Mood (evoked through music)
5th Grade

Songs Used: "Money" and "Another Brick in the Wall Part II" both from Pink Floyd's Delicate Sound of Thunder. I chose two songs from the same group and the samples that I chose to use have no words in them. I thought that by doing this, it would limit any influential factors that might affect the feelings evoked by the song. Another good thing to do would be to not tell the students the name of the band or song before they hear it.

Musical Element: Mood (evoked through music)

Grade: Fifth

Concept: Feelings are expressed through music.

Objectives: The students will:

1. Listen to two different songs.
2. Use their materials to draw/write a physical representation of how a song makes them feel.
3. Discuss what it is about the song that evokes certain feelings.

Materials Needed: Crayons (or fingerpaints, markers, colored pencils), large white paper (one sheet per student), tape player/c.d. player, music samples chosen by teacher

Preliminary Procedures: Ask the students how many of them have ever been riding in the car and heard a song they liked so much that they wanted to turn up the radio. Ask how many of them have been in a bad mood and heard a song that made them feel better.

Procedures:

1. Pass out one sheet of paper/student and crayons.
2. Explain to the students that they will be listening to music and they are to color or write about how a particular song makes them feel. Tell them that if they need help, they should use their "mind's eye."
3. Play the first 1 1/2 min. sample of music. Students should be writing or drawing on their paper.
4. Play the second 1 1/2 min. sample of music. Students should write or draw on their paper.
5. Have students share their pictures/writing from the songs.

Evaluation: Since feelings are individual and students responses may vary, the best way to evaluate this lesson is to collect their papers. From these, determine if students see the connection between music and feelings.

Follow­up: As a group, discuss what it was about the songs that made them feel certain feelings. Possible answers include repetition, rhythm, texture, dynamics, etc.

Back to HomePage