Submitted by Gretchen Taylor, Illinois

Idea posted July 28, 2003

I've got my first two (of three) kits all ready to go and thought I'd share for those who might find a need for this kind of thing. My intent for these is to fill one class session for either elementary or middle school grade levels. They are not something designed to be ongoing, but a one-time thing, in case of needing an extra lesson plan to fill a gap.

Each kit includes:

  • 1 jumbo sized zip bag (everything goes in this)
  • 1 pocket folder (I used a laminated music styled kind from Friendship House)
  • 4 blank laminated 1/2 sized pieces of construction paper (4 different colors)
  • 25 copied, front and back, laminated composer info sheets (I used the sheets from Meet the Composers - Book One from Alfred)
  • 25 copied puzzles that correspond to the info sheet from the same source*
  • 25 copied & laminated listening maps for SQUILT selection
  • 1 composer poster or bust
  • 1 copy of the specific composer's story book from the Famous Children series
  • 1 package of small balloons*
  • 25 party hats
  • CD(s) of music selections (I plan to burn all selections onto one blank CD)
  • Cupcakes, if desired*

*starred items must be replaced. Everything else can be returned and reused).

Now, you can choose whichever composer you want to use for each kit. I chose Bach and Mozart simply because there is a bust AND a Famous Children book for these guys. Also, I had access to listening activity resources and CDs for these composers.

Composer Birthday Kit for Johann Sebastian Bach

Music Selections:

  1. "Toccatta & Fugue in D minor" (simple excerpt played to highlight its mention in the info sheet).
  2. "Brandenburg Concerto #2 Mvt 3" (to use with middlers for a more "thoughtful" SQUILT activity).
  3. "Sleepers Awake" (From Baby Genius - Breakfast With Bach, used for listening game)
  4. Misc. upbeat selections from Keeping the Beat by Feierabend (for various games)

Announce the Birthday Boy:

  1. Display poster/bust
  2. Pass out info handouts
  3. Take turns reading through the info

Four Corners game to reinforce four main facts about composer:

Take four laminated colored pieces of paper. With the help of the class, identify the composer's

  1. Date of birth
  2. Country of origin
  3. Primary instrument
  4. One major work

Write each fact on a different paper with a dry-erase marker and mount on each of 4 walls in room. Choose a player to be IT. IT sits in center of room and hides his/her eyes. Others stand, and when music is played (a lively misc. piece from the Feierabend CD), they all move to a wall of their choice. Pause music. IT calls out one of the facts. Those standing at that wall must sit down. A new IT is chosen and play continues. After each round, those previously out can get back in. Play several rounds. Clean off the cards and return to kit.

Follow-up with the puzzle:

Allow time to complete, check the answers together, and let the kids take their puzzles home.

At this point, depending on length of session, read the Famous Children story to the elementary levels. For middlers, go on to next activity...

SQUILT - "Brandenburg Concerto #2 Mvt 3:"

  1. Pass out laminated listening maps (from Grade 5 Save The Music text, page 417).
  2. I will basically follow the teaching directions in the text with this one.

More games (pick and choose as time or grade level allows):

Scarf Dance/Bubble Phrases (Sleeper's Awake): Divide class by girls and boys. Introduce the selection and pay close attention to question/answer type phrases. Move groups to opposite areas of room (sitting) and assign to phrases. Listen again and point to groups on their phrase (stand when you point at them, sit when you point at other group). Use only the first main portion of the piece. After they can identify their assigned phrase, give grade 1 scarves and grade 2 little bubble containers. Listen again and let grade 1 do a scarf dance on their question phrases and grade 2 blow bubbles on their answer. Let them both do their thing on the tutti sections.

Balloon Pop Relay (Upbeat misc. selection): Let everyone blow up and tie off their balloon. Clear the room of chairs and divide the class into three or four teams. Place a chair at opposite end of playing area for each team. Teams line up with balloons. Start music. At GO, first players run with balloon to their chair, put balloon on chair, and then sit on balloon trying to pop it. Allow 15 seconds for anyone who is having trouble getting their balloon to pop. After it pops, or 15 seconds is up, they run to thr back of the line and next player goes to chair. First team to get the most balloons popped BEFORE the music selection finishes is the winner.

Sing "Happy Birthday" and distribute cupcakes while listening to some additional music by the composer.

If desired (and depending on time), students could make birthday cards for the composer while listening to his/her music.

Okay, I think that's about it in a nutshell. Of course you can do whatever you like, but that's what I've got planned.

Composer Birthday Kit for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Music Selections:

  1. "Symphony No. 40 Mvt 1"
  2. "The Marriage of Figaro: Overture"
  3. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
  4. "Musical Sleighride"
  5. Misc. selections from various CDs

Announce the Birthday Boy:

  1. Display poster/bust
  2. Pass out info handouts
  3. Take turns reading thru the info

Four Corners game to reinforce four main facts about composer: Same as before, but, (and this is optional) use "Symphony No. 40" and Themes To Remember - Vol 1 words to teach the theme vocally, then play the game.

Follow-up with the puzzle:

Allow time to complete, check the answers together, and let the kids take their puzzles home.

At this point, depending on length of session, read the Famous Children story to the elementary levels. For middlers, go on to next activity...

SQUILT - "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (elementary):

  1. Pass out laminated listening maps (from Grade 3 Save The Music text, page 385).
  2. I basically follow the teaching directions in the text with this one, but will probably teach them the theme vocally from Themes To Remember - Vol 2 first. I will definitely teach the hand dance movement described in the text.

SQUILT - "The Marriage of Figaro: Overture" (middlers):

  1. Using Bowmar Adventures In Listening - Book 3 page 77 and the Student Activity Book pages 35 & 36 (which I copied, front and back, for the kids to follow, fill out, and take home),
  2. I will basically be following the teaching directions listed. This is also available in Save The Music Grade 3, page 176.

More Games (pick and choose as time or grade level allows):

Cup Game ("Musical Sleighride"): I plan to use a simple pattern for this and only on the first thematic section of the piece. The pattern I took is from Denise Gagne's Complete Listening Resource Kit - Level 3, page 22, pattern A only. I may mark one of the cups, and at the end of the section, whoever has the cup is out of the main circle and can start a new inner circle. This piece can be found in Grade 2 Save The Music text, page 312.

Hula Hoop Elimination Game (Upbeat misc. selection). Clear room of chairs. Place five to eight hula hoops about room. Announce a body part (foot, hand, elbow, ear, head, bottom, knee, whole self, etc.). When music starts, kids move around but not inside the hoops. Pause music. All must go to a hoop and place only the announced body part inside it. Announce a new part, start music again, and continue to play. As a variation, remove a hoop each time or when someone can't fit inside, they're out. OR, if there is any pushing or fussing when having to squeeze, all at that hoop are out!!

Sing "Happy Birthday" and distribute cupcakes while listening to some additional music by the composer.

If desired (and depending on time), students could make birthday cards for the composer while listening to his/her music.

Again, feel free to modify as needed. I just used the resources I had at hand. There are endless activities and selections that could be used. And I doubt there would be time to do them all in one session. After one class has had a composer birthday party, the kit will be available for another class. In my situation, I doubt if I'll need more than 2 for any grade level. But I'll probably put one more together (Beethoven) just in case. They can also be reused the next year by the same class. I mean, how many times do parties use the same games (Pin The Tail On The Donkey) time after time?