Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin | Instruments of the Orchestra Lesson Plan

Big Idea

Ready for a surefire hit? Bring Lloyd Moss's best-selling book to life! This free, no-prep music lesson plan helps students identify orchestra instruments and understand how they work together to create a beautiful sound.

Grade Level: 2-6
Activity: Musical Storytime & Team Game
Skill: Identifying Orchestral Instruments

Students will gain an understanding of 10 instruments of the orchestra (trombone, trumpet, french horn, cello, violin, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and harp).

This lesson is designed to fulfill the 2014 National Standard for Music:
Demonstrate and explain how the expressive qualities (such as dynamics and tempo) are used in performers’ decisions to convey expressive intent. (Responding - MU:Re9.1)

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss
10 Musical Instrument Posters
3 Paper Bags
6x4" Recipe Cards

Music Lesson Plan

Step 1
Explain to the class that they'll be learning about orchestral instruments by reading the book Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin and playing a game.

Step 2
Show the students each of the musical instrument illustrations and identify them by name. Explain that the story will mention each of these instruments. Hand out the pictures to ten students. Ask them to place their picture on the whiteboard ledge as the instrument is mentioned in the book. By the end of the story, all ten instruments will be arranged in order.

Step 3
At the conclusion of the story, review the names of each musical instrument together.

Step 4
Explain to the class that they'll be playing a game to test their knowledge of the instrument names mentioned in the book.

Step 5
Divide the students into three groups and have them form lines facing the whiteboard. Place a paper bag containing the instrument name cards on the floor in front of each line.

Step 6
The first student in each line runs to the paper bag. Ask these students to identify the first instrument. The students look through their bag to find the card that correctly names the instrument. The first student to find the correct card and hold it up earns a point for their team.

Step 7
These students then go to the end of the line, and the next students step up to the bags. Continue playing until everyone has had a turn. Students may not help their teammates choose the correct answer. A point should be awarded to the opposing teams if this occurs.

Variations

1) Ask students to identify the instrument by listening to a sound recording. Students listen to a clip and then find the card that correctly identifies that sound.

2) Ask students to identify the instrument family. For example, ask, "Which musical instrument family is the oboe from?" Students would then find the card for "The Woodwind Family."