Concordia University - SchMu 328

Music Lesson Plans

Name / Grade Level / Based on Theories of...
Olivia Oetting / 5th grade

National Standards

1. Sing / 2. Play / 3. Improvise / 4 Compose/Arr. /
  1. Read/Notate

X / 6. Listen / X / 7. Evaluate / 8. Related Arts / X / 9. History/Culture / 6. Integrating the Faith
Learning Objectives
TSWBAT: /
  • The students will be able to discuss elements/characteristics/emotions while listening to selections from Stravinsky’s The Firebird with 100% accuracy as observed by teacher observation and listening.
  • The students will generate predictions of possible sounds while listening to the story of The Firebird with 70% accuracy as observed by teacher observation and listening.

Resources / (Infernal Dance)
(Dance of the Princesses)
Sequence of Activities /
  1. Play a The Infernal Dance from Stravinsky’s The Firebird as the students walk into the classroom. (the students will not know which piece it is)
  2. When the song is over ask questions about the music.
  3. How did that music make you feel?
  4. How would you describe the music?
  5. Looking for as many words as possible.
  6. Play the Dance of the Princesses. (the students will not know which piece it is)
  7. Have students write as they listen.
  8. Ask the same questions about the song.
  9. Looking for the differences
  10. As we can see, music can be used to make us feel a certain way or even to tell a story. When we add movements to the music it can help us tell an even greater story. Ballet is a type of dance that uses movements to tell a story instead of words. Ballet was very popular in Russia and there are many composers who wrote music for ballets. One of these composers was Igor Stravinsky. He wrote music for a ballet called The Firebird. The story is an old Russian folk tale and there are many different sounds that Mr. Stravinksy used in his music. As you listen to the story, think about what kinds of music he might have used.
  11. Read the story.
In the enchanted garden of the Immortal Kostcheï the Firebird appears, pursued by Ivan Tsarevich. The Firebird tries to pluck golden apples from the magic tree. But, Ivan seizes her and will not release her until she gives him one of her feathers, as a pledge of help should he ever need it. She flies off.
The darkness dissolves and Ivan finds himself at the gate of an old castle. 12 maidens come out, led by a beautiful Tsarevna, who tells him that this is the castle of the Immortal Kostcheï, a magician who waylays passing travellers by casting spells on them. After exchanging tender glances with Ivan, the Tsarevna leads her companions in a lively dance. She and Ivan kiss. But it is now dawn and the maidens must return to the castle.
In spite of the Tsarevna's warning, Ivan decides to follow them. As soon as he opens the gates, bells ring out and a crowd of weird figures rush from the castle, followed by Kostcheé, before whom they prostrate themselves.
Kostcheé advances on Ivan and tries to turn him to stone. But Ivan waves the Firebird's feather in his face, invoking her aid. She reappears and forces the crowd to dance until they fall exhausted to the ground. While they are all asleep, Ivan, on her instruction, steals a great egg that contains Kostcheï's soul. He throws it to the ground. Kostcheï dies and his spell is broken. The captives are restored to human form.
The Tsarevna and Ivan are married and everyone joins in a thanksgiving.
  1. Discuss what other types of music they think will be in the ballet.
  2. What kind of music do you think is played when Ivan captures the firebird?
  3. How about when the princesses come out into the Garden?
  4. What about when the monsters are there?
  5. And how about when everyone is freed from the king?

  1. If there is time discuss other stories they know that use music.

Assessment / Listening to descriptive words of students
Observe predictions made
Observe written words