If your experience has been similar to mine, you’ll agree that upper elementary students are challenging, specifically when teaching World Music. There really aren’t that many resources out there for it. After traveling around the world in Epcot at Disney World a couple years ago, I had an idea! Why not travel around the world in music class?! That simple thought sparked a project idea that is a favorite of mine AND my upper elementary students!

Music Passport Project

Introducing….the MUSIC PASSPORT! In this World Music Project, students will “visit” one country per class, learn about the country and participate in a musical activity from the country. Once the lesson and music activity are complete, students will complete that country’s page in their passport AND receive a stamp for successfully “visiting” that country! Trust me. Students will be dying to know which country they’ll “visit” next week! 

Music Passport Introduction

On the project introduction day, I explain to the students that we will begin traveling to other countries in music class each week. I bring in my own passport and share a few pictures of my world travels. Students LOVE that personal touch. We discuss where they have traveled and whether or not they have a passport. I let students try to determine where each stamp in my passport came from. I then hand out the cover page of their Musical Passport and the “About Me” page of the passport. Students may decorate their passports however they wish! The following week, we will travel! 

Next Steps

Our first stop: Brazil! Click here to read what we’ll experience on our first stop in the beautiful country of Brazil!