Themed Lesson: Stars

STARS LISTENING ACTIVITY

Create your own stargazing party! Turn off all the lights and use flashlights to shine on the walls or ceiling. While listening to music, use flashlights to follow the melody!

STARS PERFORMANCE/COMPOSITION ACTIVITY

• For younger students, teach and sing a short song about stars, like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and sing it as a group. Add classroom instruments that have a timbre (TAM-ber) that “sound like stars” (e.g. triangle, finger cymbals, bell tree, or glockenspiel).

• For older students, encourage them to might pick a poem about stars and add a rhythmic ostinato or sound effects. Perform the poem composition for the class or a partner.

BONUS STARS LISTENING ACTIVITIES

• Listen to Asteroid 4179. An asteroid is basically a chunk of mineral or rock flying through space. There are different kinds of asteroids. This piece by Kaija Saariaho was written about a specific asteroid - Asteroid 4179, which is also called "Toutatis.“ (Click article to see a picture of the asteroid!)

• Listen to When You Wish Upon a Star from the Disney movie Pinocchio. (Note that this song is not included in the YouTube playlist, but is embedded below.)

ALL SUGGESTED LISTENING