Activity
Amani Project

Make an Instrument

For Students 3rd - 8th
Create a little harmony with Amani Project! Young musicians create their instruments using found or recycled objects. As an introduction, class members first experiment with sounds they can make with their bodies (clapping, stomping...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Pony Song

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students sing "Three Little Pigs", the "Pony Song", and "The Animal Blues" in this elementary school music lesson. National and State Standards are addressed. Assessment rubric is included for grading and student evaluation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shaker Hymns in Beginning Band

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are reminded of behaviors associated with playing music. They play various sections of a Shaker hymn using a slowed tempo with clarinets, trumpets, flutes, and baritones. They play together through key changes in other...
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

The Lion and More

For Teachers 5th
Melody, rhythm, tempo, and dynamics; get out those recorders it's time to play music! Your class will work on playing two lion-themed pieces that exemplify two different styles, folk and waltz. They'll discuss the elements of music and...
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Spontaneous Inventions

For Teachers 3rd
Reading out loud can be a real thrill for some, and a real issue for others. Teach your class that reading with inflection and fluency can be as easy as singing a song. They'll first analyze two Bobby McFerrin songs for intonation,...
Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Your class can think about the American Old West as they listen for dynamics, articulation, rhythm, and tempo in the Aaron Copland song, "Billy The Kid." They'll explore how Copland uses music to create an image of life for an outlaw in...
Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

Quilt Making and Copland's Rodeo

For Teachers K - 2nd
Kids make quilts as they learn about pioneer life and the concept of tempo. The Aaron Copland piece, Rodeo is used to convey rhythm and tempo in music. As the children discuss tempo and rhythm, they also discuss what life was like for...
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Suki's Kimono

For Teachers 1st
In the story Suki's Kimono drums are used to show mood. Learners discuss mood in the story after they practice playing a simple 4/4 rhythm on their drums. Each group plays the rhythm using a different tempo. They listen to each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Rhythm to Teach Patterns and Directions

For Teachers K - 4th
Introduce young learners to line dancing. Here are some simple movement patterns to teach them. First teach, repeat, and repeat again without music. Then when they have a pretty good grasp of the movement patterns, add music and practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

3-5: Rhythm Beginnings

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners explore tempo.  In this rhythm beginnings lesson, students differentiate between steady and unsteady beats.  Learners clap a variety of tempo and then move to the tempo of a song. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Rhythm II

For Students 1st - 2nd
In this music worksheet, students study rhythm and learn that it is made up of beat, tempo and meter. Students look at 4 visual patterns and draw what comes next. These are not as easy as they seem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Song and Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the importance of the drum and drumming in the cultural context of the Native American. Musical insturments and native dance is employed to support the focus of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Attack Theatre Movement Lesson: The Toy Shop

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students study even and uneven rhythms in music. They demonstrate slow and fast movements using various body parts and echo clap with their hands. Listening to uneven rhythms of the drum, they skip, jump and hop and simulate toys in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compose Your Memory

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students notate a short musical composition using the notation software Sibelius. This composition is based on a the student's favorite childhood memory. Based on their emotions felt at this time, they incorporate tempo, range, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bob Marley - Legend Episode #3 - Lesson 4

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze and describe Reggae music using correct musical terms to discuss tonality, instrumentation, meter and tempo. They experiment with singing and dancing to Reggae music in a style appropriate to the genre.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the origins of ragtime music in American and analyze its musical form.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life and Times of Gioacchino Rossini

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss Gioacchino Rossini's life and musical culture. In this music activity, students are introduced to "biofacts" about Rossini and listen to excerpts of his music. Students identify characteristics of Rossini's musical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Rain to the Kapiti Plain - Kenya

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students accompany music to the story Bringing the Rain to the Kapiti Plain - Kenya to show how sound and music can accompany story description. In this music instructional activity, students learn how to show sound during a story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythmic Movement Skills

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students practice using their physical skills while performing physical activities.  In this physical education lesson, students participate in musical orchestrated dances with their classmates.  Students utilize a jump rope...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

No Title

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders assess how to read and write rhythmic notation in music. They explore the concepts of whole, half, quarter, eighth, dotted lines, extended pentatonic, diatonic and major/minor modes. Symbols along with additional...
Writing
Curated OER

Found Poem - Found Song

For Students 6th - 9th
In this Louisiana music worksheet, students learn that a found poem is made using words and phrases from some things they have read and, then write a found poem following the steps listed on the worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music: Rhythm Patterns

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe and play various tempos as part of this beginning instrumental instructional activity. They recite tongue twisters to a medium, largo, and allegro tempos. As an extension, 4th graders use software as an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music: Individual and Group Practice

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders, in groups and individually, perform various musical pieces on their instruments. After demonstrating how to play steady beats, they also play counter melodies to songs such as "Peace Like a River." While some students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Rock and Roll: Parts 1, 6, 8, and 10 Roots of Rock & Roll

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the musical influences on the emergence of Rock and Roll.