Exploring Emotions Through Music

Kelsey McQueen - Bettell

Tier 2

Lesson Plan

Musical Emotions

Students will explore and express emotions through music, learning to identify feelings and practice emotional regulation.

Using music to represent emotions helps kindergarteners understand abstract feelings in a tangible, engaging, and safe way.

Audience

Kindergarten Group

Time

25 minutes

Approach

Guided listening and interactive music creation.

Materials

Musical Emotions, and Emotion Soundtrack Creation Activity

Prep

Setup and Review

5 minutes

Review the Musical Emotions lesson plan for guidance.
Prepare a variety of short musical clips representing different emotions.
Arrange materials for the Emotion Soundtrack Creation activity.
Ensure the audio setup is working properly.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

Greet the students and explain that music can express feelings.
Discuss what emotions are and how different tunes might sound happy, sad, or excited.

Step 2

Guided Listening

10 minutes

Play selected musical clips and ask students to listen carefully.
Invite children to share what emotion each tune makes them feel.
Reinforce that there are no right or wrong answers.

Step 3

Emotion Soundtrack Creation

5 minutes

Introduce the Emotion Soundtrack Creation Activity where students choose or create a short tune that represents how they feel.
Provide simple instruments or sound-making tools as needed.
Allow students a brief moment to experiment and enjoy the process.

Step 4

Discussion and Reflection

5 minutes

Gather the children and ask them to share their soundtracks if they feel comfortable.
Lead a short discussion on how music can be a tool for expressing emotions and managing moods.

Activity

Emotion Soundtrack Creation Activity

Overview

In this activity, children will have the opportunity to create a short musical piece that represents how they feel. The activity is designed to help kindergarten students express their emotions using simple sound-making instruments or tools. During this hands-on experience, students will experiment with different sounds and learn that music can be a creative way to communicate feelings.

Objectives

Allow students to express feelings using music.
Provide a creative outlet for emotional expression.
Encourage sharing in a group setting in a supportive environment.

Materials Needed

Simple instruments (e.g., tambourines, maracas, small drums)
Sound-making tools (e.g., bells, xylophones, or even homemade shakers)
Audio playback device for optional background music

Instructions

Introduction (1 minute):
- Begin by explaining to the students that they will have fun creating their own music that shows how they feel.
- Encourage them to think about a time when they felt really happy, excited, or even a little bit sad, and how that might sound if it were music.
Demonstration (2 minutes):
- Show a simple example by using one of the instruments to create a short sound. Explain what emotion the sound represents (e.g., a soft bell sound for calm or a loud drum for excitement).
- Invite students to listen and ask what emotion the sound might be expressing.
Creation Time (2 minutes):
- Allow each student a brief moment to choose an instrument or sound-making tool.
- Encourage them to experiment with different sounds and think about how to make a sound that matches their feeling at that moment.
- Remind them to enjoy the process and that there is no right or wrong sound.
Optional Sharing (if time permits):
- Invite students to share their created sound with the group if they feel comfortable.
- Ask how creating and listening to the different sounds made them feel.

Follow-Up Questions and Discussion Points

What did you like best about creating your own sound?
How did it feel to listen to your friend’s sound?
Can you describe your sound using words like soft, loud, fast, or slow?

Use this activity alongside the Musical Emotions lesson plan to help reinforce the connection between music and feelings, ensuring a cohesive learning experience.