Call and response is a dynamic and interactive way to engage students in the classroom. Here are over 20 call-and-response ideas from music, movies, and more that teachers can use to grab attention, transition between activities, or simply add a bit of fun to the school day.
1. Classic Music Echo: Teacher sings “Twinkle, twinkle,” students respond with “little star.”
2. Pop Lyric Recall: Teacher says “We will, we will,” students reply with a spirited “Rock you!”
3. Disney Magic: Teacher exclaims “Hakuna,” students complete it with “Matata.”
4. Wizardry Call: Teacher proclaims “Expecto,” with students finishing with “Patronum!”
5. Superhero Signal: Teacher declares “To infinity,” students enthusiastically add “and beyond!”
6. Movie Quote Interaction: Teacher announces “Life is like a box of,” students chime in with “chocolates.”
7. Jungle Book Banter: Teacher calls out “The bare,” and the class responds with “necessities.”
8. Mystery Machine (Scooby-Doo Reference): Teacher says “Scooby-Dooby,” and the class shouts back “Doo!”
9. Famous Film Line: Teacher states “May the force,” students follow up with an energetic “be with you!”
10. Pirate Speak: Teacher hollers “Yo ho yo ho,” pupils retort with a boisterous “a pirate’s life for me!”
11. Royal Announcement (Inspired by The Lion King): Teacher proclaims “Long live the king,” students respond with respect, “Long live the king.”
12. Wizard Chant (Harry Potter inspired): Teacher chants, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no,” kids finish with gusto, “good!”
13. Adventurous Yell (Tarzan style): Teacher cries out “Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh,” and the class responds copying the Tarzan yell.
14. Historical Figure Fun: Teacher says “Four score and seven years ago,” class finishes with “our fathers brought forth on this continent…”
15. Ocean Adventure Call (Finding Nemo inspiration): Teacher says “Just keep,” students reply swimmingly with “swimming.”
16. Secret Agent Code (James Bond theme): Teacher states “Bond. James Bond,” pupils echo dramatically.
17. Fairy Tale Phrase: Teacher enunciates “Mirror mirror on the wall,” class chimes back with “who’s the fairest of them all?”
18. Mythical Greet (Lord of The Rings reference): Teacher offers “One ring to rule them all,” students respond in kind.
19. Classic Literature Link (Alice in Wonderland inspired): Teacher speaks whimsically, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before,” children finish by declaring cheerfully, “breakfast!”
20. Astronaut Check-in (NASA callout): Teachers says, “Houston, we have a,” class launches in unison with a resounding “problem.”
21. Caped Crusader Callout: Teacher starts off with a dramatic whisper of “I’m Batman,” and the kids reply covertly.
22. Wild West Whoop: Teacher calls out like an old western cowboy, shouting “Yee-haw!” Students gleefully kick back their response.
These call-and-response ideas can create a classroom environment that is responsive, engaged, and always ready to learn in an entertaining way!
