Play-Based Learning in Music: Aquarium Musical Contour K/1 Orff

This is a complete lesson including lesson plan and all the resources (with the exception of readily available audio recordings) you need to teach this oceanic exploration of musical contour!

Based on Camille Saint-Saen's "Aquarium" from Carnival of the Animals, this lesson has kids moving, singing, creating and exploring using a variety of strategies. After direct-teaching the first portion of the lesson, students explore melodic contour through a variety of activities that can be set up as self-selected centres or expanded to be used over a number of days as whole-class activities.

This lesson is perfect for your Kindergarten and Grade One music classes, and incorporates elements of Orff and Kodaly methods.

Note: The lesson plan is based on the British Columbia Fine Arts Curriculum, and uses the Big Ideas and Curricular Competencies found in the new curriculum. It also includes "I Can" statements compatible with curriculum from other jurisdictions.