Make Music Fun: Enhancing Kid's Songs with Art

Children are natural musicians and will express themselves in a variety of creative ways when given the opportunity. Props can enhance movement and enjoyment of the song. These items can also aid in making children less inhibited. Story props can help provide an understanding of the context of a song using masks and clothing accessories. If the changes of tempo, mood, and dynamics are to be emphasized, try using musical instruments, scarves, and streamers. Even artwork such as painting and drawing provide an outlet for expression and enjoyment of a song.
Below are a few ideas to enhance popular childhood songs:

One Elephant

One elephant went out to play,
All on a spider's web one day,
He had such enormous fun,
He called for another elephant to come.

This song has been sung in French by performers, Sharon, Lois and Braum, "One Elephant, Deux Elephant."

Make an Elephant Mask as a Prop: Use a paper plate, color or paint it gray. Attach a set of construction paper floppy ears and an accordion pleated trunk. Draw facial features and attach a wooden craft stick to the back to hold the mask over the child's face.

On Top Of Spaghetti

On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table,
And onto the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.


Make Pasta People: Provide different shapes of uncooked pasta to the children. Have fun creating pasta people gluing the shapes together onto construction paper. Give your "pasta people" special names like Rotini Ralph or Zachary Ziti.

When The Saints Come Marching In

Oh, when the saints go marching in,
Oh, when the saints go marching in.
I want to be in that number,
When the saints go marching in.


Create a Homemade Kazoo: Decorate a cardboard tube (toilet roll) with colorful markers and stickers. Cover one end with waxed paper, held in place with a rubber band. Hum loudly into the open end to make sounds. March around the room singing this adapted song.

Oh, when we play our made kazoo,
Oh, when we play our made kazoo,
We want to hum in that rhythm,
When we play our made kazoo!

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.


A "Me-Mask" is Fun to Make: Making a "me-mask" is fun for all ages, as well as, teaching facial features to young children. It teaches individuality, as everyone's mask can be different. Take a wire clothes hanger and bend it into a diamond shape. Stretch a leg from nylon pantyhose over the wire frame, knotting the bottom to secure it. Now, with felt pieces, yarn and puffy paint markers, create a face similar to your own. It's a great mask to see through - and no fear factor as children can see each other through the mask.

Old MacDonald Had A Band (Adapted Traditional Song)

Old MacDonald had a band, ei ei o,
And in his band he had a ______, ei ei o.
With a shake, shake here and a shake, shake there,
Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake, shake.
Old MacDonald had a band, ei ei o.


Make Popcorn Maracas: You will need one 35mm film container, one Popsicle stick and uncooked popcorn kernels for each child. Slit a hole into the container lid and insert the wooden stick. Fill the canister halfway with kernels. Put the top back on (glue will help to keep the top on securely) and shake, shake, shake!

Finding creative ways to enhance children's songs will help youngsters with listening, memory and motor skills. Your children will love the experience!

**First printed on Suite101.com
Photo courtesy of Tania Cowling