$5 - $10 4th Grade Arts & Music Independent Work Packet (by date, oldest first)

Unlock the genius of the ragtime king with engaging listening activities, biography pages, and even a word puzzle! Students learn about this prolific composer and his iconic works through interactive worksheets while exploring Joplin's distinct American sound.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of American composer Scott Joplin
• familiarity with the 'ragtime' style of music
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

What's Included:

• 1-page Resource Guide
• Listening Sheet Star Rating Guide (Students rate with pumpkins!)
• Listening Sheets
• Weather and Emotions Listening Sheets
• Composer Biography Page - fact sheet (1 or 2 facts are already provided, a box to paste/draw the composer's portrait, and a birthday box to color in and decorate cupcakes!
• Composer Research Sheet - students can use their favorite reference materials to compile a full page of facts about the composer's home country.
• Composer Rating Activity - there are more options to profile the composer on the rating sheet, including which season and musical style they belong to.
• Word Composer Activity - the classic letter puzzle, students can use all the letters from the composer's full name to create new, shorter words and record their score.

Scott Joplin Printable Listening Sheets: (two pages per piece)

1. The Entertainer
2. Maple Leaf Rag
3. Augustan Club Waltz
4. Kismet Rag
5. Ragtime Dance
6. Weeping Willow Rag
7. Swipesy Cake Walk
8. Silver Swan Rag

Ragtime Break! This ragtime-themed brain break activity pack features five compositions by Scott Joplin! The Star Rating and Emoji guides are included as a fun reference (color/b&w.) Also great for sub plans & sub tubs!

1. Great Crush Collision March (1896)
2. Harmony Club Waltz (1896)
3. March Majestic (1902)
4. The Rosebud March (1905)
5. Rose Leaf Rag (1907)

Do you need fun and engaging brain breaks? This classical music activity pack features 6 listening activities to experience! The Star Rating and Emoji guides are included as a fun reference (color/b&w.) Also great for sub plans & sub tubs!

Featured Music:

1. The Easy Winners, Scott Joplin

Need More Black History Month Resources?

Share stories, create conversations, and spark a deeper appreciation for the arts all month (and all year) long! Explore ALL of the Black History Month composer packs, activities, and digital resources.

"My students LOVED being able to use this while listening to and learning about The Planets! They loved being able to draw their own scenes whilst listening!!" - Music with Maarika

Children are fascinated by the solar system, so it's no wonder that they enjoy classical music with a space theme! "The Planets" by Gustav Holst is a great example of such a piece and it also represents an important era in classical music history when composers were writing symphonies based on nature and science.

This packet contains a set of listening activities to introduce children to the orchestration and harmony of Gustav Holst's "The Planets!"

► See the FULL PREVIEW for an inside look! Please feel free to ask any questions below.

Why is "The Planets" important?

"The Planets" is one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever composed. It is a seven-movement orchestral suite composed by Gustav Holst from 1914 to 1916. Holst's composition was inspired by space, and each movement represents a planet in our solar system. Later additions by Leonard Bernstein and Jun Nagao are also included.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of planets, their characteristics, and the solar system
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of classical music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within classical music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

Printable Listening Sheets Include: (five pages per piece)

1. The Planets (for listening to the whole suite)
2. Mars, the Bringer of War
3. Venus, the Bringer of Peace
4. Mercury, the Winged Messenger
5. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
6. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
7. Uranus, the Magician
8. Neptune, the Mystic
9. *Pluto, the Unpredictable (Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic)
10. *Earth (Jun Nagao)

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

Emoji Checkboxes - Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more!

Color a Carnival - Which carnival rides and activities would best fit a piece of music? Does the tempo feel like a roller coaster or a peaceful swing ride in the sky? Choose a tasty treat from the snack bar, then stop at the prize booth before finishing. There are no wrong answers!

Listen and Color - There's plenty of space for drawing, coloring, or journaling! Students can decorate the box in their own music-inspired way while choosing from creative keywords that best describe their listening experience.

