Anthony Napolitano

I. Class Information
a. 5th grade, General Music, Sergei Prokofiev , Peter and the Wolf
b. 50 minutes
II. Objective(s)
a. At the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify the different themes of
Peter and the Wolf while listening and describe the story that is being told
through the music.
b. State Standard: 25.A.4 Analyze and evaluate the effective use of elements,
principles and expressive qualities in a composition/performance in dance,
drama, music and visual arts.
c. National Standard: 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
III. Materials
a. Worksheets, paper, pencil, YouTube video
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqs0qVEI7Ds starting at 30:00), listening
map (from link), Peter and the Wolf book
b. I will be using this lesson plan
(https://www.classicsforkids.com/downloads/prokofiev/CSO%20Peter%20and%
20the%20Wolf%20Lesson%20Plan%20Music%20Language%20Arts%201-3.pdf)
as well as the one submitted on d2l as my main sources.
IV. Procedure
a. Review: Good morning class, last class we talked about the different instruments
and the distinct timbres they all had.
i. Differences between brass, woodwind, and percussion
b. Anticipatory Set:
i. Grab the post it on your desk and write out your two favorite
instruments and the description we used to explain their timbre
ii. When youre finished, put them up on the board
iii. Have a volunteer go up to the board and write down all the songs.
1. How many do we have of the same instrument?
2. Why do you think this instrument is recognizable?
c. Lesson Objective and Rationale:
i. Today we are going to learn about Sergei Prokofiev and the piece he
composed called Peter and the Wolf and how he used the music to tell
the story.
ii. There are times when we are listening to music and we picture
something in our heads. Prokofiev and Sats had something specific in
mind when he composed this piece.
iii. Writing stories doesnt always have to be a book. It can be music or even
art. Creativity takes many different forms and we can use all forms to
convey our message.
Anthony Napolitano

d. Instructional Input:
i. Sergei Prokofiev composed Peter and the Wolf in 1936
ii. Peter and the Wolf was written to introduce children to the individual
instruments in the orchestra
iii. Peter and the Wolf was commissioned by Natalya Sats
iv. The original version was about a Young Pioneer (Soviet version of a Boy
Scout) righting the wrong of an adult
v. In the original ending (not the video) the duck is swallowed by the wolf
vi. The first performance of this piece was not successful because Sats was
sick and her replacement had no practiceD
vii. Lets read it together (see worksheet)
1. Silently first then discuss as class
viii. There are multiple themes throughout the piece, lets identify them and
their characteristics. As you identify each character, have each student
draw what they think each would look like.
1. Peter, represented by the violin
a. Carefree, playful
2. Wolf, represented by the french horn
a. Sneaky, slow
3. Bird, represented by the flute
a. Fast, high
4. Grandfather, represented by the bassoon
a. Strict, heavy
5. Cat, represented by the clarinet
a. Smooth, steady, pausing to stretch
6. Duck, represented by the oboe
a. Waddling, slow
7. Hunters, represented by the timpani and trupmet
a. Brave, alert, determined
ix. Lets listen to the piece and use the listening map to figure out the
themes.
1. What do you notice from the listening map before we listen?
a. What characters are seen throughout the story?
b. Does the ending seem like it will be happy?
x. Now we are going to watch a video that depicts the story
1. (play YouTube video)
e. Checking for Understanding:
i. Grab your Answer cards (display on SMART Board)
1. What instrument represents the Grandfather?
Anthony Napolitano

a. A. Bassoon B. Xylophone C. Trumpet D. Violin

2. What instrument represents the gunshots of the hunters?
a. A. Timpani B. Trombone C. Violin D. French Horn
3. How many instruments are represented in this story?
a. A. 3 B. 1 C. 4. D 7
f. Guided Practice
i. Get into groups of 4 and write at least a paragraph answering the
following questions:
1. How does his music tell the story?
2. If you hadnt read the poem first, do you think you would have
understood the story?
3. If not, what story did you envision?
4. What theme was most prominent?
g. Independent Practice
i. For additional practice, read the handout on Sergei Prokofiev and answer
the questions on the worksheet over the handout and over Peter and the
Wolf
V. Closure
a. Today, we learned about Peter and the Wolf. There are several themes involved
in this piece. They are the violins carefree and playful theme, the French horns
sneaky and slow theme, the flutes fast and high theme, the bassoons strict and
heavy theme, clarinets smooth and steady theme, the oboes waddling and slow
theme, and the hunters brave and determined theme. The story being told is
about Peter and his attempts to hunt a wolf. Tomorrow we will look at another
piece that uses the instruments to tell a story.
VI. Evaluation
a. Student Evaluation
i. Before the lesson, I will use the post its to evaluate the previous
knowledge from the day before.
ii. I will ask about themes and if I need to, I will go over themes again as a
refresher.
b. Teacher Evaluation
i. Some strengths of my lesson would be the content. I know many get tired
of the same old classical music that everyone knows. Peter and the Wolf
isnt always well known but once the students hear it many will recognize
it. I am very organized and try to keep the sequence logical.
ii. Some weaknesses would be trying to find a guided practice. The lesson
was more about identifying the themes and talking about using music to
tell a story.

