Recommended performance ideas for elementary school (middle grades) cultural festivals and learning presentations
When children reach the middle grades of elementary school, they start looking forward to the performances at school arts festivals and learning presentations! It’s a great chance to create wonderful memories together through activities like chorus, theater, and dance.
Many teachers and students probably wonder, “What kind of performance should we do?” Here, we introduce recommended ideas for school arts festivals and learning presentations.
It’s important to come up with ideas that make the most of your class’s unique character.
Work together through discussion and create a presentation that everyone can enjoy while showcasing your class’s individuality!
[Elementary School] Recommended Performance Ideas for Lower-Middle Grades at School Arts and Learning Presentations (1–10)
samurai period drama
I don’t think many elementary school kids watch period dramas, but a “period drama” production seems like an idea that would go over very well with grandparents’ generation.
In period dramas, good and evil are clearly defined, so the stories are surprisingly easy for children to follow.
It’s also amusing to see kids play the stereotypical crooked magistrate because of the fun contrast, and they’d probably be thrilled to practice the classic sword-fighting scenes.
Period dramas can be a great chance to learn about history and Japanese culture, so if a regular play isn’t generating much excitement, definitely consider making this your project.
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.
line dance
There are many types of dance, but line dancing is especially captivating.
Even just moving in a single horizontal line looks striking on stage.
And movements where dancers alternate positions, synchronized poses, and callouts really get the audience excited.
English play
To communicate with people around the world, English has become indispensable, hasn’t it? Instead of focusing on reading and writing, how about trying an English play that emphasizes speaking? Performing a play while speaking English tests your ability to concentrate on doing two tasks at once.
To make it easy for the audience to follow, we recommend choosing a well-known story, like a folktale, and letting them notice how much the impression changes when it’s performed in English.
Slide presentation
It’s important not just to keep what you’ve learned to yourself but also to share it with others; doing so can motivate you to deepen your learning.
This piece focuses on how to present your learning—specifically, using slides to capture your audience’s attention.
If you cram every detail you researched into your slides, they become hard to read, so it’s best to show only the broad points and explain the details verbally.
Let’s think about how to balance slides and speech, and how to make sure people will listen.
[Hand-Sign Dance] Swallow
![[Hand-Sign Dance] Swallow](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KuQP5N2z68U/sddefault.jpg)
Let’s try singing YOASOBI’s “Tsubame” with a hand-sign dance that uses sign language-like movements! Released digitally in 2021, this song was chosen as the theme for NHK’s SDGs-related program “Hirogare! Irotoridori” and was also featured on “Minna no Uta.” The lyrics carry a message encouraging us to cherish not only our own family and friends, but also the animals and plants that live in nature.
Just singing it can move listeners’ hearts, and adding sign language-like gestures will convey that message even more strongly.
It’s a perfect theme for middle elementary students who are starting to learn about society and the environment.
Kendama performance
A kendama performance that unleashes a variety of tricks in sync with music.
It’s more challenging than simply performing kendama tricks, making it perfect for upper-grade elementary students who, over their long years in school, have learned to do many things.
Of course, kendama skills are essential, but it’s also important to decide which parts of the music each trick will match.
If there are formation changes, you also need to plan where to move and what to do with the kendama at that moment.
Kids who are good at kendama, kids who excel with music and dance—work together to create a single stage performance.
Kitchen Beat
Kitchen Beat: making music with items like rice paddles and pots from the kitchen.
Normally you might get scolded for playing with those, but this time we’ll use them as instruments and show off a cool performance! The kitchen tools you need can be everyday items you’d find at home or in a school home-economics room—nothing special required.
Build some rhythm patterns and have fun making music as if you were cooking.
Since you’re using non-instruments, it’s sure to grab viewers’ attention! Give it a try!
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!
Japanese taiko drum
Taiko drums are perfect for showing off a cool side with powerful sound—proving you’re not the same as you were back in kindergarten or preschool! Through performing, kids build their bodies and develop a sense of rhythm, making it ideal for lower elementary grades who are still growing.
Since it’s an instrument that isn’t often covered in regular music classes, it also helps build cultural knowledge.
It’s a great idea to give students chances to play different kinds of drums—large drums, small drums, and ones carried while performing.
Let’s play energetically with all our might and give Mom and Dad a big surprise!