While in school, I never had a teacher who made learning history, geography, or social studies fun and exciting. It wasn’t until a music teacher taught a “50 States” song, that I realized I could retain and memorize facts. So, when I became a music teacher, I wanted my student’s to not only learn the objectives I was required to teach, but also make learning other subjects fun by integrating them with music.
If you are a music or social studies teacher who is looking for ways to make learning our history and social studies fun, this blog post and podcast episode 100, will help you with ideas about integrating music into social studies.
Music from Around the World
One of my favorite things to teach is music from around the world. I have a great list of songs from around the world and from other cultures to use with elementary kids HERE. A lot of times kids haven’t learned music from other cultures and love learning the songs, dances, stories, and instruments that they may not be familiar with. A great way to connect the music the kids are learning to where it originates from is by having the student’s find the country on the map and making that country the “country of the month”. Great instruments to teach about are the djembe, Native American flute, and the steel drum.
Learning the 50 States
A great song to teach about the 50 states is “50 Nifty United States”. I like this song because not only does it teach about the 50 states and colonies, but has a fun rhythm and talks about how each state is important. There are so many great states songs that have been written, but this one is so good and I promise will get stuck in your student’s heads.
Name those President’s
While learning about the president’s, a good way to remember the names of them and their order is by creating a rap. Print out a list of the presidents and try saying their names with a steady beat. To make it even more fun, try tapping a drum beat or making a rhythm while speaking.
Songs about History
There are so many great songs that teach about history or tie in great with a history unit. Student’s can learn songs about wars, important people, about our country, and about the world. I did a whole program based around Martin Luther King Jr. where student’s sang and recited poetry all about this amazing leader. When the unit was done in music, student’s were more aware of who he was, about his life, and by memorizing the songs, they will be able to retain this information for years to come.
How do you enjoy making learning come alive for your kids or student’s? Do they enjoy singing to retain what they are learning? Really, any lesson can be made into a song and learning can be fun.
P.S. Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher? Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!
I worked at an elementary school that had a fifth grade teacher who wrote magnificent musicals about American history. The grade would perform 3 of his plays every year and those kids would sing lyrics that we’re actual letters or diary pages or newspaper articles of the time and by the people back then. He covered the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Lewis and Clark, Industrial Revolution and more. His name is Jeff Lantos and he is the Andrew Lloyd Webber of elementary school.
I love that!!! What an amazing teacher!
I learned 2 songs during grade school. One was about Patrick Henry, patriot and the other one was about a duel on. July the 11, 1804. I remember most of both songs but am missing parts of each. Do you or anyone you know remember or can find out where I can find out more?
Hmm… off the top of my head I can’t think about where to find these songs. Did you search on YouTube? That would be my suggestion. That’s so neat you remember these songs from your childhood! Isn’t it amazing how music just sticks with us?
I’m interested in (and often writing about) the overlap between science and music, and have seen lots of resources to teach science with music, but not really looked to closely at other subjects. Will have to have a look at your resources soon!
Oh awesome! I love that you do that! I need to check your site out too!
I used to love learning everything in song when I was growing up!
That’s so great!
Okay, HOW have I not thought of doing this to memorize the states!?!?
Hahaha! It makes it so much more fun to learn!
50 nifity United States, from 13 original colonies. Shout ’em, scout ’em, tell all about them”…. I remember that from my Elementary school years. The other song I remember, the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I am all about using music to teach! 🙂
Yes! They seriously get stuck in your head for life!
I love these ideas! Such a great way to incorporate music into “traditional” education categories!
Rae | Mindful Rambles
Thank you!
These are such great ideas! Will save this for future use!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Thank you so much!
I was just hanging out with my friend who is a fourth grade teacher. We were talking about going on a trip and we decided to go to a state we’d never been. In order to figure out which ones we hadn’t been to, we started singing the 50 states song. Here we were, two 30-something year olds singing a song we’d learned a long time ago. Music is an AWESOME way to help you remember 🙂 – Corey
Oh my gosh I love this!!!!
Great post! Growing up my mom always played learning songs when we were in the car. To this day I remember the Presidents song, Bones song and Utah counties song she had us listen to.
Haha that is so awesome! Love it!
I always found it easier to remember facts about things when I was able to put music to it. Love your ideas.
Me too! I’m helping my 4 year old right now memorize our phone number with a song I made up. Thank you so much!
Music makes all the difference with kids and helping them memorize as well! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading!
What I great way to learn. I always say my son will be sorely disappointed when he learns that life is not a musical. My husband and I sing all the tasks we comeplete with him to retain and learn how to do things like get dressed, wash up and get ready for meal time.
Haha that’s so great! I’m always singing lyrics to my kids about the simplest of tasks but I just get blank stares back.
Kids love music so what a great way to teach them about history and geography! Fantastic ideas!
Thank you!
Music from around the world! What a smart idea! I am definitely going to start introducing music from other cultures into my children’s lives.
Oh that’s great!