The Percussion Family
Overview
The Percussion Family is a complete lesson appropriate for students K-3 (the writing portion would need to be modified to fit the lower grade levels). It also includes an interactive google slide activity appropriate for all elementary grades.
LESSON: Percussion (Grade 2)
STANDARDS:
- Standard 4: I can play instruments alone and with others
- Standard 6: I can analyze music.
- Standard 8: I can examine music from a variety of stylistic and historical periods and cultures.
OBJECTIVES:
- Students will be able to perform a steady beat on classroom percussion instruments using varied selections of music.
- Students will be able to classify percussion instruments by how they are played.
- Students will be able to write a descriptive paragraph to include artwork about their favorite percussion instrument.
PROCEDURES:
- Begin with a discussion on what “percussion” means. (It is the act of percussing or striking, shaking, or scraping).
- Allow students to list instruments they think belong in the percussion family and make a separate list to determine if the instruments are played by hitting, shaking, or scraping.
- Allow students to view “live” percussion ensembles. Here are a couple of YouTube sites you can use:
- Zeppelin! The Louisville Leopard Percussionists
- Clave & Sons-from “Beyond Basic Percussion”
- Assign a percussion instrument to each student. Instruments can include: drums, maracas, guiros, tambourines, triangles, rhythm sticks, ect.
- Play a couple of musical selections that include varying tempos. Some ideas are:
“America!” (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
Excerpts from “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg
“We Will Rock You” by Queen
Students will play their instrument while maintaining a steady beat.
- Students will complete a google slide activity (Percussion Instruments) to determine if each instrument is played by hitting, shaking, or scraping.
- Students will write a descriptive paragraph and include artwork to describe their favorite percussion instrument.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- Classroom Percussion Instruments
- Chromebooks
- Paper, pencils, crayons, colored pencils and/or markers
- Google Slide Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PeWwdnALPkfEWCCcRHvdlqmaH2kypgafCSl9SLbQhyc/edit?usp=sharing
ASSESSMENT:
- Teacher observation of students correctly playing and maintaining a steady beat on their instrument.
- Accuracy of google slide activity
- Writing/Artwork