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Lesson plan · Grades K-2 · 30 minutes

Orchestra Zoo

I can name the four instrument families, tell how each makes sound, and hear that bigger instruments play lower notes.

▶ Open the tool Download the tool
Standard
MU:Re7 NCAS
Shape
Explore first
Grouping
Whole class on the carpet.
You need
The tool on the big screen. Optional: a real triangle, a recorder or a rubber band stretched over a box.
Tool
curioclass.org/tools/orchestra-zoo/
  1. Hook4 min
  2. Explore12 min
  3. Make sense6 min
  4. Apply5 min
  5. Exit check3 min

Before class

  • Open Zoo. Turn the volume up; these are real recordings.
  • If you have a rubber band and a box, make a "string" to pluck in the Hook.

Hook 4 min

  1. Pluck the rubber band (or tap a triangle). "How did that make a sound?" (It shook.)
  2. "Instruments make sound in different ways, and they live in four families. Today we visit them at the zoo."

Explore 12 min

  1. Tap the giraffe's home (strings). Tap the violin, then the double bass. "Which one sounded higher?" (The violin, the small one.)
  2. Press High to low. The family plays from smallest to biggest. "Did the notes get higher or lower?" (Lower.)
  3. Visit the owl (woodwinds), the elephant (brass) and the gorilla (percussion). At each home, children act out how the family makes sound: bow, blow, buzz their lips, or tap.
  4. Stop on the saxophone: "It's metal. Why does it live with the woodwinds?" (It uses a reed.)

Make sense 6 min

  1. Switch to Who's playing? and pick Which family? Press Listen. Children point to the keeper, or act out the family's action, before you tap.
  2. "Every instrument plays Twinkle, Twinkle, so how do we know who's playing?" (The sound is different.)
  3. Try one round of Which instrument?

Apply 5 min

  1. Switch to Zoo band. The class picks a Melody, a Bass and a Beat, and you press Play the band.
  2. Mute the bass while it plays: "What changed?" Then try a flute melody with a tuba bass.

Exit check 3 min

Call out an action: "Blow!" "Bow!" "Buzz your lips!" "Tap!" Children name the family. Then ask: "Big tuba or little trumpet: which plays lower?" Children answer with a low voice or a high voice.

Support and stretch

  • Support: use the keepers as the clue: giraffe for strings, owl for woodwinds, elephant for brass, gorilla for percussion.
  • Support: stay with Which family? before trying instruments.
  • Stretch: play Same family. Is it the trumpet or the tuba? Listen for high and low.
  • Stretch: "Which instrument would you choose to sound like a bird? An elephant? Rain?"

Short on time

  • Visit two homes and press High to low (6 min).
  • One round of Who's playing? (4 min).

How each button works is in the teacher notes. From Curio Class, free under CC BY 4.0: change it, print it, share it.