Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks (Mussorgsky) | Free Music Lesson Plan (ABA Form)

Music Lesson Plan

Step 1
Tell students, "You were born just a few years ago, but during this lesson, you'll hatch!"

Step 2
Explain ABA form using a simple analogy. Tell students, "The piece we're going to listen to today is a lot like a peanut butter sandwich!" Draw a sandwich on the whiteboard and explain, "The first 'A' section is the bottom slice of bread. The 'B' section is the peanut butter in the middle. The final 'A' section is the top slice of bread. Just like a sandwich, this music has two parts that are exactly the same on the outside, with a section in the middle that is different—and they're delicious together!"

Step 3
Tell students, "It's time to hatch. Everyone needs to find a place in the room where they can lay on their backs inside their egg shell." Make sure we can all see you.

Step 4
Tell students, "When the music starts I want you to copy everything that I do."

Step 5
Demonstrate the actions for this listening activity.

Section A - Peck rapidly with your hands and feet. When the activity pauses, sit up and look around to explore the new world. Big smile. When the activity resumes, return to your back and start pecking again.

Section B - Sit up and peer through the "hole" in your shell with a look of amazement. Improvise occasional pecking with the music.

Section A (Reprise) - Peck rapidly until the piece ends, and then sit up one last time.

Step 6
Check for understanding. Ask students what ABA form is and which movements they did for each section.

Step 7
Repeat the activity with guided practice.

Step 8
Check for understanding one more time by asking students how a peanut butter sandwich is like the music they have been hatching to.

Step 9
Check for understanding by allowing the students to perform on their own. If the homeroom teacher has arrived, perform for them.