Submitted by Debbie Fonner, Lisbon, Ohio
Idea posted November 15, 2006
I wrote the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on individual flash cards with magnets on the back. I have these words sitting on the table for students to pick up as they enter the classroom. Students are asked to pick up three or four words each, depending on the size of the classroom. Their task is to place the words of the song on the chalkboard in order without talking. As a class, they are allowed to sing the words of the song out loud to help with the order placement of the words. After all the words are up on the board, we sing the song together as a class.
I even time each class to see which class is able to get the words on the board the quickest. We do this twice and write down what each class does, so everyone tries to do better the second time around. The fastest class receives a popcorn party.