Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students explore the relationship between music, movement, and animal behavior through Carnival of the Animals. After listening to selected suites, students analyze movement qualities suggested by the music and connect them to animal characteristics using the elements of dance. Working in small groups, students choreograph and perform an abstract dance inspired by an assigned animal and musical suite, emphasizing qualities such as tempo, energy, and flow rather than literal imitation. Through performance, peer feedback, and guided discussion, students deepen their understanding of movement qualities while making interdisciplinary connections to science concepts related to animal behavior.
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Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
6, 7, 8
Carnival of the Animals Videos from SC Philharmonic
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Log In to View LessonStandards
- D.CR Creating - I can conceive and develop new artistic ideas and work.
- D.P Performing - I can perform movement skills with technical proficiency and artistic expression.
- D.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
- 8-LS1-4 Use arguments, based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning, to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
Lesson Created By: Jessica Gallagher
Lesson Partners: ABC (Arts in Basic Curriculum)