Preschoolers may still be working on their verbal and reading skills, but they have years of movement behind them. Teaching songs that have corresponding dances can work to their strengths, namely their high energy and uninhibited physicality, and focus them with rhythm. When children are allowed to dance within the boundaries of certain movements, they can unleash some of their creativity while keeping track of the rhythm and movements as they come up in the song. Dances teach basic rhythm and listening skills, which are essential fundamentals for later music learning.
Imagination is one of the preschooler's greatest strengths. Their uninhibited consciousness is always drawing novel connections between ideas, people and objects. You can harness this imagination by teaching with songs that tell stories. Assign the children characters to play and have them act out the narrative as they sing. Attaching physical movements to the lyrics will help them focus and become familiar with the way music can tell a story. Instrumental music may be helpful as well. Using several different pieces of music to act out a scene teaches the students about tone, tempo, variations in volume and instrumentation.
Use songs that have familiar melodies. Many songs available in the public domain have melodies which have been adapted to children's songs. "Turkey in the Straw" by Otto Bonnell, for example, has been used countless times as a melody for other children's songs. You may even make up new lyrics to suit the goals of a given lesson. Borrowing a familiar melody can teach students about melody and lyrics and how the two come together to create a piece of music.
Music can be very emotive and preschoolers are especially attuned to their emotions and emotional content. Play different pieces of music for the students and discuss the feelings the music conveys. Use simple visual metaphors such as a certain piece of music feels like a bright sunny day, or this music sounds like a big elephant, or this music sounds very shy and quiet. Preschoolers have yet to develop the vocabulary or self-awareness to describe emotions, but they can visualize emotional tone through imagery. This process can help teach them about music as an expression of human emotion.
Involve the students more deeply in the music by having them play along with rhythm instruments. Maracas, shakers, wood blocks, jingle bells and other small instruments are good choices. As they play along with the rhythm of the music, they will develop an understanding of rhythm and musical arranging. Divide the students into different groups of instruments and have them play at different times. This will teach the students about group participation in music like bands and orchestras and harness their energy while focusing it toward specific goals.