Lesson Plan
Melody of Me
Students will be able to identify and express different emotions while listening to various musical pieces.
Understanding and expressing emotions is a crucial part of self-awareness. Music provides a safe and engaging way for young children to explore their feelings and connect them to external experiences.
Audience
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through listening, discussion, and movement, students will explore emotions evoked by music.
Materials
Small speaker or device to play music, Variety of short musical excerpts (happy, sad, calm, energetic), Melody of Me Slides, Melody of Me Script, Emotion Song Activity, My Music Feelings Worksheet, Crayons or colored pencils, and Quiet Reflection Song Cool Down
Prep
Gather Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Melody of Me Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
* Prepare a small speaker or device to play music.
* Select 3-4 short (1-2 minute) musical excerpts that clearly convey different emotions (e.g., upbeat and happy, slow and sad, fast and energetic, calm and soothing).
* Ensure the Melody of Me Slides are ready for display.
* Print enough copies of the My Music Feelings Worksheet for each student.
* Gather crayons or colored pencils.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Are We Feeling?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students to share how they are feeling today. Encourage them to use simple words or even facial expressions.
* Explain that music can sometimes help us understand our feelings or even change how we feel.
Step 2
Exploring Emotions Through Music
10 minutes
- Use the Melody of Me Slides to introduce the idea of different feelings.
* Play the first musical excerpt (e.g., happy/upbeat). Ask students: "How does this music make you feel? What kind of feeling does it sound like?"
* Encourage discussion and model different ways to express the feeling (e.g., clapping, smiling, swaying gently).
* Repeat with 2-3 other musical excerpts, focusing on distinct emotions like sad, calm, or energetic. Guide students to identify the emotion and briefly discuss why they feel that way. Refer to the Melody of Me Script for guiding questions.
Step 3
Emotion Song Activity
10 minutes
- Transition to the Emotion Song Activity. This activity will involve listening to a piece of music and moving or drawing to express the emotion they feel.
* Explain that there's no right or wrong answer, just what they feel.
* Guide students through the activity, encouraging expressive movement or careful drawing on their worksheets.
Step 4
My Music Feelings Worksheet
3 minutes
- Distribute the My Music Feelings Worksheet and crayons/colored pencils.
* After the music, ask students to draw a picture or use colors to represent how the last piece of music made them feel. Circulate and provide support, asking individuals about their drawings.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Quiet Reflection Song
2 minutes
- Conclude with the Quiet Reflection Song Cool Down. Play a soft, calming piece of music.
* Ask students to close their eyes if they feel comfortable and just listen, focusing on their breath and how their body feels after exploring emotions.
Slide Deck
Melody of Me: How Does Music Make You Feel?
Today, we're going to listen to music and explore how it makes us feel inside!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of feelings and music.
Happy Music!
This music makes me feel... HAPPY! 🎉
How does it make you feel? Show me with your smile or your hands!
Play an upbeat, happy musical excerpt. Ask students to show how the music makes them feel with their bodies or faces.
Calm or A Little Sad?
This music feels... CALM or maybe a little SAD. 😌💧
What feelings does this music bring up for you?
Play a slow, gentle, or slightly melancholic musical excerpt. Discuss how this music feels different.
Energetic Music!
Wow! This music makes me feel... ENERGETIC! 🚀
Do you feel like moving? How does your body want to move with this music?
Play an energetic or exciting musical excerpt. Encourage movement that matches the energy.
Music and My Feelings
Music can make us feel so many things! It's important to notice how music makes you feel.
Summarize that music can evoke many different feelings and it's good to notice them.
Script
Melody of Me: Teacher Script
Warm-Up: How Are We Feeling? (5 minutes)
"Good morning, everyone! I'm so happy to see you all today. Before we start, I want to know how you're feeling right now. Are you feeling happy, sleepy, excited, or maybe a little bit shy? You can show me with your face, or use your words!"
"That's great! It's good to notice how we're feeling. Today, we're going to explore our feelings using something super fun: music!"
