Unit Overview- This is an integrated unit for Science and Technology, Language Arts, Music, Visual Arts and Dance and Drama.
Through participation in this unit, grade 2 students will explore the music of Camille Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. They will participate in writing and science activities, dramatic and visual arts activities to achieve a deeper understanding of the music.
Unit Summary- Through the integration of Science and Technology, Music, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama, and Language Arts, the students of grade 2 will develop a deeper understanding and repretoire for expressing themselves musically.
They will work as a whole class, individually, pairs, and small groups to accompllish the activities laid out in the unit.
Links to Prior Knowledge- Grade 1 Science:
What is an animal? What do animals need to live? How do animals move? What changes happen as animals grow?
Previous Musical Knowledge:
Students should have some basic understanding of composing music. An understanding of beat vs rhythm is also needed.
Unit Notes to Teacher- This unit can be used to introduce, enhance, or complete the science strand, Life Systems - Growth and Change in Animals.
Though the subtasks come in a particular order, they are divided into Science and Technology subtasks (first four), and integrated arts subtasks (last five). As a result, the subtasks can be reorganized to meet your needs, though I would suggest that in the individual sets, the subtasks are presented in order.
One suggestion for setting up the classroom: use the Carnival of the Animals Picture Files to decorate the class. Under or around some of them, write some the poems by Ogden Nash for Carnival of the Animals (see thematic unit website). In this way, the visual learner as well as the liguistic learner would benefit from the walls, not to mention the atmostphere that these would create for all the students!
List of Subtasks- 1 - Growth and Change in Animals
Using KWL charts, computers, and a field trip, students will begin to understand and see how animals change, and how humans can directly or indirectly affect different animals' existence
- 2 - We do WHAT to them?
Through class discussion and presentations, students will begin to understand how humans directly or indirectly affect animals. Why do we harm animals? What can we do to help them?
- 3 - Investigations into...
It's time to choose an animal and research some big questions regarding the habitat, how they adapt themselves to the environment, how humans can assist and help them.
- 4 - Discoveries
(Culminating Task 1)
The students will work, practice, and present their animals to the class
- 5 - Introduction to The Carnival of the Animals (part 1)
To introduce the music of The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, read the story Carnival of the Animals by John Lithgow (ISBN: 0689867212) or Carnival of the Animals in Full Score by Camille Saint-Saens (ISBN: 0486404129 · Published by Dover Publications). The pictures and story nicely set the stage for learning about the music, and thus, preparing them mentally for the unit ahead.
- 6 - Introduction to The Carnival of the Animals (part 2)
Students will start to learn about Camille Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals through singing related songs and actively listening to the music. Students will discuss their thoughts and feelings about the music, as well as recognize that mood can be created through music
- 7 - Moody Animals
Through dance and drama, students will act out, and thus develop a more intimate understanding of the music of four of the movements, Introduction and Royal March of the Lion, Hens and Roosters, Personages with Long Ears and Fossils. The students will have to determine the mood of the piece, decide on what animal is being portrayed, and then act out the animal.
- 8 - The Aquarium, The Swan, and The Aviary
Students will create puppets and costumes to act out or create an artistic dance for these movements.
- 9 - An animal in mind, an animal in sound
(Culminating Task 2)
Using their knowledge of musical elements, the students will choose an animal, and using found and made instruments, will create a short musical composition to represent this animal.
Teacher Made Accompaniments for The Elephant and Cuckoo- The Elephant
The Elephant (with melody)
- Cuckoo
Cuckoo (with melody)
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the Animals