Recommended for lower grades! A collection of ideas for performances at school arts festivals and learning presentations
School arts festivals and learning presentations are big events that kids, teachers, and parents can all enjoy together!
The choice of performance really affects how exciting the event feels.
Many teachers may wonder, “Should we go with classic songs or a play?” or “We want to try something different this year, but what would be good?”
Here, we introduce fun performance ideas suitable for lower-grade students.
We recommend choir pieces, simple dances, and short plays.
For this year’s festival, let’s plan performances that make everyone smile and create the best memories!
- Recommended for elementary school students! A collection of classic play ideas that will excite upper graders too
- Performances that liven up an elementary school thank-you party! A collection of ideas everyone can enjoy
- [For Elementary Schools] Recommended Exhibits and Recreational Activities for a Cultural Festival
- [Definitive Guide] Performance Ideas for Farewell Party for Third-Years | From Touching to Laugh-Out-Loud Skits
- Performances for a farewell party for sixth graders: from funny skits to moving ideas
- [Middle School] Cultural Festival Attractions: A roundup of popular exhibits, games, and stage performances
- [One-Shot Gag] A roundup of sure-fire skits that will definitely get elementary school kids excited!
- Recommended performance ideas for elementary school (middle grades) cultural festivals and learning presentations
- Hidden talents even elementary school kids can do! A collection of performance ideas that will liven up any event
- A roundup of street performance ideas to liven up year-end and New Year parties
- [Hilarious] One-Liner Gags That Kill at Parties and Events
- One-liner gags that will have your school in stitches: a collection of bits to make you the class favorite.
- Ideas for Performances That Inspire Laughter and Tears: Perfect for Upper Grades at School Arts and Learning Showcases
Recommended for Lower Grades! A Collection of Ideas for School Plays and Learning Presentations (21–30)
Journey to the WestNEW!
This work is based on a Chinese novel and features distinctive characters such as Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the monk Tripitaka.
In Japan, it has been adapted into films, TV dramas, and stage productions, and is loved by people of all ages.
Because each character’s personality is so clear, it should be easy to perform in a school festival play.
By preparing makeup and costumes that match each character, you can recreate the story realistically.
Decide which scenes to portray on stage while referring to past productions and other resources.
Silhouette Quiz
This is a quiz where you look only at a silhouette and answer what it is.
If it’s something with a distinctive shape, like a banana, it’s easier to arrive at the answer.
However, items with simple shapes, like apples or mandarins, tend to be more challenging.
For elementary school students, why not have fun with familiar items they often use at school, such as pencils or pencil cases? If the answer doesn’t come easily, give them a hint.
You can prepare the silhouettes on paper beforehand, or you can create shadows on the day using a white cloth and a light.
Recommended for lower grades! A collection of ideas for performances at school arts and learning presentation events (31–40)
chorus
The classic “chorus” for a school performance requires almost no materials, and with simple, steady practice you can achieve high quality.
It’s a presentation that clearly showcases the children’s efforts to audiences of all ages.
It’s also nice that there’s no limit on the number of participants.
If you think just singing isn’t interesting enough, why not add some originality by creating choreography for everyone or coordinating costumes?
Recorder Ensemble
A great recommendation for third graders who are starting to learn the recorder is a recorder ensemble.
Having everyone play the same notes is fine, but dividing into groups and adding harmony is highly recommended! Just like with singing, it can be challenging at first because you might be influenced by the other parts, but when you can produce beautiful harmony, the performance feels wonderful.
Not only will parents be moved, thinking, “I can’t believe they can do this,” but it will also serve as a model for the younger grades!
Soran Bushi
Let’s show off a cool performance with Soran Bushi, a dance often performed at school sports festivals! Soran Bushi is a folk song from Hokkaido, known as a work song sung during herring fishing.
The choreography, which moves the whole body to a powerful, fast-paced melody, takes quite a bit of stamina.
Movements that lower the center of gravity—as if hauling up fishing nets—are tough even for energetic kids! But it goes without saying that parents are deeply moved by this vigorous performance.
Beyond the joy of moving their bodies, this is a perfect piece for 3rd and 4th graders—who are just beginning to build class bonds—to fully experience the sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving something together.
scientific experiment
While dances and ensemble performances are popular at school festivals, I’m sure some people still find academic presentations hard to give up.
If you want students to enjoy engaging with their studies, how about trying a science experiment? It certainly supports science learning, but more than anything, it lets them experience the fascinating wonders of science that are different from everyday life, and I think it will make their eyes light up.
ensemble
“Ensemble performances” are a staple at school arts festivals and the like.
Since these are cultural presentations, ensembles may be the most well-received attraction.
Students often handle keyboard harmonicas and recorders, but the other instruments in the music room are appealing too.
They can experience a wide range of sounds and learn playing techniques and the differences between tones.
It helps develop a sense of rhythm and pitch, and above all, it lets the students engage lively and enjoyably.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if going to the music room every day became something to look forward to?