Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: Salute To You
(Salute-Party Game)
Elementary (2-4)
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
This teaching strategy is all about making eye contact and greeting others while playing a body percussion game! It goes with “Salute” by Lettuce from 2008 because it’s a great track…with a fantastic title for this strategy (lol).
This track is available on multiple streaming audio platforms. (Like many of my teaching strategies, you should feel free to find other audio tracks to anchor the learning experience using music that works in your setting or new tracks to simply “mix it up.”)
Pedagogical Foundations
Non-verbal communication is a currency that we use as we engage with others and exchange messages. It is an essential part of how we connect, act, and feel. I’m talking about a smile or frown, a nod of approval, the question of raised eyebrows, or that oh-so-important direct eye contact with another person. This form of communication often provides important context—especially for our non-native English language students.
When we look at each other—no, really, look—we have the opportunity to see a peer, colleague, family member, best friend, or teacher, for example. We see the other people in our world—living life and navigating whatever comes our way—together.
As teachers, it’s essential that we clearly see the students in the room, and welcome them with our non-verbal communication as much as with our words. Like all forms of communication, our body language has the potential to invite students to try and do.
It’s also important for students to see each other. If you ask students who is the “best runner” in the class, they will very likely have an answer. I bet they will also be ready to identify the student who “always finishes the test first”, the student who is “funny”, and (hopefully) the students (more than 1) who are super creative and musical. Note: I’d like us to consider these to be observations and opportunities to “salute” students for their strengths—not labels that stereotype or limit anyone.
Finally, it’s nice to be greeted with a warm smile, right? And in my view, it’s also really nice to be recognized for things like being able to run fast, tell a good joke, or sing and play! That said, I challenge everyone to try these 3 ideas:
Ask students to tell you what they do well. We may think we know what they would say—but what they actually tell us may be eye-opening.
Create opportunities for students to share ideas and experiences with each other (and with you). (Lol) yes, these stories may go on a bit too long sometimes, but the exchanges strengthen bonds and contribute to the learning narrative in a school day, week, month, or year. You get it.
And finally, find meaningful ways to recognize student development, achievement, and engagement. These words of acknowledgement are gold.
Today’s teaching strategy “Salute To You” includes a body percussion game with a twist—it incorporates eye contact and a salute gesture to greet a partner! I hope you give it a try with your students. But first, let me remind you who I am:
Hi! I’m Darla, an experienced PK-12 music educator, college professor, and former Berklee College of Music Dean looking to connect with teachers, parents/caregivers, and others seeking to advance creative music making for today’s students—and their teachers. In Darla Hanley’s Music Room you will find teaching strategies, advice and teaching tips, playlists, and more.
Today we are going to form partners and play a body percussion game—but before we start I have a question: What are ways we use to greet someone other than saying “hello”?
ProTIP: Guide responses to focus on greeting words (e.g., “hi”, “hey”, “good morning”) and greeting gestures (e.g., wave, high-5, shake hands, salute).
Play the recording of “Salute” by Lettuce and invite students to walk around the room and offer greetings to each other as they pass by. Remember to greet others with your words and actions. Stop and shake hands, offer a high-5 or wave as you say “hi!”. The goal is for you to greet as many people as possible, so walk-stop-greet and move along!
ProTIP: It’s okay if it gets loud during this experience (lol).
Look around the room—using your best eye contact to identify your partner! Come together as a pair by the time I count to 10.
ProTIP: There are many ways to form partners, but this way includes eye contact—a feature of this teaching strategy. Use what works best in your classroom.
Teach the “Salute To You” salute-party game by rote. Video provided to make it easy!
Play the recording and direct students to begin. Remember to look directly at your partner as you perform the salute-party game like you are greeting each other.
Now it’s time for you and your partner to add an original salute party move! Replace the high-5 at the end with another movement. Try a few and decide together which will be the one you perform.
ProTIP: Play the recording and give students time to explore movement ideas and practice the one they choose before performing it for the class.
Lead half of the students to perform their salute party game with the track while the other students watch. Switch roles and repeat.
Which pair(s) movements stood out to you? What did you like about them? (Solicit answers)
Invite the students with “standout moves” to teach their salute-party game to the class.
Materials/Set Up
Space for Movement
🎵 Lettuce "Salute” Link to Track on Spotify
Salute to You
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
R Salute, L Salute
R Salute, L Salute
Patsch, Clap, Patsch, Clap
Patsch, Clap, Patsch, High-5
Video
EXTEND the Learning:
Ask students to add a verbal greeting to their original salute-party game (e.g., saying “salute, salute” when they perform the salute moves; saying “hi hey, hi hey” when they patch-clap).
Invite students to replace more of the salute party moves with original body percussion (i.e., replace all moves following the salutes).
Learning Targets
Move
Learning Outcomes
Respond with movements and words
Create an original salute-party game movement
Perform a salute-party game with a partner
Assessment
Informal Observation/Formative Assessment
Thanks for checking this out. If you use this teaching strategy, be sure to leave a comment to let me know how it resonates with your students!