Room on the Broom: A No-Prep Halloween Music Lesson for Elementary Classrooms
Halloween in the music room is one of my favorite times of the year. The energy, the costumes, and the excitement are the perfect backdrop for lessons that feel magicalâbut still sneak in real music learning. One of my go-to lessons every October is built around the beloved story Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. Itâs playful, spooky (but not too spooky), and the perfect launchpad for solfege, rhythms, singing, and minor tonality exploration.
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Let’s Get Started
Why Room on the Broom Works So Well in Music Class
Children naturally connect with stories, and Room on the Broom gives you a ready-made narrative arc that students can step inside of. Instead of simply drilling rhythms or scales, the music becomes part of the adventure. When the witch cries âDown!â or asks, âIs there room on the broom for a dog like me?â, students get to practice vocal warm-ups, solfege, and rhythm analysis without it ever feeling forced. Itâs sneaky teaching at its best.
From Ta & Titi to Minor Magic
At its core, this lesson is about rhythm and tonality. Students begin by analyzing the story text for ta and titi rhythmsâa natural way to connect literacy with music. Then comes the twist: introducing a mi to me shift, which instantly transforms a cheerful major melody into something hauntingly minor. For young learners, this is such a powerful âahaâ momentâsuddenly they hear how one note can change the mood completely. And what better season than Halloween to dive into the spooky side of sound?
Movement & Engagement
Of course, we canât keep students in their seats for long. This lesson includes a Halloween play-along to In the Hall of the Mountain Kingâa perfect way to reinforce rhythms while letting kids move and feel the intensity of the music. Whether itâs clapping, tapping, or scarf dancing, students channel all that October excitement into meaningful music-making.
A Built-In Assessment (That Doesnât Feel Like a Test)
One of the things I love most about this lesson is how easily it ties into assessment. With the included printable and digital options, students can show their understanding of both solfege and rhythms in a way thatâs quick, visual, and stress-free. Whether you use Chromebooks for drag-and-drop activities or keep it simple with crayons and pencils, youâll walk away with solid evidence of learning.
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Why Students Love It
This lesson has everything elementary musicians crave:
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A beloved story that keeps them hooked
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Vocal warm-ups that feel like play, not practice
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The thrill of singing in minor mode (witch-approved!)
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Rhythm challenges that grow their skills without overwhelming them
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A chance to move, play along, and be part of the story
Itâs spooky without being scary, educational without being dry, and fun without losing focus.
Final Thoughts
If youâre looking for a Halloween music lesson thatâs engaging, no-prep, and musically rich, Room on the Broomchecks every box. Your students will leave class chanting, singing, moving, and maybe even a little enchanted by the way music and story weave together.
And the best part? This lesson comes ready-to-go with assessments, visuals, and play-alongs inside the Soaring Scarves Academy membership, so you donât have to spend hours prepping. Just grab your book, cue up the music, and let the magic happen.
Happy playing,
Leanna O’Brien
Founder of The Soaring Scarves Academy
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