Teaching the 4 Voices

Teaching students about the 4 voices they have is one of the first steps to developing strong singers. This is something that I teach in Kindergarten through the year and refresh in grade 1 and grade 2, but if I am being honest it isn’t one of my favourite things to teach. I was having a hard time finding ways to make the lesson engaging, and to review the concept without being redundant.

So, one day I buckled down, created the 4 Voices song and gave each voice a matching animal character. From there I came up with singing games, matching activities, and so much more. 

Make sure you grab the free copy of the 4 Voices song here!
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Here are ready-to-teach highlights of my 4 Voices Unit that you could do with your littles TODAY. 

Now, if you want even more ideas, with ready-to-go materials, both projectable and printable make sure to check out the complete Four Voices Lesson Pack in my TPT Shop! 

Introducing the Voices
I like to introduce the 4 voices, one voice a day. Starting with singing, because it is most important in music, then moving to speaking, whispering, and calling. Each day we learn about a new song we sing the 4 Voices. 

You can grab a FREE copy of the 4 Voices Song Here. 

I only sing the song up to and including the voice we are learning about. For example, when we learn about speaking voice, we only do the singing and speaking voice. We also say/sing the words in the matching voice. I.E. we use our calling voice for the call voice verse. 

For each verse, students have an action that represents the voice.  
    Singing- Moving arms like a conductor 
    Speaking- Yappy hangs 
    Whisper- finger over lips, like you’re shushing someone 
    Calling- hands make a megaphone 
Using these actions helps to keep students engaged until they know the words.

Add The Matching Characters 
I find that students can remember things easier when they have various tools to connect them to, adding the actions is one way I reinforce the voices and pairing them with a character is another. So, I have 4 puppets that I use to represent the 4 voices. 
Singing- An Owl 
Speaking- A Parrot
Whisper- Snake
Calling- A Lion 

We talk about how each of these animals matches their voice, an Owl sings hoot, hoot, hoot. A snake is sneaking in the garden ect. 

In the lesson pack, you will find written-out stories about why each animal uses that voice, songs and singing games for each character, and storybook suggestions to reinforce students' knowledge and extend the activity!

Play Some Games
Once you have introduced each of the voices it is time to get students to practice using and identifying them. The easiest way to do this is to play some games! 

4 Voices, 4 Corners 
Version 1

• Put the 4 voices posters with the students demonstrating the voice up in each corner of your classroom
• Print out the animal 4 voices posters. Show the students a poster with the animal.
• Students then move to the corner displaying the poster that matches the animal
• Elimination Version: Students choose a corner to start in. The teacher then displays an animal 4 voice posters. Students standing in the corner that matches are eliminated.

Version 2

• Put the 4 voices posters with the students demonstrating the voice up in each corner of your classroom
• Using your voice, demonstrate each of the 4 voices in random order. After you sing, speak, call, and whisper students move to the matching corner
• Elimination Version: Students choose a corner to start in. The teacher uses one of the 4 voices. Students standing in the corner that matches are eliminated. 

Repeat After Me

• Show the students one of the posters
• Tell them they are to repeat everything you say, but only when you are using the voice that matches the poster on the board
• If they repeat after you when you are using the “wrong” voice, they are out.

Example- The singing voice poster is on the board. Whenever you sing something, the students repeat it. But if you say something with your speaking voice the students do not repeat it. Similar to Simon says 

Match the Puppet   
Use the puppets in the kit or your puppets. Play a game with your students that when you are holding a certain puppet that is the only type of voice they can use. When you’re holding your snake puppet, they can only whisper, your parrot puppet they can only speak I guarantee they will like when you have the lion puppet, and they get to use their calling voices! You could also give four students puppets and rotate through them. “Now we are going to match the puppet that Raeya is holding.” Raeya is holding the owl puppet so everyone uses a singing voice.

Teaching the 4 voices is essential, but it doesn’t have to be boring for you or your students. In the Four Voices lesson pack you will find TONS of engaging resources to teach this to your students. From book suggestions, songs, matching activities, singing games, and lesson plans it truly has everything you could need, to teach this tomorrow in your classroom