List of Patriotic American Songs (And YouTube Video Links)

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Squarehead Teachers

A friend of mine plays patriotic songs in her classroom all year long. After all, appreciation for your country shouldn’t just happen on holidays. Whether it’s during clean up time, line up time or as a reward, her kids LOVE LOVE LOVE hearing these songs! Most of the kids have even learned the words too! How great would it be if the rising generation could regain the fire of patriotism of the past?!

Here’s her list of songs/video links to help get you started:

A Salute to all 5 military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force & Coast Guard)

Air Force Off We Go (lyrics)

America The Beautiful (lyrics)

Anchors Away (lyrics)

Anchors Away no lyrics

Caissons Go Rolling no lyrics

Caissons Go Rolling (lyrics)

Coast Guard Marching Song (lyrics)

Fifty Nifty United States

God Bless America (lyrics)

God Bless the USA (lyrics)

Marine’s Hymn (lyrics)

My Country Tis of Thee (lyrics)

Off We Go

Star Spangled Banner (lyrics)

This is My Country

This Land is Your Land

What’s More American

This Land is your land Simple

You’re a Grand Old Flag

Easy Chair Numbering

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

Some schools have one specific teacher teach special classes like art, music, PE, health, etc. Often the general classroom teacher does that, but not always. Anyway, if you teach a class in a room with chairs but no tables (like the music classroom pictured below), this idea might interest you.

First, number note cards from 1-30 (or however many seats you need). Consider using different colored markers or cards so you can group students easily (all the students with purple cards are in a group, etc.). Then tape the numbers to the back of the chairs. Then you can assign each student to a seat. Having numbers on the chairs helps students be accountable for a single chair if you’re a teacher who has students move their chairs around a lot. No this idea is not complicated or extra cutesy, but it’s helpful. Also notice that the teacher divided the class up into 3 sections using masking tape on the ground. (Always check with your principal or custodian to make sure this is ok at your school.)

Have an idea you think is pretty snazzy? Send it to me (squareheadteachers at gmail dot com) so you share it with other teachers! Thanks!

Fun Halloween Ideas

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

It’s finally “Halloween season!” Bust out the spooky decor and let’s get scaring! Ok, fine… maybe you can’t do as much fun Halloween themed stuff as you could years ago, but here are some productive Halloween ideas for you. I found them on Pinterest. (Oooh! Follow me on Pinterest!)…

I think this paper chain ghost (source) could be a fun class craft… or adapted into a management tool!! It might work to build the ghost out of paper chains, and then tell the class if they can get rid of the ghost, they earn a prize (extra recess, no homework for a night, etc.). When the class does well, remove a paper loop and throw it away. The kids can see the ghost disappearing, so they can see their progress towards a prize. Or you could be really ambitious and do this in reverse, by earning paper chain links to build the ghost and earn the prize.

I’m musically challenged. It’s ironic, because my husband is very musically gifted (I guess opposites really do attract). Anyway, whenever I have a chance to bring a music activity that SOMEONE ELSE PLANNED into my classroom, I jump on it. Especially when it’s about a holiday (killing two birds with one stone)! Here’s a clever Halloween song and rhythm game. It’s not too difficult, and it involves some physical actions, so I’m all for it.