Teaching Tip Tuesday – Musical Corners

Today I would like to share with you a game that can be played in your classroom at any time when your students need a quick 5 to 10 minute activity break.

Musical Corners

  1. Number the corners of your classroom with the numbers 1 through 4. Since I teach mapping at the start of the year, I draw a map on the board to label the corners. This way, not only are we playing a game that gets the students active, but we are also reinforcing geography skills.
  2. Choose a student to be “it.” This student will be blindfolded and sit down in the middle of the room. Desks do not need to be moved for this game.
  3. Play music and allow the kids to wander around the room.
  4. Shut off the music and instruct all of the students to find a corner.
  5. When everyone is in place instruct “it” to call out a number. Anyone who is standing in that corner is out and needs to sit back down at his or her desk.
  6. Continue playing until you have a winner.

I really like this game because the students can move about the room easily and with respect. Unlike musical chairs, there is no chair to fight over. Any number of students can stand within the proximity of any corner in the classroom.

I have played this game several times this year already and it has become a class favourite. I first learned of this game at a professional development session earlier this year. I learned of a new one today too.

A lot of school boards require teachers to include daily physical activity into their schedules now. As such, I think it is a good idea to include 5 minute activities into our daily routine. If you have any good ideas you would like to share, please write a guest post and send it to me by email.

Teachers helping teachers is what it is all about. Thanks!


2 responses to “Teaching Tip Tuesday – Musical Corners”

  1. Hi Hilary,

    It's a really great game. I've even seen in played in gym. The key there is to get to the corner without making a lot of noise.

    Every time I have played this game in school, the kids have loved it.

    Thanks for digging through the archives today and commenting 🙂