★ Easel Activity ★ Pair an engaging digital listening board with these musical selections! Students use the highlight tool to choose from keyword lists that describe their listening experience. An answer box at the bottom allows students to write a brief description of their thoughts and feelings. Using the pen or any design tool provided, students can decorate a scene or upload an image to the frame! Each board features colorful clipart related to the music. As always, there are no wrong answers. Students can choose any combination of descriptors.

"Best Carnival of the Animals resource I've purchased." - Faith S.

The Carnival of the Animals Activity Packet is designed to introduce students to the music of Camille Saint-Saëns. With these listening activities, students will become familiar with each character in this work and develop a deeper appreciation for the music.

Students use musical context clues to understand the instruments, perceive differences, and identify shared characteristics across species. The heart of this resource is the listening activities where student groups listen to the piece together and note their observations. This allows students to compare notes, ask questions, discuss different parts of the work, and improve their listening skills.

There are fourteen movements based on animals, including elephants, birds, tortoises, and even lions! From the magical notes of "Aquarium" to the soothing strings of "The Swan," Saint-Saëns' "The Carnival of the Animals" is a wondrous musical journey.

► See the FULL PREVIEW for an inside look! Please feel free to ask any questions below.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of The Carnival of the Animals
• compare/contrast which instruments represent animal sounds and behavior
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of classical music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within classical music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

Musical Highlights

• "Aquarium," features music similar to the feeling of swimming underwater: slow, soothing tones played on string instruments like violins or cellos
• "The Elephant," is a little more serious in tone but still maintains its playful nature—it opens with the sounds of an elephant trumpeting majestically through the jungle.
• "Aviary," uses the flute to evoke imagery of birds fluttering around in cages or aviaries
• "The Swan," one of the best-known movements—features the slow melody of the piano and cello, with visions of a swan gliding smoothly across the water.

What's Included:

• 1-page Resource Guide
• Word Composer
• Composer Rating Sheet
• Listening Sheet Star Rating Guide
• Listening Sheets
• Weather and Emotions Listening Sheets

Listening Sheets Include: (two pages per piece:)

Introduction and Royal March of the Lion • Hens and Roosters • Wild Donkeys Swift Animals • Tortoises • The Elephant • Kangaroos • Aquarium • Characters with Long Ears • The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods • Aviary • Pianists • Fossils • The Swan • Finale

★ Easel Activity ★ Pair an engaging digital listening board with these musical selections! Students use the highlight tool to choose from keyword lists that describe their listening experience. An answer box at the bottom allows students to write a brief description of their thoughts and feelings. Using the pen or any design tool provided, students can decorate a scene or upload an image to the frame! Each board features colorful clipart related to the music. As always, there are no wrong answers. Students can choose any combination of descriptors.

"These are so fun. Easy for kids of many different levels to listen and decide. Perfect for a brainstorming activity or short listening activity. In another time, I might use it as a jumping-off point for allowing students to write their own stories." Kelsey S.

Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? Classical Fairy Tale listening sheets combine music appreciation with a storybook theme! Students compose their wondrous tale by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar fairy tale objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of popular classical music compositions
• exploration of fairy tale-themed characters and settings from literature
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of classical music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within classical music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

What's Included:

• Story Guide – an illustrated chart with each character/object
• 16 Fairy Tale Listening Sheets
• 16 Fairy Tale Drawing Pages

Featured Compositions:

1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Felix Mendelssohn
2. Tapiola, Jean Sibelius
3. Clair de Lune, Claude Debussy
4. Ride of the Valkyries, Richard Wagner
5. Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
6. Symphony No. 9, Ludwig Van Beethoven
7. Sinfonia No. 5, George Walker
8. Gaelic Symphony, Amy Beach
9. In the Hall of the Mountain King, Edvard Grieg
10. Cinderella Suite No. 1, Sergei Prokofiev
11. Imperial March, John Williams
12. La Mer, Claude Debussy
13. Ennanga, William Grant Still
14. The Eternal Vow, Tan Dun
15. Cinderella Suite No. 2, Sergei Prokofiev
16. The Sleeping Beauty Waltz, Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Are you ready to embark on a musical journey through time? The Opera Listening Activity Pack is the perfect way to introduce your students to the captivating world of opera! With a carefully curated selection of some of the world's most beloved performances, this engaging resource will inspire creativity, enhance critical thinking, and foster a love for the arts.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of popular composers and performers
• familiarity with a variety of musical periods
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by choosing elements related to a musical theme

What's Included?

