Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Recommended performance ideas for elementary school (middle grades) cultural festivals and learning presentations

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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 Middle Grades at School Arts and Learning Presentations (21–30)

Instrumental ensemble

For 5th–6th Graders: Que Sera Sera / Mrs. GREEN APPLE [Instrumental Ensemble for Elementary School Students – Full Performance] Rocket Music KGH583

Instrumental ensemble

If your whole class wants to put on a presentation together, how about trying an instrumental ensemble? Those of you in the upper grades have probably done it a few times already, but since this is a special opportunity, try picking a slightly more challenging piece from among your favorite songs.

Of course, the practice will be tough, but the thrill when the music comes together beautifully is truly amazing, and working as a group on a single piece will become a wonderful memory.

It won’t succeed without unity, so I think it will also be a great chance to improve communication.

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Clapping Fantasy

Fun March: Clapping Fantasy Music Festival

Clapping Fantasy

Let me introduce a lively performance that uses your own hands: Clapping Fantasy, which is also featured in elementary school music textbooks.

You’ll clap along to the instruments.

Try getting everyone to clap in unison, or split into clapping and non-clapping parts for variety.

The instrument can be a piano, a recorder, or a keyboard harmonica.

You can even swap handclaps for castanets or bells to make it even more fun.

When the clapping and instruments come together, both the audience and the children performing will feel their excitement rise.

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Science show

Art Appreciation Event for Elementary Schools: 'Exciting and Thrilling Science Show' / Interactive Online Science Show

Science show

Let’s incorporate what we’ve learned in science class to create a science show that presents mysterious phenomena.

We’ll proceed in a way that invites the audience to make predictions about what will happen.

If it’s material they’ve already studied, it serves as a review of science; for those who haven’t learned it yet, it can build anticipation for future lessons.

By cleverly using familiar, everyday items, it can also encourage people to pay attention to various aspects of their daily lives.

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Tambourine Ensemble Piece

[Tambourine Ensemble Piece] “Sparkling Tambourina” for Lower Elementary School Music Recital (Composed by Akiko Yamamoto)

Tambourine Ensemble Piece

In elementary school, kids have lots of chances to try various instruments like the keyboard harmonica and the recorder.

Among them, the tambourine is easier to pick up than instruments that play actual notes like do-re-mi, making it great even for lower grades.

You can create a performance by arranging different drumming patterns, or play along to a song.

Adding choreography to the beats is fun, too! Even children who feel they’re not good at music can enjoy playing the tambourine without overthinking it.

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Melodica performance

Second graders ✨ At the school recital 🏫 they performed 'Doraemon: Nobita’s Treasure Island' on the melodica! I was moved by their confident, joyful performance and the children’s adorable singing voices!

Melodica performance

The school performance is an event that really fires everyone up—teachers, students, and of course, parents.

Many ideas get proposed, but as a presentation of the results of their daily efforts, how about a “pianica performance,” something the children are already familiar with? At first, their fingering was probably so uncertain they could barely play do-re-mi.

However, if the goal is to showcase how they’ve grown little by little, it’s perfect! It’s a timeless classic, but precisely because of that, it brings deep emotion and a strong sense of fulfillment.

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Murakami Shinpei

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piano

[Piano] I tried doing a live piano performance at my high school cultural festival! (Including a medley from the movie “Your Name.”)

piano

If you have experience learning piano, performing a piano piece is highly recommended.

Playing popular J-pop songs or tunes that are trending at school is sure to get everyone excited.

Doing a duet with a friend who can play piano would also be unique and a great way to hype things up.

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Pocky Dance

Tried dancing the Pocky dance as a party skit

Pocky Dance

The “Pocky Dance” that was performed in the Pocky commercials—many of you might find it nostalgic, right? Today’s elementary school kids may not be as familiar with it, but it’s a really fun dance with lively choreography.

These days, many elementary schoolers take dance lessons, and dance performances are common at events.

Dancing is also great for boosting class unity.

If you get the audience to clap along, the whole venue will get energized—how about giving it a try?

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