 2 as well as PreK — still one of the best ways to start the year because every child hears their name and feels acknowledged in the first class.
Grades 3 and 4 back-to-school activities — complex enough to challenge returning students, accessible enough to welcome new ones. The right balance for the middle grades.
A longways set dance that spans the entire grade range. Students who were in your class last year love seeing it again; new students are quickly swept up in the energy of the group.
Rhythm sticks passed on the beat in a circle — the social accountability of keeping the beat for the whole group is a natural, positive way to re-establish music class expectations.
One of the best first-week games for grades 3–4 because it immediately hands control to students. They love the agency — and you immediately see who your natural leaders are.
A ball-bouncing circle game that genuinely works at every grade. The accelerando is irresistible — 3rd and 4th graders are just as delighted as kindergarteners.
A movement activity where students respond to phrase structure physically. High energy, completely inclusive, and a natural way to re-establish listening skills after the summer break.
A sea chantey that builds across multiple verses — perfect for a first-week lesson where you want something substantial and musically interesting, not just a warmup game.
Grades 5 and 6 back-to-school activities — the challenge is highest here. These students need activities that feel mature, not childish. Every song in this tab passes that test.
The back-to-school game for upper elementary. Students who think they're too old for singing games inevitably get drawn in — and by the end of the class they're competing to see who can keep up.
A Caribbean hand-clap game with a syncopated feel that 5th and 6th graders connect with immediately. The rhythm feels genuinely cool — which is exactly what you need in the first week of 6th grade music.
A longways set dance that 5th and 6th graders can handle with real sophistication. Students who've been in your class for years show the new students how it's done — instant community building.
Upper elementary students are highly competitive by nature. This game channels that energy beautifully — the team element is immediately engaging and the guessing creates genuine suspense.
An Italian folk song with body percussion that 5th and 6th graders find genuinely satisfying — not childish, not easy, but something they can master quickly and feel proud of.
A Scottish folk dance for upper elementary. Beautiful, sophisticated, and genuinely challenging — the kind of opening activity that sets the tone for a year of serious music-making.
Questions
Try The Singing Classroom free for 7 days. Browse back-to-school activities for every grade, watch any video, download any printable.