Browse lesson plans

Biodiversity: The many sounds of insects

In BioMusic, page 1.6

In this lesson, students will explore the sounds of insects and compare them with bird songs. They will create pan flutes and use them for communication.

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

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

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)

Biomusicologist

In BioMusic, page 1.8

In this lesson, students will learn about the field of biomusicology. They will investigate current scientific research and understand how researchers often must work in teams to achieve their goals.

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

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

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.

How can we represent sounds that are in the environment?

In BioMusic, page 2.2

In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will listen to frog calls and identify the difference between high and low pitches. They will represent sounds using aural, graphic, and kinesthetic methods.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Dance Arts Education and Music Education)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

How do animals create sound to communicate?

In BioMusic, page 2.3

In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will experiment with a variety of objects and musical instruments to show how sound is caused by vibrations. They will learn how humans and birds create sound using the larynx and the syrinx, and identify two animals that use objects in their environments to create specific sounds.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–6 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

How does an animal's environment affect the frequency of its sound?

In BioMusic, page 2.6

In this lesson, students will explore the relationship between frequency and pitch. In addition to conducting a simple experiment, they will also examine bat and elephant sound spectrograms. Students will learn how both animals and humans use their environments to create sound for communication.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–6 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

How does sound travel in different environments?

In BioMusic, page 2.7

In this lesson, students will identify mediums that sounds can travel through and use experiments to discover how each medium affects sound. By listening to recordings and viewing sound spectrograms, they will learn about whale song and how these animals transmit sound through water (liquid).

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–6 Music Education and Science)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

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.

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.

What are the reasons animals use sounds?

In BioMusic, page 2.9

Crows are fascinating creatures. In this lesson, students will explore their complex communication and behavior. They will make connections between the crow's method of counter-singing with the call and response style of singing.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–6 Music Education)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

What sounds do whales use to communicate?

In BioMusic, page 2.8

In this lesson, students will listen to whale sounds. They will identify the difference between a whale song and a whale call. While using appropriate music terminology, students will also compare the similarities between whale song and human song.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–6 Music Education)

By Debra Hall and Crystal Patillo.

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