• 2 performance terms/definitions handouts (color and black & white)
• 9 colorful performance terms/definitions posters/flashcards
• 15 opera performance listening pages with stage and keywords
• 15 create-your-own opera pages with stage and writing space
• 15 choose-your-own opera performers coloring page

Featured Arias and Performances

1. Nessun Dorma (Turandot) Giacomo Puccini
2. O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi) Giacomo Puccini
3. La Donna è Mobile (Rigoletto) Giuseppe Verdi
4. Habanera (Carmen) Georges Bizet
5. Ave Maria (Otello) Giuseppe Verdi
6. Quando M'en Vo (La Bohème) by Giacomo Puccini
7. Largo al Factotum (The Barber of Seville) Gioachino Rossini
8. The Flower Duet (Lakmé) Léo Delibes
9. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici (La Traviata) Giuseppe Verdi
10. Vesti la Giubba (Pagliacci) Ruggero Leoncavallo
11. Sempre Libera (La Traviata) Giuseppe Verdi
12. O Sole Mio by Eduardo di Capua
13. Anvil Chorus (Il Trovatore) Giuseppe Verdi
14. The Toreador Song (Carmen) Georges Bizet
15. Una Furtiva Lagrima (L'elisir d'amore) Gaetano Donizetti

These opera-themed listening activities are easy to implement - just print and play! The music is readily available on YouTube and your favorite streaming services. No musical training is required making these great for sub plans and summer send-home packets!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

"This is one of my favorite things that I purchased last school year. It's a great resource to use any time of the year." - Stuck on Music Class

Print & Play! Do you need engaging and mindful activities for your Black History Month units/plans? Add music (and history!) with this selection of printable listening sheets by George Walker, Scott Joplin, Florence Price, and more!

► See the FULL PREVIEW for an inside look! Please feel free to ask any questions below.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of composers
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of classical music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within classical music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

Listening Sheets Included: (two per piece)

1. Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Florence Price
2. Sinfonia No. 3, George Walker
3. Violin and Piano Sonata No. 2, George Walker
4. Symphony in G Major, Op. 11, No. 1, Joseph Bologne
5. Violin Concerto in G Major, Op.2, No. 1, Joseph Bologne
6. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Florence Price
7. Deep River, Op. 59, No. 10, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
8. Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
9. Afro-American Symphony, William Grant Still
10. Weeping Willow, Scott Joplin
11. Sunflower Slow Drag, Scott Joplin
12. Blue in Green, Miles Davis
13. After the Rain, John Coltrane
14. Troubled Water, Margaret Bonds

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snow day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

BONUS! Black History Month Emoji Listening Sheets

Each featured piece also has an emoji listening sheet (15 pages.)

Emoji Listening Sheets include:

Emoji Rating Guide (14 emojis to choose from, color and b&w)

Listening Sheets - there are no wrong answers! Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more!

Checkbox options:

Time, nature, settings, instruments, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

The 'Inspiration Box' can be used for:

Drawing/doodling, journaling, notes, poetry, etc.

Need More Black History Month Resources?

Share stories, create conversations, and spark a deeper appreciation for the arts all month (and all year) long! Explore ALL of the Black History Month composer packs, activities, and digital resources.

Pass out tickets, share the handouts, and cue the music! On April 13, 1742, Handel’s “Messiah” premiered in Dublin, Ireland. This inspirational piece is perhaps most famous for the “Hallelujah” chorus. Bring the excitement to your classroom or homeschool with fact-filled handouts and lots of creative listening activities!

Celebrate the premiere on April 13th, during the month of April, or any time of the year!

★ More premiere packs are being added soon! ★

What's Inside:

1. Resource Guide – get started quickly with this easy-to-follow resource guide

2. Star Rating Guide (color) – refer to the star rating guide while assigning a star rating

3. Ticket Collection Page (color) – after collecting their tickets, students can glue or tape their tickets to the collection page. Each premiere pack includes a ticket to collect!

