Elementary Lesson Plan

Objective: The 4^th graders will learn about the String family. They will be able to name the main string instruments in the String family by the end of the lesson.

Purpose: This is part of the ≥Meet the Instrument Families≤ unit I am doing with my students.

Materials Needed: I will be using the Microsoft Musical Instruments software to teach the instruments of the String Family. I will need a projector, screen and speakers so the kids can see and hear everything. I will also bring in the real life string instruments that I have: a bass, a cello, a viola and a violin.

Anticipatory Set: I will open with a critical listening exercise. I will have my students listen to a recording of a string quartet and ask questions about what kinds of instrument they think they are listening to and maybe have them describe what they think the instruments look like.

Procedure:

After the critical listening, we will continue the conversation about string instruments.
I will show them the String Family section of the Microsoft Musical Instruments software. We will first learn about the violin, then move to the other string instruments in the orchestra (viola, cello, bass).
We will discover the fact sheet and read about each of the main instruments
We will listen to the sound files of each string instrument
We will discuss musical ideas such as timbre, color and how it relates to each instrument.
Iπll take questions or comments. I think there will be a few string players in the class who would like to share what they know about their string instrument, maybe even demonstrate for the class.
I anticipate that some students will be curious about other string instruments in the family so we might explore other string instruments featured in the software
I will show them what the string instruments I have look like in real life. They can touch and feel the instrument and maybe, if they are really good, they will get a chance to try and play one.

Check for student understanding: After the procedure, weπll play a game about the string instruments, in jeopardy style. Everyone will participate because they love games, and it will show me what they know. Sample question: This instrument is a little bigger than a viola and has a deeper range, answer: what is the viola?

Closure: Iπll ask the students questions about how it relates to our trip to Carnegie Hall and what else we might explore when it comes to the orchestra.

Extensions: We can explore the string instruments of different countries and see how they look and sound similar or different from the ones we learned about today.