"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.

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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.