4. Composer Portrait Handout (color) – this handout includes facts about the premiere with a color portrait

5. Composer Colorful Handout (color) – a variation on the portrait handout with colorful clipart

6. Star Rating Guide - refer to the star rating guide while assigning a star rating

7. Ticket Collection Page - after collecting their tickets, students can glue or tape their tickets to the collection page. Each premiere pack includes a ticket to collect!

8. Composer Portrait Handout - this handout includes facts about the premiere with a color portrait

9. Composer Coloring Handout - a variation on the portrait handout with colorful clipart

10. Tickets Page – print as many as you need for students to color or use with Astrobrights paper!

11. Classic Listening Sheet – the classic listening activity page with drawing, instruments, and more!

12. Weather and Emotions Listening – students color in any emotions and weather the music may suggest

13. Listening Grid – plenty of room to draw an imaginative scene with lots of descriptive keywords to choose from

14. Instruments and Emotions Coloring – students can color in any instruments, musicians, and emotions

15. Emoji Checkboxes – the checkbox activity sheet gives listeners a huge variety of keywords to select

16. Carnival Listening – listen and choose from the carnival-themed options that sound most like the music

17. Fairy Tale Story Guide – this guide illustrates all the options on the fairy tale listening page

18. Fairy Tale Listening – students use the music as a soundtrack to their very own fairy tale story.

19. Space Tale Guide - this guide illustrates all the options on the space tale listening page

20. Space Tale Listening - students use the music as a soundtrack to their very own fairy tale story.

21. Listen and Color – great for listeners who love to color! The keyword list paired with creative fun

22. Composition Sketchpad – for the aspiring artist, the sketchpad sheet has titled boxes that suggest a theme to draw while listening to the selected music

23. Feelings and Instruments – plenty of space to draw, select feelings, and instruments

24. Emotions – just add color! Students find their corresponding emotions and color the characters

25. Weather – what weather does the music sound or feel like? The sky is the limit!

26. Emojis – color in the fun emoji faces that express the listening experience

27. Word Composer – a fun word workout that directs students to rearrange the letters to form new words

28. Drawing Page – an empty canvas with a frame for drawing a music-inspired piece, suitable for display

✝️ Calling all homeschool heroes and Sunday school superstars!

We offer a treasure trove of free Christian worksheets, activities, posters, and more – all designed to nurture student faith, ignite a love for learning, and integrate Christian values into your classroom and homeschool. Check out the growing collection of free resources here!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

Learning about Gustav Mahler is an incredible opportunity for students to explore the beauty of music, the power of emotion, and the culture of the Austro-Bohemian Romantics. Bring the works of this influential composer to life through engaging listening activities and create a lasting impact on students!

Listening to classical music has been shown to help with self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation. Since social-emotional learning is important for children, incorporating classical music into your classroom or homeschool is a great way to support their development. Resource guide included.

Learning Objectives

• increased biographical knowledge of the composer
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

★ Mindful Listening Sheets - There are no wrong answers! Students listen to the selected music and choose meaningful keywords they associate with what they hear. The emotions and weather page allows students to color their experiences.

★ Biography Pages - Fact sheet (1 or 2 facts provided, a box to paste/draw the composer's portrait, and a birthday box to color in and decorate cupcakes! A duplicate blank page is included for students to do their own research.

★ Composer Research Sheet - Students can use their favorite reference materials to compile a full page of facts about the composer's home country. Some of the research options include capital, continent, population, food, and more.

★ Composer Rating Activity - More options to profile the composer on the rating sheet, including which season and musical style they match.

★ Word Composer Activity - In the classic letter puzzle, students can use all the letters from the composer's full name to create new, shorter words and record their scores. Add a timer for an extra challenge.

★ Listen and Color - Pair art with music! Students color the characters while listening to featured music from The Nutcracker. There are four categories of keywords to circle/highlight that describes their listening experience. Blank lines are for writing in their own words. 

★ Classical Fairy Tale - Storytime! These listening sheets combine music appreciation with a storybook theme! Students compose their wondrous tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar fairy tale objects inspired by the music. There is also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations.

