Explore the music of John Williams, the legendary composer behind the world's most iconic film scores! With these engaging listening activities, biography pages, and even a word puzzle - you can bring the works of John Williams to life in your classroom or homeschool!

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of John Williams
• 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:

1-page Resource Guide - This guide will get you started quickly! Just print and play.

Listening Sheet Star Rating Guides - A reference sheet illustrates the five-star rating system included in most listening sheets. Each frame has a description, with one being "okay" and 5 stars as "Wow!"

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.

2 Biography Pages - 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! 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 - There are more options to profile the composer on the rating sheet, including which season and musical style they belong to. This can also be used as a listening sheet or as a bulletin board display.

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 scores. Add a timer for an extra challenge.

Musical Selections (two pages per piece)

1. The Imperial March
2. Hedwig's Theme
3. Horn Concerto
4. Flight to Neverland
5. Journey to the Island
6. The Throne Room
7. Princess Leia's Theme
8. The Raiders March

Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? These NEW activity sheets feature a carnival theme! Students can color their own carnival while listening to this selection of John Williams compositions!

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!

Printable Listening Sheets Include:

1. The Imperial March
2. Hedwig's Theme
3. Horn Concerto
4. Flight to Neverland
5. Journey to the Island
6. The Throne Room
7. Princess Leia's Theme
8. The Raiders March
9. Duel of the Fates
10. Binary Sunset
11. The Face of Pan
12. The Five Sacred Trees
13. Viktor's Tale
14. Harry's Wondrous World
15. Somewhere in My Memory
16. Yoda's Theme
17. The Fog Scene
18. E.T. is Alive!
19. Flying Theme
20. Growing Up in Paris
21. Violin Concerto No. 1

"My students loved using this resource and getting to do art while in music class!" - Miranda B.

Low Prep! Do you need engaging music activities about John Williams? This activity packet explores John Williams' movie scores, biographical information, word building, and more!

The featured music is available on YouTube and other streaming services. Just print or assign digitally, cue the music, and you're all set to explore this interactive playlist!

★ Featuring Ten Iconic John Williams Compositions:

1. The Imperial March
2. Jurassic Park Theme
3. Superman Theme
4. Olympic Fanfare (1984)
5. Hedwig's Theme
6. Horn Concerto
7. Flight to Neverland
8. Journey to the Island
9. The Throne Room
10. Princess Leia's Theme

★ Composer Biography and Research Pages

• Composer Fact Sheet: Each composer fact sheet in this series includes fun, basic information – full name, birthplace, birth date, and more. One of the composer’s most popular compositions is also included. The fact sheet contains a place for writing fun facts or notes.
• 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. Add a timer for an extra challenge.
• Birthplace Fact Sheet: Use your favorite geographical resource to find the country’s language(s), leadership, traditional foods, and more! The historical name of some territories may have changed, but the most modern country is used for easy reference.
• Birthday Coloring Page: A fun coloring page repeats the composer’s birthday, and invites the artist to color in a special cupcake to celebrate the occasion.
• Composer Study Page: Students compile a short biographical page with the composer's full name, birthplace, instruments, and more!
• Composer Vocabulary Another six-word vocabulary list that typically includes the composer’s name, birthplace, instrument, or other related terms. Space is provided to trace each term and the included handwriting paper can be used for additional practice.
• Full Writing Page
• Writing/Drawing Page
• Drawing Page

★ John Williams Movie Score Listening Sheets

• Five Star Rating Guide
• 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.

Do you need fun & engaging activities for your John Williams unit? Match the music to the correct movie! Cut & laminate the full-color popcorn pages and empty popcorn boxes. Each piece of popcorn will match its own movie popcorn box. Great for a group activity or music center. Answer key is provided for students to check their answers or use as a reference.

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of John Williams' most popular movie scores
• 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:

1. Princess Leia’s Theme (Star Wars: A New Hope)
2. The Imperial March (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)
3. The Throne Room (Star Wars: A New Hope)
4. Somewhere in my Memory (Home Alone)
5. Journey to the Island (Jurassic Park)
6. Jurassic Park Theme (Jurassic Park)
7. Harry’s Wondrous World (Harry Potter, Sorcerer’s Stone)
8. The Quidditch Match (Harry Potter, 2001)
9. Yoda’s Theme (The Empire Strikes Back, 1980)
10. The Force Suite (Star Wars: A New Hope)
11. Secrets of the Castle (Harry Potter, Prisoner of Azkaban)
12. Across the Stars (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
13. The Raider’s March (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
14. You are the Pan (Hook)
15. E.T. And Me (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)
16. Reunion of Friends (Harry Potter, Chamber of secrets)
17. Anakin’s Theme (Star Wars: Phantom Menace)
18. Mom Returns (Finale) (Home Alone)
19. Schindler’s Theme (Schindler’s List)
20. A Tree for my Bed (Jurassic Park)
21. Saying Goodbye (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)

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.