a Project H Design initiative

Match Me – Music

A multi-team head-to-head competition to find the right tire!

Age group: K-8

Number of students recommended: 25

Subjects/skills learned: Fundamentals, composition, instruments, eras, styles

Object of the game: The team that has all members seated on tires first wins.

Setup: On each of the tires, use chalk to write a word (or name, phrase, etc) that corresponds to the skill level required (the word you write will be the answers to the questions you call out). Divide the class into two teams, and have each team line up. Both lines should start on the same side of the playground, one on either side of you, the teacher.

Game Play: The teacher will call out a music history question whose answer corresponds to one of the words written on a tire (for example, if the teacher has written ‘trumpet’ on a tire, he/she could call out “the instrument that Louis Armstrong played”). The first student from each line/team competes head-to-head to figure out the answer to the question, and locate the tire with the corresponding correct answer written on it (teammates may help!). When the tire has been located, the student sits atop that tire. The student who finds the answer to the equation first wins the round and remains seated atop the tire for the duration of the game. The other student will go to the back of their team’s line, and they can play again. The teacher will call out a new math equation for the next two students.

Game Conclusion: The team with all their team members seated on tires first wins!

Examples: Write a musical note on a tire and ask the students to find the half-note, quarter-note, etc.

Tips and Variations:

  • Divide into 3 or 4 teams instead of 2.
  • Do not allow teammates to help the competing member find the correct tire.
  • Can be adapted by using years (for example, write 1920s on a tire and ask the students to find the decade when the Charleston would have been popular).
  • Can be adapted by using famous artist (for example, write Beethoven on a tire and ask the student to find the musician who wrote Fur Elise).