Browse lesson plans

BioMusic

Two units of biomusicology instruction for grades 2–3 and 4–5. Your students will be fascinated by these lessons that cover the miracles of animal communication, the mechanics of sound, and their connections to the field of music.

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Copy cat

In BioMusic, page 1.7

In this lesson, students will learn many interesting things about mockingbirds. They will explore the difference between a mimic and an echo, then go on a nature walk and record bird observations in their science notebooks.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

The life cycle of a seed

This lesson integrates science into the language arts block. Students will read about plant life cycle events and then write their own books about the life cycle of a plant.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Arts and Science)

By Joni Kight.

Love songs

In BioMusic, page 1.4

In this lesson, students will investigate how birds use song to communicate. After listening to the story Birdsongs and recordings of bird songs, they will identify “words” in the calls and patterns in the songs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

Marvelous metamorphosis

Most kids love insects. This integrated unit will enable students the opportunity to observe, identify, and describe the life cycle a mealworm goes through during his metamorphosis into a grain beetle.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science)

By Pam Maness.

Shakin' and eggs

In BioMusic, page 1.2

In this integrated lesson, students learn about the different kinds of animals that hatch from eggs. As they explore the properties of eggs, they will also develop their understanding of sound by conducting an experiment with “sound eggs” and using musical terminology to describe their findings.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

Squawking is talking

In BioMusic, page 1.3

In this lesson, students compare bird song with human song. After a brief overview of how humans and birds make sound, they will begin to consider how both learn to sing and focus on particular aspects of their songs. To end the lesson, students craft Bird Calling Cups to make their own bird calls.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

Resources on the web

Butterfly 1: Observing the life cycle of a butterfly

In this Science NetLinks lesson, students will observe one organism over time and compare its early development (caterpillar) to its later development. Students will also compare actual characteristics of a butterfly with a fictional representation of a... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Science)

Provided by: Science Netlinks