Blast Off into a Classical Musical Space Adventure with "The Planets" Activities
"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!"
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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)
- The Planets (for listening to the whole suite)
- Mars, the Bringer of War
- Venus, the Bringer of Peace
- Mercury, the Winged Messenger
- Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
- Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
- Uranus, the Magician
- Neptune, the Mystic
- *Pluto, the Unpredictable (Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic)
- *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.
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