★ Classical Space Tale - Storytime! These listening sheets combine music appreciation with an intergalactic theme! Students compose their epic space tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar space objects inspired by the music. There is also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations.

★ Listen and Draw - The Fairy Tale and Space Tale sets have a framed drawing page for listeners to create their own music-inspired pieces of art! Great for younger students or for hosting a classroom art display.

★ Emoji Checkbox Listening - Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

★ Rating Guides - Print one or more copies of the star rating guide to help students choose their rating. Half and quarter stars may be encouraged. Some seasonal activities will have different rating shapes. Emoji rating guides are included in color and black & white.

Musical Selections (Eight listening activity pages per piece)

1. Piano Quartet in A Minor
2. Symphony No. 1 in D Major
3. Symphony No. 2 in C Minor
4. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor
5. Symphony No. 4 in G Major
6. Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor
7. Symphony No. 6 in A Minor
8. Symphony No. 7 in E Minor

Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? Opening Night offers a trip around the world (and a little bit of time travel!) Attend the ‘premiere’ of five classical music performances from the United States to Austria. Students collect tickets for each listening session and display them on their ticket collection page.

★ Easel Assessment ★ Premiere Dates and Places - 10 Questions

Featured Music:

1. Symphony No. 9, Ludwig Van Beethoven (Austria, 1824)

2. Firebird, Igor Stravinsky (France, 1910)

3. Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin (New York, 1924)

4. Symphony No. 1, Florence Price (Illinois, 1933)

5. Harlem, Duke Ellington (New York, 1951)

What's Included:

Resource Guide

Composer Timeline – the dates and locations of each composer’s premiere date

Ticket Display Page – students can tape or glue their tickets after listening to each piece. Collect all five!

Rating Guide – a star-themed rating guide illustrates the five-star system used for listening sheets

Performance Handouts – facts at-a-glance for each composer and their premiere. Students can listen and color the composer on the black & white version. The listening experience can also be recorded by emoji choices, star rating, and making performance notes.

Opening Night Tickets – students receive a ticket for attending each ‘performance!’ Each ticket includes the composer, performance, premiere date, and location. Print on Astrobrights or students can color their own! For homeschoolers and small groups, there is a page with each performance on one printable page.

Listening Sheets - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more. There is a space for drawing and several non-musical elements to consider, such as animals and nature.

Weather and Emotions Listening Sheets - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

Just print & play! Do you need engaging Queen Elizabeth II/United Kingdom activities or music sub plans? These printable listening sheets offer creative ways for students to learn more! This activity collection features selected pieces from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II! Students may recognize some British composers while also learning a few new ones!

Themes: England, United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth, Royal Family

★ Easel Activity ★ Pair an engaging digital listening board with these musical selections! Students use the highlight tool to choose from keyword lists that describe their listening experience. An answer box at the bottom allows students to write a brief description of their thoughts and feelings. Using the pen or any design tool provided, students can decorate a scene or upload an image to the frame! Each board features colorful clipart related to the music. As always, there are no wrong answers. Students can choose any combination of descriptors.

Printable Listening Sheets: (two pages per piece)

1. Chaconne, Purcell
2. Trumpet Tune, Purcell
3. Crown Imperial (March,) Walton
4. Fantasia on Alleluia Hymn, Jacob
5. Jupiter, Holst
6. Epic March, Ireland
7. O Most Merciful, Wood
8. Pomp and Circumstance, No. 2, Elgar
9. Music for the Royal Fireworks, Handel
10. Coronation Te Deum, Walton
11. Coronation March, Bax
12. Pomp and Circumstance No. 4, Elgar
13. Gloria in Excelsis, Stanford
14. The Banks of Green Willow, Butterworth
15. Fantasia on Greensleeves
16. Nimrod, Elgar
17. I Was Glad, Parry
18. Zadok the Priest
19. Orb and Sceptre
20. Processional, Bliss

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

Need More Resources for Queen Elizabeth?

God Save the Queen (Anthem)

► We know you'll love helping students create meaningful connections to classical music, so we are happy to share these free listening activities with you today!

Just print & play! Do you need engaging pirate-themed classical music activities or sub plans? These printable listening sheets offer creative ways for students to observe their thoughts and feelings while listening to the selected music!

