Musical Easter Egg Hunt | Free Elementary Music Lesson Plan (Dynamics)

Big Idea

It's a musical twist on "Hot or Cold!" Students learn about four dynamic levels (p-f) as they use loud and soft sounds to guide their classmates toward hidden eggs. This free, no-prep music lesson plan is so much fun they'll beg for more!

Grade Level: 1-6
Activity: Musical Game & Ear Training
Skill: Dynamics (p, mp, mf, f)

Students will understand and demonstrate four dynamic levels (p, mp, mf, f) through listening and performance in a game setting.

This lesson is designed to fulfill the 2014 National Standard for Music:
Demonstrate and explain how the selection of expressive qualities (such as dynamics and tempo) is used to convey intent. (Performing - MU:Pr4.3)

One Plastic Easter Egg
Candy or Small Prizes
Non-Pitched Percussion Instruments

Music Lesson Plan

Step 1
Get students interested in the lesson.

Ask them, "Who's interested in a musical Easter egg hunt?"

Step 2
Tell students, "Before we get started, you'll need to learn a few things about dynamics. Dynamics is a big word for all the loud and soft sounds we hear in music."

Explain the Italian terms for the four basic levels:

Piano (Soft)
Mezzo Piano (Medium Soft)
Mezzo Forte (Medium Loud)
Forte (Loud)

Step 3
Perform a short ear-training exercise. Play two staccato chords on the piano and ask students to identify the dynamic level using the Italian terms. If they struggle to tell the difference between levels like mezzo piano and mezzo forte, provide a few more practice examples.

Step 4
Pass out percussion instruments. Tell the class, "When you receive your instrument, please place it on the floor in front of you. If you want to keep your instrument the whole time, only play it when we're giving the musical clues!"

Step 5
Practice. Play a few chords on the piano and have the students repeat the dynamic level on their instruments. If you play forte, they play forte. If you play mezzo piano, they play mezzo piano.

Step 6
Explain the game. "This is like a hot-cold game. You are 'cold' if you are far from the egg and 'hot' if you are close. Our instruments will provide the clues. The louder we play, the closer you are to finding the egg."

Review the Italian terms:

Piano (Soft)
Mezzo Piano (Medium Soft)
Mezzo Forte (Medium Loud)
Forte (Loud)

Step 7
Select one student to hide the egg and one to find it. Send the "hunter" out of the room. Place candy in the egg and have the "hider" find a spot. Bring the finder back in and begin providing musical clues based on their proximity to the egg.

Step 8
Play the game. If the hunter locates the egg, they get the candy. If they can't find it within 60 to 90 seconds, the prize goes to the hider.

Step 9
Repeat for additional students until the class period ends.