Looking for a super-fun multicultural music activity that gets elementary students singing, moving, and actively participating?
One of my all-time favorite elementary music games is Sei Sei Sei — a traditional Japanese-style music and movement game that works beautifully across multiple grade levels. It is a version of the well-known game Rock, Paper, Scissors. It combines steady beat practice, singing, movement, cultural learning, and listening skills in a way that will truly engage your students.
One of the best parts? It works across grade levels 1st-5th!
“Okay I don’t know what kind of magic is inside this resource, but my 5th graders had a BLAST with this! I went over the song with them first for a few minutes and I told them they had that long to complete their 3 RPS “throws” with their partner. Then they all turned and found new partners, losers sat down. And so on. They LOVED it! We did this at the end of our Taiko unit.” -Kristen B. (purchased on TPT)
Why Elementary Music Students Love Sei Sei Sei
Sei Sei Sei works especially well because:
- it is easy to learn (Rock, Paper, Scissors)
- it is competitive, but you have to play fair and tap on the beat
- you will at some point probably be competing against a partner who isn’t someone you would normally choose (I love this!)
- it naturally builds engagement and classroom community
- everyone has an equal chance to win
Fun teaching memory: one year after rehearsals for our music program, I suddenly found myself with three classes combined together in the gymnasium… and about 15 extra minutes to fill. What should we do? Play Sei Sei Sei, of course! I honestly wasn’t sure how it would go with such a huge group, but within minutes, the entire gym was full of students singing and playing the game together. Every student was participating. You could feel the suspense… who would be the ONE student to beat the entire gym full of students?
Introducing Students to Japanese Culture Through Music
Taiko Drum
The taiko drum is one of the most recognizable traditional Japanese percussion instruments. Its powerful sound and energetic playing style immediately capture students’ attention.
Shakuhachi
The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese bamboo flute known for its breathy, expressive tone. Students are often fascinated by how different it sounds compared to Western concert flutes.
Koto
The koto is a traditional Japanese string instrument with a beautiful, delicate sound. Students enjoy hearing how its timbre compares to instruments they may already know.
Why Singing Games Matter in Elementary Music
In a world full of screens and passive entertainment, simple singing games remain incredibly valuable.
Games like Sei Sei Sei help students develop:
- steady beat
- listening skills
- pitch matching
- coordination
- social interaction
- musical memory
- cultural awareness
And importantly… they are FUN.
Students do not experience the activity as “practice.” They experience it as play.
What’s Included in the Sei Sei Sei Resource
This Japanese music game includes:
- MP3 accompaniment tracks
- digital teaching slides
- classroom visuals
- instructional videos
- traditional Japanese instrument connections
- multicultural music learning extensions
- easy-to-follow teaching materials
It’s designed to work for busy elementary music teachers who want meaningful multicultural music activities without spending hours planning.
Whether you are teaching:
- kindergarten music
- elementary music centers
- world music
- movement activities
- or end-of-year music lessons