Musical Partners
What is Musical Partners?
A supply roundup helps transition between sections of your lesson or day if you teach elementary. This is the time where students will get out the supplies needed for the next activity or task! The structure gets it done quickly, but also gets students up and moving.
The Anatomy of the Google Slide
Playing the Video for Only a Specific Time Frame
Once you add a YouTube video to Google Slides, did you know you can choose which section is shown?
You can have it automatically start and stop and specific timestamps. This is a gamechanger that frees you up from being tied to your computer for musical partners!
How to Implement Musical Partners
First, it’s important to know WHEN to do musical partners. I like to use it after an open warmup, estimation warmup, or reviewing a problem or notes from the previous day!
The very first time you do this, it might sound something like this:
“How many of you have played musical chairs? Okay! So what we are going to do is similar to musical chairs. When the music plays, we are going to walk around the room. When the music stops, you are going to partner up with the person or pair closest to you and answer the prompt.
Then we are going to do it again and you’ll find a DIFFERENT partner.”
You want students to have something in their hands as they are going through this activity. If it was a warmup or practice problem, have them bring their mini whiteboard or notebook with them. If you are reviewing notes, have them bring that with them. This will reduce anxiety and increase the likelihood of everyone participating.
Once you have explained the directions, students will stand and you will start the music. PRO TIP: Do this with the students. Wander the classroom as the music plays and partner up with someone or a pair when the music stops. Students are more likely to participate when they see that you are willing to be involved too.
Repeat the musical partners 2 or 3 times in one session to get the most out of it.
Favorite Upbeat Music Videos
Below are some of my favorite videos with upbeat music and NO lyrics.
Want to learn more about elevating turn & talks?
Check out my full podcast episode about using musical partners!
