Firebird Lesson Plan

Grade Level:  Kindergarten

Music Concept(s):  This lesson will focus on texture in music by listening to music to hear texture and moving to show texture.

Goals/Objectives:
Students will:

• Explore objects to feel texture and describe texture.
• Create texture through movement.
• Listen to music from The Firebird to experience different textures in music.
• Explain texture in music.

Materials and time: 

Day 1:

• Time:  5 minutes for the introduction that focuses on the meaning of texture, 20 minutes of exploring texture and listening to The Firebird, 5 minutes for closure/wrap up by reviewing texturing
• Materials: bag, sunglasses, sponge, jewelry box, tennis ball, ribbon, plastic plate, magnet, clip, coaster, clothes pin, napkin, towel, scarves, CD for music

Day 2:

• Time: 5 minutes for introduction that revisits the meaning of texture and re-listen to piece from previous class, 20-25 minutes of creating own movements using scarves and introduction of “Infernal Dance” from The Firebird, 5 minutes for closure/wrap up of reviewing texture differences in music using “Berceuse” and “Infernal Dance” from The Firebird.
• Materials: scarves, CD with music – tracks 16, 20, 21

Procedures:

Day 1:

• Introduction:  The meaning of ‘texture’ will be explained as “how something feels to touch”. Tell students that we are going to play a game.  The game will be called “The Magic Bag”.
• Steps of the activity:
  • Teacher will explain that some students will reach into the bag and pull out an object.  Then, students will describe what the object feels like.  Teacher will reiterate that the feeling descriptors are texture.
  • Teacher will share brief background about The Firebird.  Teacher will share information such as: The Firebird is a character in Russian folk tales, the music the class will listen to is a revision of the original piece (1909) that occurred in 1945, music is by Igor Stravinsky.
  • Teacher will explain that “texture” can also be used to describe how music sounds.  If many instruments are playing at once, a piece may have “thick” texture and if one, or few, instruments are playing at once, a piece may have “thin” texture.
  • Students will use scarves to visualize texture.  The teacher will lead students in a series of movements using scarves to show small motions, large motions, fast motions, and slow motions.
  • Students will then sit and listen quietly to track 20 & 21 on The Firebird CD two times each.

• Closing:  Students will review texture by telling teacher what texture means and giving examples of texture of objects and music.

Day 2:

• Introduction:  Students will revisit and review texture – as how something feels and how a musical piece sounds.  Teacher will ask students to share their ideas.
• Steps of the Activity:
  • Teacher will give brief background on the story of The Firebird and read the beginning portion of the story that goes with The Firebird music.
  • Teacher will tell students that they will create their own movements to the music from the music they heard during the previous class.  Before students create movement, teacher will ask them how they might move.  Answers could include: slowly, use arms to flap, sway, move feet side to side, etc.
  • Then, students will create their movements with the scarves as they re-listen to the piece from the previous class.
  • After creating movement, teacher will remind students of different types of texture and that there is contrast in texture within musical pieces.
  • Then students will listen to “Infernal Dance” (Track 16) from The Firebird to hear the difference between this and “Berceuse”. 
  • After listening, teacher will ask students what they notice about this music.  Specifically, teacher can ask, “How does this piece sound different from the previous piece?”, “Does this piece have more or less instruments?” “Are the instruments you hear in the pieces similar or different?”

• Closure:  Ask students which piece they liked better and why.  Tell them that texture in music creates how a musical piece feels to the person listening and each person will have different feelings.

Assessment:  Teacher will observe and notice how students participate during listening and movement activities and if they can follow directions based on the activity.