Melody Map | Free Elementary Music Lesson Plan (Melodic Contour)

Big Idea

This tall “yarn” tells the tale by turning abstract sounds into tangible shapes kids can actually see. By using yarn to "draw" the melodic contour of a familiar kids song on the classroom floor, you make pitch direction hands-on and easy to understand!

Grade Level: 2-4
Activity: Kinesthetic & Visual Listening Map
Skill: Identifying Melodic Contour (Pitch Direction)

Students will listen to and map the melodic contour of a familiar children's song using yarn on the music classroom floor.

This lesson is designed to fulfill the 2014 National Standard for Music:
Demonstrate and explain how the selection of expressive qualities is made to support a specific purpose or context. (Responding - MU:Re7.2)

Kids Song (Example: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
6' of Yarn per Student Group

Music Lesson Plan

Step 1
Tell students, "Today we're going to draw pictures of a popular nursery rhyme song on the floor of our music classroom!"

Step 2
Tell students, "Let's start by seeing how many of you know this song. Raise your hand if it sounds familiar." Play the song you have selected for the lesson.

Step 3
Tell students, "This time, I want you to show me the highness or lowness of each pitch. When the notes are high, hold your hand high. When the notes go low, hold your hand low." Demonstrate this by holding your hand level to the floor at different heights.

Step 4
Play the melody on the piano with one hand while guiding the class in "air-mapping" the first 8 measures of the song with their hands.

Step 5
Tell students, "Now, let’s draw a picture of this melody with yarn. When I say 'Go,' you'll have 10 seconds to find a partner, get one piece of yarn from this box for both of you to share, and find a place in the classroom to sit. 'Go.'"

Step 6
Count to 10 while students find their partners.

Step 7
Tell students, "Start by laying your yarn out in a straight, horizontal line."

Step 8
Tell students, "I'll play the first two notes. I want you to decide if the second note is higher or lower than the first. As soon as you know, move your yarn to show that change in the melody."

Step 9
Draw a quick sketch on the whiteboard to show the students what their yarn map should look like so far based on the notes you played.

Step 10
Repeat these steps, note by note, until the students have a complete visual "Melody Map" of the song!