Great for "Talk Like a Pirate Day" in September!

What’s Inside:

• Listening Activity Sheets Listening sheets include the title of a popular piece, the composer, a black & white composer to color in, and a space for drawing any scene that may come to mind when listening. There are additional options to identify the mood of a piece and indicate which instruments are playing.
• Weather Color & Listen Sheet: While listening to the selected piece, students can color in the weather elements they feel and hear.
• Emotions Color & Listen Sheet: Students color the character(s) that best identify their emotions while listening to the music.
• Emojis Color & Listen Sheet: Twelve emojis to choose from! Students choose the emoji faces that best match their feelings or impressions about the music.

Printable Listening Sheets (four pages per piece!)

1. Pirate Dance, Leroy Anderson

2. Il Pirata (Sinfonia,) Vincenzo Bellini

3. The Flying Dutchman, Richard Wagner

4. The Sea Hawk, Erich Korngold

5. Flight to Neverland, John Williams

6. Le Corsaire (Overture,) Hector Berlioz

7. He’s a Pirate, Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer

8. La Mer, Claude Debussy

9. The Deep, Deep Sea, Zhou Long

10. Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Felix Mendelssohn

Franz Schubert's "Winterreise" is an enchanting musical voyage that takes listeners through twenty-four emotional compositions. With its sweeping melodies and profound lyrics, the piece paints a vivid picture of a winter journey through snow-covered forests and small villages.

Through "Winterreise," students explore the vast landscape of emotional expression portrayed in classical music.

Mood: sorrowful, melancholy, and inspiring

Composer: Franz Schubert was a gifted composer and pianist most remembered for his unique style of composition and the emotional depth in his works.

Featured music with two listening activity pages per piece:

Gute Nacht (Good Night) | Die Wetterfahne (The Weathervane) | Gefror'ne Tränen (Frozen Tears) | Erstarrung (Frozen) | Der Lindenbaum (The Linden Tree) | Wasserflut (Flood) | Auf dem Flusse (On the Stream) | Rückblick (Backwards Glance) | Irrlicht (Will o' the Wisp) | Rast (Rest) | Frühlingstraum (Dream of Spring) | Einsamkeit (Loneliness) | Die Post (The Post) | Der greise Kopf (The Gray Head) | Die Krähe (The Crow) | Letzte Hoffnung (Last Hope) | Im Dorfe (In the Village) | Der stürmische Morgen (The Stormy Morning) | Täuschung (Deception) | Der Wegweiser (The Signpost) | Das Wirtshaus (The Inn) | Mut! (Have Courage) | Die Nebensonnen (The Sun Dogs) Der Leiermann (The Hurdy-Gurdy Man)

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

Just Print & Play! Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? Explore the contributions of composers from Texas with this listening activity pack! There are six listening activities for each composer!

Themes: Texas, United States, American Composers

Featured Music:

• Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Kristopher Carter
• Symphony No. 2, Willard Elliot
• Air: A Prelude for Organ, Gerre Hancock
• The Chrysanthemum, Scott Joplin
• Trumpet Tune in D Major, David Johnson

Brain Break Activities:

1. Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.
2. Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.
3. Listen & Color a Carnival - Students can color their own carnival while listening to the selected music! Which carnival rides and activities would best fit a piece of music? Does the tempo feel like a roller coaster or a peaceful swing ride in the sky? Choose a tasty treat from the snack bar, then stop at the prize booth before finishing. There are no wrong answers!
4. Emoji Checkbox Listening - This listening sheet style is all about checkboxes! Students note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more! Time, nature, settings, instruments, and colors are also listed. Students color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid. The 'Inspiration Box' can be used for inspired drawing, journaling, notes, poetry, etc.
5. 1-5 Star Rating Guide in color
6. 1-5 Star Rating Guide in black & white
7. Emoji Rating Guide in color
8. Emoji Rating Guide in black & white
9. Word Composer - compose a list of new words using letters from the composer's name. Add a timer for an extra challenge!
10. Drawing/Writing Page - a freestyle approach to listening! Students can draw a scene inspired by the music selection or use the page as a writing space. Great for bulletin boards and displays!

Just Print & Play! Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? Explore the contributions of composers from New York with this listening activity pack! There are six listening activities for each composer!

Themes: New York, United States, American Composers

Featured Music:

• Night Waltz, Paul Bowles
• Arcadian Symphony No. 4, George Frederick Bristow
• Symphony No. 2, Stephen Albert
• Symphony No. 1, Paul Creston
• The Fire Within, Deborah Drattell

Brain Break Activities:

1. Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.
2. Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.
3. Listen & Color a Carnival - Students can color their own carnival while listening to the selected music! Which carnival rides and activities would best fit a piece of music? Does the tempo feel like a roller coaster or a peaceful swing ride in the sky? Choose a tasty treat from the snack bar, then stop at the prize booth before finishing. There are no wrong answers!
4. Emoji Checkbox Listening - This listening sheet style is all about checkboxes! Students note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more! Time, nature, settings, instruments, and colors are also listed. Students color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid. The 'Inspiration Box' can be used for inspired drawing, journaling, notes, poetry, etc.
5. 1-5 Star Rating Guide in color
6. 1-5 Star Rating Guide in black & white
7. Emoji Rating Guide in color
8. Emoji Rating Guide in black & white
9. Word Composer - compose a list of new words using letters from the composer's name. Add a timer for an extra challenge!
10. Drawing/Writing Page - a freestyle approach to listening! Students can draw a scene inspired by the music selection or use the page as a writing space. Great for bulletin boards and displays!

Tchaikovsky's "Album for the Young" is a beautiful collection of piano pieces, perfect for students. These short and lively compositions are an excellent introduction to the music of this great Russian composer!

Mood: lively, energetic, and delicate

Composer: Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a beloved Russian composer celebrated for his beautiful melodies and expressive orchestration.

Featured music with two listening activity pages per piece:

Morning Prayer | Winter Morning | Playing Hobby-Horses | Mama | March of the Wooden Soldiers | The New Doll | The Sick Doll | The Doll's Funeral | Waltz | Polka | Mazurka | Russian Song | The Harmonica Player | Kamarinskaya | Peasant Prelude | Italian song | Old French Song | German Song | Nanny's Story | The Sorcerer | Sweet Dreams | Lark Song | In Church | The Song of the Organ-Grinder

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

The carnival is here! Students explore five carnival scenes with TEN top composers! These open SEL activities invite students to color their listening experience while hearing the selected music. Each featured piece of music has a unique carnival scene to color and expressive keywords to choose from.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of popular composers
• familiarity with a variety of musical periods
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by choosing colors related to a musical theme

You'll find five unique carnival scenes for students to explore: bumper car, rollercoaster, bouncy house, popcorn, and a concession stand. Students choose from emojis and fun-themed images to color. There are no wrong answers!

Featured Composers

1. John Williams
2. Johann Strauss II
3. Clara Schumann
4. Scott Joplin
5. George Gershwin
6. Duke Ellington
7. Aaron Copland
8. Johannes Brahms
9. Ludwig Van Beethoven
10. Johann Sebastian Bach

These carnival-themed listening activities are easy to implement - just print and play! The music is readily available on YouTube and your favorite streaming services. No musical training is required making these great for sub plans and summer send-home packets!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

Right this way to the circus! Students explore five circus scenes with TEN top composers! These open SEL activities invite students to color their listening experience while hearing the selected music. Each featured piece of music has a unique circus scene to color and expressive keywords to choose from.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of popular composers
• familiarity with a variety of musical periods
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by choosing colors related to a musical theme

You'll find five unique circus scenes for students to explore: juggling, unicycle, animal friends, trapeze artist, and a clown. Students choose from emojis and fun circus-themed images to color. There are no wrong answers!

Featured Composers

1. John Williams
2. Johann Strauss II
3. Clara Schumann
4. Scott Joplin
5. George Gershwin
6. Duke Ellington
7. Aaron Copland
8. Johannes Brahms
9. Ludwig Van Beethoven
10. Johann Sebastian Bach

These circus-themed listening activities are easy to implement - just print and play! The music is readily available on YouTube and your favorite streaming services. No musical training is required making these great for sub plans and summer send-home packets!

Embark on a 12-month musical journey through time with the Classical Journey Bundle! ♬

Add a touch of mindful music to any season, holiday, or composer unit study. With over 150 categorized classical pieces, the Classical Journey Bundle offers an engaging printable for every occasion. Each month unlocks a curated selection of themed classical music pieces, perfectly paired with a holiday or season!

Back-to-school season may be rapidly approaching, but there is still a little summer left! Introduce students to these nature-inspired classical pieces.

Music Appreciation Made Easy!

Do you need engaging print-and-go activities and brain breaks? The music featured in this activity packet is carefully curated and previewed - saving you hours of planning time. Just print and cue the music!

The selections are available on YouTube or your favorite streaming service. There are no wrong answers, and no musical training is required, so add a few to your sub plans, too!

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of composers from different backgrounds
• observe seasonal/holiday influences within a composition
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

Social-Emotional Learning

Listening to classical music has been shown to help with self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation. Since social-emotional learning is essential for children, incorporating classical music into your classroom or homeschool is a great way to support their development.

Talk about the emotions evoked by the selected music. What does the music make them feel? Happy? Sad? Anxious? Peaceful? Help students identify and label their feelings. Ask open-ended questions about the music and encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings.

Discuss the different instruments used in the piece of music. What does each instrument contribute to the overall sound? Encourage students to make up a story based on the music. What is happening in the story? Who are the characters? Where does it take place?

While listening, students can draw a picture or scene that comes to mind. What colors are used? What shapes? Why?

August Listening Sheets

1. The Lark Ascending, Vaughan Williams
2. The Earth Prelude, Einaudi
3. The Four Seasons, Vivaldi
4. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Debussy
5. Water Music, Handel
6. River Flows in You, Yiruma
7. Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 ("Raindrop",) Chopin
8. Become Ocean, Adams
9. A Walk in the Forest, Blech
10. The Sea, Bridge
11. Conga del Fuego, Marquez
12. Romance No. 2, Beethoven
13. Concierto de Aranjuez, Rodrigo
14. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelssohn
15. The Sound of Trees, Pepin
16. Summerland, William Grant Still
17. The Seasons: Summer, Glazunov
18. The Seasons: August, Tchaikovsky
19. Summer Night on the River, Delius
20. Summer Day, Prokofiev

What's Included

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

Carnival Coloring - Which carnival rides and activities would best fit a piece of music? Does the tempo feel like a roller coaster or a peaceful swing ride in the sky? Choose a tasty treat from the snack bar, then stop at the prize booth before finishing. There are no wrong answers!

Listen and Color - While listening, students color the scene and choose the keywords/elements that resonate with their listening experience. There is lots of room for drawing, coloring, and journaling in the box! Students often engage in discussions about what they've heard or felt. Great for displaying!

Easel Activity

Pair an engaging digital listening board with these musical selections! Students use the highlight tool to choose from keyword lists that describe their listening experience. An answer box at the bottom allows students to write a brief description of their thoughts and feelings. Using the pen or any design tool provided, students can decorate a scene or upload an image to the frame! Each board features colorful clipart related to the music. As always, there are no wrong answers. Students can choose any combination of descriptors.

August Space Story - Do you need engaging classical music activities? Classical Space Tale listening sheets combine music appreciation with an intergalactic theme! Students compose their epic space tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar space objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

August Fairy Tale - Classical Fairy Tale listening sheets combine music appreciation with a storybook theme! Students compose their wondrous tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar fairy tale objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

August Checkboxes - Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more! Time, nature, settings, instruments, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

Become Ocean - Do you need engaging brain breaks? This single-page listening activity is great for celebrating summer, Earth Day, or adding to your August sub plans. Just print and play! The music is available on YouTube or your favorite streaming services.

August Mindful Listening (en Español) From January to December, the monthly listening sets are now available in Spanish! Este conjunto de hojas de escucha está inspirado por los diversos días festivos estatales que conmemoran el cumpleaños de George Washington, Abraham Lincoln y Thomas Jefferson – ¡así como el 4 de julio y otras ocasiones con temas Americanos!