VII. Accommodations
Anthony Napolitano

a. I will put Shellie in a part of the room close to instruction

b. I will give an outline of the notes to Shellie so she can focus on listening
c. On the outline I will put the poem with notes describing words that she does not
understand. I will break up the poem using more space so that she doesnt feel
overwhelmed
d. I will have a buddy in class write down all the observations the class made about
the poem so that Shellie can participate and not have to try to focus on spelling
and reading
e. I will give Shellie a paper with all the different characters on it with pictures of
each instrument and a picture of the thing they represent
f. I will give Shellie a copy of the two themes with the written notation of them on
the page.
g. When watching the video, Shellie will be able to sit at the front of the class in
order to read the words of the video
h. I will give Shellie a copy of the score and will highlight each theme in a different
color so that he can visually see the difference.
i. I will give her another copy that coincides with the listening map and will put in
the pictures that match.
j. For the check for understanding, I will give Shellie a physical copy of the
questions
k. When in groups, I will give Shellie a copy of the questions and will put her in a
group of students she is comfortable with
l. When the worksheet is handed out, Shellie and I will go over it together to make
sure she doesnt rush through it
Anthony Napolitano

Name__________________________ Date_____________ Hour_________

Read the attached handout and answer the following questions.

1. What was the original story of Peter and the Wolf?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

2. When Peter and the Wolf first premiered, it (was)________________________

a. A huge success c. boring
b. Failed to attract much attention d. loud and entertaining

3. Name the three human characters depicted in the piece.

________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

4. True or False, Natayla Sats narrated the very first performance of Peter and the Wolf.
_________

5. True or False, Peter and the Wolf was written to introduce children to different animals.
_______

6. Name the four animals depicted in the piece

________________________________________________________________________

7. What instrument depicted Peter? ______________

a. clarinet c. violin
b. oboe d. trumpet

8. What is a Young Pioneer the same as in America? ________

9. The Duck is represented by what instrument? ________

a. clarinet c. violin
b. oboe d. trumpet

10. Peter and the Wolf s original ending had what animal swallowed by the Wolf? _________
a. Bird c. Cat
Anthony Napolitano

c. Duck d. Moose
Name_____Answer Key_____________________ Date_____________ Hour_________

Read the attached handout and answer the following questions.

1. What was the original story of Peter and the Wolf? ____A young pioneer righting the
wrong of an adult_________________

2. When Peter and the Wolf first premiered, it (was)__________B______________

a. A huge success c. boring
b. Failed to attract much attention d. loud and entertaining

3. Name the three human characters depicted in the piece. ___________Peter, Grandfather,
Hunters_______________________________________________________________

4. True or False, Natayla Sats narrated the very first performance of Peter and the Wolf.
____F_____

5. True or False, Peter and the Wolf was written to introduce children to different animals.
___F____

6. Name the four animals depicted in the piece ______Wolf, Duck, Bird, Cat________

7. What instrument depicted Peter? ________C______

a. clarinet c. violin
b. oboe d. trumpet

8. What is a Young Pioneer the same as in America? ____Boy Scout____

9. The Duck is represented by what instrument? _____B______

a. clarinet c. violin
b. oboe d. trumpet

10. Peter and the Wolf s original ending had what animal swallowed by the Wolf? ____C___
a. Bird c. Cat
c. Duck d. Moose
Anthony Napolitano

Modified Worksheet
Name__________________________ Date_____________ Hour_________

Read the attached handout and circle the correct answers.

1. The original story of Peter and the Wolf was written in what decade?
a. 30s b. 60s
2. When Peter and the Wolf first premiered, it (was)________________________
a. A huge success b. Failed to attract much attention

3. Name the one of the three human characters depicted in the piece.
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

4. Natayla Sats did or did not narrate the very first performance of Peter and the Wolf.
_________

5. Peter and the Wolf was written to introduce children to different animals or instruments
_______

6. Name two of the four animals depicted in the piece

________________________________________________________________________
7. What instrument depicted Peter? ______________
a. clarinet b. violin

8. What is a Young Pioneer the same as in America? ________

9. The Duck is represented by what instrument? ________

a. clarinet b. oboe

10. Peter and the Wolf s original ending had what animal swallowed by the Wolf? _________
a. Bird b. Duck
Anthony Napolitano

Modified Worksheet
Name________Answer Sheet_______________ Date_____________ Hour_________

Read the attached handout and circle the correct answers.

1. The original story of Peter and the Wolf was written in what decade?
a. 30s b. 60s
2. When Peter and the Wolf first premiered, it (was)________________________
a. A huge success b. Failed to attract much attention

3. Name the one of the three human characters depicted in the piece.
_________Grandfather, Peter, hunters__________________________________

4. Natayla Sats did or did not narrate the very first performance of Peter and the Wolf.
______Did not___

5. Peter and the Wolf was written to introduce children to different animals or instruments
____Instruments___

6. Name two of the four animals depicted in the piece

__________________________Duck, Cat, Bird, Wolf___________
7. What instrument depicted Peter? ______________
a. clarinet b. violin

8. What is a Young Pioneer the same as in America? ___Boy Scouts_____

9. The Duck is represented by what instrument? ________

a. clarinet b. oboe

10. Peter and the Wolf s original ending had what animal swallowed by the Wolf? _________
a. Bird b. Duck