Ideas for Performances That Inspire Laughter and Tears: Perfect for Upper Grades at School Arts and Learning Showcases
Upper elementary school students are at an age where they can independently showcase the results of their daily learning at school arts festivals and presentations.
Not only music and choir, but also new performances that highlight each class’s unique character are gaining attention.
Here, we introduce ideas that upper graders can enjoy working on together.
There are plenty of options that make use of expressive skills, such as dance, acrobatics, and acting.
Value the ideas discussed in your class and come up with a unique performance.
Work together creatively and make wonderful, unforgettable memories!
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For upper grades: Ideas for school performance/presentation items that evoke emotion and laughter (41–50)
musical
When it comes to school performances, plays are the standard choice, but how about trying something a bit different and putting on a musical? The big difference from a play is that, instead of delivering lines, you express yourself by singing.
It might feel a little embarrassing, but it’s more impactful than a play, and choosing the songs is fun too.
For kids who are good at singing, it’s a great chance to shine—and maybe even land the lead role!
Acrobat
“Acrobatics” refers to using your body to perform various moves like backflips and cartwheels.
It’s visually striking and looks great on stage.
Highly recommended for those confident in their athletic ability.
It might also pair well with dance.
Juggling
Juggling is a performance that uses special clubs or balls.
Juggling is also popular as entertainment or an act, and it always livens up the crowd.
There are many videos on YouTube that explain juggling, so try practicing with those as references.
Double Dutch
Double Dutch is a type of jump rope that uses two ropes.
While there are competitions where participants compete to see how many jumps they can make within a set time, this version is a performance that showcases dance while jumping.
It’s naturally more difficult than regular dance, but wouldn’t it look incredibly cool if you could do it? It’s both a sport and acrobatic, and it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats—super exciting and energizing!
Dance Battle
Haven’t you seen it on TV and elsewhere? It’s a “dance battle,” where dancers improvise on the spot to the music that’s playing.
They freestyle to the beat.
Since it’s a battle, judges score who danced better to the music and decide the winner.
Try nailing it with stylish hip-hop or breakdance moves! It’s exciting for the audience, too.
Rhythm Dance
The music we hear in everyday life each has its own rhythm, which makes the joy of sound stand out even more.
This activity focuses on those rhythms and encourages expressing them through free movement.
Even if everyone’s movements are different, you can see individual personalities and build excitement; it’s also recommended to try giving the movements a sense of direction to create unity.
A clear approach might be to first choose a theme song and let everyone move their bodies freely, then have everyone try out the movements that were especially good or most common.
Calligraphy performance
How about doing a calligraphy performance on a large sheet of poster paper, along with words of gratitude to your parents, teachers, and friends? You can use a regular brush, but using a large performance brush lets you write bold, oversized characters that make a strong impact and are easy for a big audience to see.
You can write anything you like on the paper, but consider writing your class or grade’s goals, or a message you want to convey to the audience.
Performing with music playing is also recommended!
