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.

A guided journey into the past

In Intrigue of the Past, page 5.7

In their study of archaeological resource conservation, students will use guided imagery to discover and judge an alternative way to enjoy artifacts without removing them from archaeological sites.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

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 can we view and distinguish sounds?

In BioMusic, page 2.4

In this engaging lesson, students will listen to recordings of various animals sounds and compare them with their visual representations on sound spectrograms. They will explore topics such as pitch, frequency, timbre, and vibration through animal vocalization, human voice, and instrumental composition.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 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.

Sound properties and careers in music

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 3.8

This lesson for grade six uses a hands-on lab to help students understand key concepts in the properties of sound, and how they can be applied to careers in music.

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

By April Galloway and Christine Scott.Edited by Julie McCann.

Sounds all around

In BioMusic, page 1.1

In this integrated music and science lesson, students predict what sounds they would expect to hear in a particular habitat or under certain weather conditions. While listening to various soundscapes in groups, students record describing words in their science notebooks and then use pantomime to describe the origins of sounds. A concluding discussion focuses on natural and man-made sounds.

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 some careers in biomusicology?

In BioMusic, page 2.11

By gathering information in books, from interviews, and on the Internet, learners will identify several career possibilities in the field of biomusicology research.

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

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.

Resources on the web

Brass instruments and pitch

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students create a “brass” instrument, make predictions, and explore how pitch changes based on the length of the air pipe. Students will: design investigations that determine what factors affect the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Music Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Cool Planet for Teachers

This site from OxFam helps teachers bring global issues into the classroom. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: OxFam

Songs for Teaching - Educational Children's Music Downloads/CDs

Add music to your lesson plans. Categorized by subject, many of the selection have lyrics, sound clips, and suggestions. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan