5th Grade Music Lesson (by date, latest first)

Looking for a way to have some fun while learning music? Look no further. This Graphic Scores Unit will have your students exploring how to represent sound using graphics and composing in no time! There are 3 main lessons included in this unit, however, the last lesson will likely take 6-8 lessons to put together and perform. This unit is one I have used with my own students so I know how much fun they have with it! The great thing with graphic scores is you don't really need any instruments to compose which makes this unit even better if you're teaching music on a cart or have limited resources available.

Overview:

This graphic score short unit exposes students to what a graphic score is. They get to represent sound using graphics and compose their own graphic score using found sounds. Students will learn how sound and music can be represented using graphics. They will practice representing a short piece of music through graphics. After, they will represent common soundscapes using their own graphics and will then create their own graphic score to perform. I created this in Google Docs/Slides so that you can customize this unit to your own unique needs.

Learning Goals:

• We are learning how to represent sounds and music using non-traditional notation.
• We are learning to compose a piece of music using found sounds and represent our sound using graphics.

Success Criteria:

• I can represent sound using graphics.
• I can compose a piece of music with a group and perform it using my score.

What’s Included:

• Lesson Plans and Ideas
• Google Slides Lesson on Graphic Scores (including original composition to practice creating graphic scores)
• Graphic organizer for students with fill in the blanks about graphic scores
• Graphic organizer for students to represent original composition as a graphic score
• Graphic organizer for students to represent soundscapes using graphics
• Graphic score for students to create their own graphic scores
• Rubrics to mark graphic score assignments
• 3 Stars and a Wish for peer feedback

Whether you have experience teaching music or not, this unit is for you. Have a small budget or no budget for teaching music? I have included ways to make music with your students for very little money. I have used this unit for 5 years teaching music and every year the students love it. This unit will give you a semester (or half a year) worth of material to use with approximately 2 periods of music per week.

What is bucket drumming?

Bucket drumming is a relatively inexpensive way to bring rhythmic practices into the classroom. This unit is designed to be accessible for all teachers to use, regardless of musical training. The use of familiar words helps both teachers and students learn simple rhythms together. The rhythms increase in difficulty and there are options for easy, medium, and hard rhythms. This allows for easy modifications and accommodations ensuring that students of all abilities are successful in this unit. I have taught variations of this unit with grade 6-8 students for over 5 years with success, and these lessons can be modified for other grade levels.

In my experience, students love bucket drumming and enjoy the lessons in this unit. One activity that you can use when you have a few extra minutes is the Elimination Game, and students LOVE it! It can be used as a great warm-up game and to reinforce the skills taught in this unit.

This unit includes games, lessons, and activities to help strengthen ear training, encourage active listening, develop rhythmic abilities, develop composition skills, explore creativity, and most importantly, to have fun! I have also included some helpful information to get bucket drumming started in your classroom. Included in this unit are lessons, games. activities, and rubrics where needed. There are a solid 21 – 31 periods worth of work included in this unit (possibly more).

Included below are the overall lesson plans and activities included in this unit. Most “lessons” can be used for multiple periods and the approximate number of periods is included in brackets beside the activity. I have based these periods on approximately 45 minutes each. These lessons include opportunities to read music, compose, and perform.

Introduction to Bucket Drumming (1 - 2 periods)

Elimination Game (1 period)

Elements of Music (2 – 3 periods)

Rhythm Cards (2 – 3 period)

8 Bar Rhythm Challenges (4 – 6 periods)

Let’s Compose! (5 – 6 periods)

Stomp Composition (6 – 10 periods)

If you have any questions, please let me know! Happy Bucket Drumming!

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Included in these rhythm bundle are 25 resources that you can utilize in grades 3-6. Games, dictation, worksheets, races, and more are in this bundle as the resources discuss longer rhythmic patterns, sixteenth notes, triplets, and long durations of rests.

Definitely a semester filler in here, terrific for reinforcing your 2nd half of the year with some of your upper grades, and with 30% off when bundled together, it's a sale you can't beat!

In this Imagine Dragons Percussion MEGABundle, you will get great resources, a mix of bucket drumming arrangements, rhythm basketball, rhythm stick read-alongs, and body percussion at a 15% discount off of each one!

WHY IMAGINE DRAGONS?

• Great compositions, safe for ears, and engaging music for all grades (battle anthems for most of the boys as well -- surely a hit for them!)

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically designed for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

For the Rhythm Basketball:

• Your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see an ornament icon. Each ornament icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each ball for the students to hold the ball. Any smaller ornaments (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor

• There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the ornament icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat

Gearing up for August and September and need to infuse something rhythm games, activities, assessments for your intermediate level kids? Look no further than the _Back-2-Schoo_l RHYTHM MegaBundle with 8 separate resources @ 15% off when purchased here together!

From body percussion and movement activities to center games and ensemble games played as a class, you'll never run out of things to do your first few months :)

Check out the products below to see if they fit into your curriculum and let me know if you have any questions!

In this Dance Hits Bundle, you will get great resources, a mix of 9 custom bucket drumming arrangements @ 15% each when bundled together here!

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically designed for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Looking for a load of 2022 repertoire (that's clean!) for your bucket drums? Look no further to keep all of your kids drumming throughout the year!

In this megapack, you will receive 8 custom arrangements of the most recent popular music from the leading artists at a 20% discount when bought all together here...

All music can be found on YouTube (or Amazon music, Apple Music, Pandora, etc) as the accompaniment tracks and played in the background.

You can preview the music in the store by browsing through the bucket drumming arrangements (most are designed for upper elementary, middle, and can easily be played by high schoolers)

Have a great time with this!

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

In this GnArLy 90s BUCKET DRUMMING BUNDLE, you will get great resources, a mix of bucket 90s drumming arrangements at a 15% discount off of each one!

Great compositions, safe for ears, and engaging music for all grades (battle anthems for most of the boys as well -- surely a hit for them!)

Arrangements are designed from 4th grade all the way up to middle school, so these are typically designed for some of the older kids.

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

In TOTALLY TUBANOS, you will receive 6 great tubano arrangements you can do with your Tubano drums @ 20% OFF when purchased all together! For all arrangements, here are some notes about the drumming:

The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher)

At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?

• Have tambourines or shakers play on specified beats (try 2 and 4)
• Have shakers play 16th notes all the way throughout or in specific sections
• Have half the class play 1st and 3rd measures, the other half play 2nd and 4th measures
• Do it in a round! :)

Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!

In this Christmas Remix (TRAP Version), you will get great 7 resources all Christmas Themed re-envisioned with a TRAP Remix hip-hop background with a 10% discount off of each one!

For notation:

• All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish),

• The X notation that is stacked with quarter notes are played as shots (think like a marching band snare drum -- playing the drum and stick simultaneously as a rimshot or on top of each other -- whatever will you get you the best accent!)

• The X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

The Video Game Bucket Drumming Bundle includes 9 Bucket Drumming arrangements all at 15% off!

Youtube links and mp3s can be found on the individual pages -- your kids will LOVE this, and at 15% off here when it's all purchased together, it's a win-win!

Yep, it's TS!

With the engaging attributes of Taylor Swift's music, we now feature the Taylor Swift Bucket Drumming MEGAMix!, a collection of eight bucket drumming (and one rhythm basketball) arrangements to some of her best known hits!

Youtube links and mp3s can be found on the individual pages -- your kids will LOVE this, and at 20% off here when it's all purchased together, it's a win-win!

In the Tubano MEGAPACK! you get 14 great Tubano drumming arrangements all prices at 20% off when purchase here together!

These range from easy to difficult and are great for all ages, either taught by rote or taught by reading.

With 14 different arrangements from 3/4, 4/4, and 6/8 at various tempi you prescribe, the fun never ends! :)

You're looking at it! An entire year (or MORE!) worth of Rhythm Basketball arrangements!

When bought all together here, you save over 40% of 48 arrangements of Rhythm Basketball from Movies to Holidays to TV shows to Pop Songs to Cartoons and MORE!

This is a #buyitforLIFE sale! One and done and they're all yours! :)

The #1 selling "Identify Form in Pop Music!" has multiple follow versions! In addition to the Original Version, you can download Part TWO (2014), Part THREE (2015), Part FOUR (2017), Part FIVE (2018) Part SIX (2019) and Part SEVEN (2021) below:

Identify Form in Pop Music PART TWO

Identify Form in Pop Music PART THREE

Identify Form in Pop Music PART FOUR

Identify Form in Pop Music PART FIVE

Identify Form in Pop Music PART SIX

Identify Form in Pop Music PART SEVEN

______________________________

Kids love their pop music, right? Want to integrate it into your classroom? This is great lesson to do with 4th and 5th graders that lets them listen to their favorite pop music while learning about musical form!

The lesson begins with a video introduction to form and then talks about elements of pop music and how it ascribes to a specific form. We talk about the intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro in detail, and then go onto our activity.

I cut out cards -- 1 intro, 3 verses, 3 choruses, 1 bridge, and 1 outro (or you can do it with a whiteboard/marker, or even as a unison class response) and give them to each student, then have have the kids sit on the floor. I then play an mp3 of a song which has 10 second clips of each of the sections (there is about a 2 second gap in between each clip and all clips are safe for little ears -- no profanity!) and have the students identify them by spelling them out on the floor in front of them

A great compromise to having your kids listen to their music and still satisfy a 4th and 5th grade standard in identifying the structure of music!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jasonlitt@gmail.com

Have fun, kids LOVE this!

11 great orchestral tracks to warmup your Chorus! These original choral warmups range from G below middle C to High Bb above the staff and reinforce vowel sounds, diction, and extension of range. Fun orchestral sounds add on to the piano and descriptions are given on all powerpoint slides. Included are 11 files in mp3 format to accompany your students.

This is a competitive notation naming game in powerpoint format. The learning goal is for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to name pitches as fast as they can. We usually play this game 'around the world' style. We start off on the left side or right side of the the room and the first two people stand up and you flash a note on the screen. The student who gets the note duration correct gets to move onto the next child in the class while the other student sits. That student has to make their way through the entire class before being deemed champion... but they could be beat at ANY TIME! You can mix it up, left side, right side, boys/girls, etc. Kids get ultra competitive, especially in 5th grade. In this version, we discuss the following notes: Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Sixteenth And the following rests: Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth The beginning starts off with the 5 note durations, followed by the rest durations. After that, the notes and rests are randomized and have a blank box below them. The student who answers it first becomes the champion (and the answer is on the following slide)

Based on the new movie, Wreck it Ralph, a new Disney/Pixar Movie coming out in November about a video game character, Wreck-it Ralph, whohas been doing the same job for 30 years... Which is basically wrecking a building into pieces with his fists. Wreck-it Rhythm is a music game where you’re going to get to destroy a fictitious dilapidated 29th street beat building Ralph is fueled by Rhythm, and the class is the one to give it to him... Read a variety of rhythms on the screen below in a variety of different ways... Everyone will receive a pair of lummi sticks and when you see the rhythm, you will play that rhythm on the correct area (H, M, K) If the entire class plays the rhythm correctly, you will start destroying those bricks! (just advance the powerpoint) Gets the kids REALLY engaged! They try to get the highest score! Put some 8-bit music on with a MM = 120 or less Enjoy!

A brand new approach to the Rainbow Recorder System, Level 2! I use original and simple compositions for this one which I use this with my 4th and 5th graders. We start off simple and get into more technical things along the way -- scaffolding made simple! This buildings on the previous year's Rainbow Recorder system (which you can download as well in my files). We learn more advanced techniques such as slurs, articulations, more terminology, and great new rhythms. This includes 8 original songs for all of your students and have fingering charts and tips and hints included on every slide! After you download this Powerpoint, please email me at jasonlitt@gmail.com and I will send you mp3 accompaniment files for all of the pieces (so you don't have to play along on the piano, and you can concentrate on assessing) :)

Teaching your kids about articulations and note lengths? This activity teaches them about the history of note lengths by using a parallel with morse code. I ask the students to draw 8 quarter notes on their whiteboards (or if you have clip boards or pieces of paper, that will suffice as well)! We then play 7 examples of notes with various articulations and the students have to write the staccatos and legatos below the notes as they hear them. The initial slide has plain quarter notes, but then after the example is played, you scroll through the animations and the articulations begin appearing as the students check their work. Kids love it! This can be used from K-5 and you may play each example as many times as you wish. For older kids, play the example on a few times for a harder challenge. Included in the .zip file are the powerpoint, the fonts for the powerpoint, and the mp3 files for the examples at the end