Exploring Emotions Through Music (10 minutes)
"Sometimes, music can make us feel different things inside, just like when we see a happy picture or hear a loud noise. We're going to listen to some different kinds of music, and I want you to pay attention to how your body and your heart feel when you hear it."
"Let's look at our first slide!" (Display Melody of Me Slides - Slide 1: Introduction)
"Now, let's listen to our first song. Close your eyes if you want to, and just listen."
(Play happy/upbeat musical excerpt)
"Open your eyes! How did that music make you feel? What kind of feeling does it sound like? Did it make you want to jump? Or smile?" (Display Melody of Me Slides - Slide 2: Happy Music)
"Wonderful! That music often makes people feel happy and want to dance! Let's try another one. How does this sound feel?"
(Play slow/calm/slightly sad musical excerpt)
"How about that one? Did it feel different? Maybe calm, like you want to rest? Or maybe a little quiet and thoughtful?" (Display Melody of Me Slides - Slide 3: Calm or A Little Sad?)
"Great job noticing the different feelings! One more! Listen carefully!"
(Play energetic musical excerpt)
"Wow! How did that music make you feel? Did it make you want to move really fast? What kind of energy did it have?" (Display Melody of Me Slides - Slide 4: Energetic Music)
"You're all amazing at noticing feelings! Music can be so powerful!" (Display Melody of Me Slides - Slide 5: Music and My Feelings)
Emotion Song Activity (10 minutes)
"Now it's your turn to show me how music makes you feel! We're going to do a special Emotion Song Activity. I'm going to play one more piece of music. As you listen, I want you to move your body in a way that shows how the music makes you feel. If it's happy, you might skip! If it's calm, you might sway. There's no right or wrong way to move, just show me your feeling!"
(Play a new piece of music, allowing students to move freely. Circulate and observe.)
"Fantastic movement, everyone! You truly showed how the music touched your feelings!"
My Music Feelings Worksheet (3 minutes)
"Now we're going to draw our feelings! Each of you will get a My Music Feelings Worksheet and some crayons. Think about the last piece of music we just heard. How did it make you feel? Can you draw a picture that shows that feeling, or use colors to represent it? For example, if you felt happy, you might draw a big smile or use bright yellow!"
(Distribute worksheets and crayons. Allow students time to draw.)
"Share your amazing feeling drawings with a friend next to you! What did you draw and why?"
Cool-Down: Quiet Reflection Song (2 minutes)
"Let's bring our energy down with one last song. This song is for quiet reflection. I invite you to find a comfy spot, maybe close your eyes if you feel safe and comfortable, and just listen. Notice your breath, notice your body, and notice any lingering feelings from our music time today."
(Play Quiet Reflection Song Cool Down music.)
"Thank you for sharing your feelings and your listening ears today. You did a wonderful job exploring how music can connect to our feelings!"
Activity
Emotion Song Activity
Instructions:
- Listen to the Music: Your teacher will play a piece of music.
- Feel the Music: Close your eyes for a moment if you like, and notice how the music makes your body and your heart feel.
- Show Your Feeling: When you're ready, move your body in a way that shows the feeling the music gives you!
- If it's happy music, maybe you skip or clap!
- If it's calm music, maybe you sway gently.
- If it's energetic music, maybe you bounce or march!
There is no right or wrong way to move. Just show your unique feeling!
Worksheet
My Music Feelings
Name: ____________________________
Instructions: Your teacher will play some music. Think about how the music makes you feel inside. Then, draw a picture or use colors to show that feeling here!
Tell a friend about your drawing: What feeling did you draw, and why?
Cool Down
Quiet Reflection Song
Instructions:
- Find a comfortable spot to sit or lie down.
- You can close your eyes gently if you feel safe and comfortable.
- Listen to the soft music your teacher plays.
- Notice your breath going in and out.
- Notice how your body feels.
- Just be present and relax before our next activity.