Lesson Plan 5

Lesson Objective:

After reading the book, The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art, K- 3 general music students will
discuss the connection between visual art and music. Students will be played several audio examples of instrument families of the
orchestra and will be asked to draw their own visual interpretation of how they believe those sounds would look if you could see
them. Students will be asked to provide at least 4 drawings and descriptions of their interpretations of the sounds of each
instrument family.

Procedures:

1. Read The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art to the students.
2. Discuss the story with students and discuss the ways that Vasya interpreted the sounds of the orchestra and music into
colors and abstract art.
3. Play four recordings of classical pieces that heavily feature each instrument family.
 Spring from Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (Strings)
 W.A. Mozart’s Flute Concerto No.1 in G Major (Woodwinds)
 Bela Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz. 110, BB 115 (Percussion)
 F.J. Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major (Brass)
4. While students are listening to each selection, they are asked to draw a picture that they feel represents the unique sounds
of the instrument/instrument family and a one to two sentence description of their creation.
5. Explain that these sounds can be represented by anything: shapes, colors, animals, nature, characters, etc.
6. Each student selects and presents one of their drawings to the class.
7. Drawings and descriptions are collected at the end of class.

Assessment Plan:

Lesson Objective Exceeding Meet Approaching Far Below

Expectations Expectations Expectations Expectations
After reading the book, The Noisy The student drew 4 The student drew 4 The student drew 4 The student drew
Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of visual visual visual less than 4 visual
Kandinsky’s Abstract Art, K- 3 general interpretations of interpretations of interpretations of interpretations of
music students will discuss the the music and the music and the music and the music and
connection between visual art and provided highly provided provided minimal provided minimal
music. Students will be played several detailed descriptions description description
audio examples of instrument families descriptions clearly demonstrating their demonstrating their demonstrating
of the orchestra and will be asked to demonstrating their thought process and thought process and their thought
draw their own visual interpretation of thought process and a mostly careful only some reflection process and little to
how they believe those sounds would a careful reflection reflection of the of the musical no reflection of the
look if you could see them. Students of the musical musical example. example. musical example.
will be asked to provide at least 4 example.
drawings and descriptions of their
interpretations of the sounds of each
instrument family.

WVDE Standards:

MU.K-2.5 Demonstrate, with appropriate guidance, knowledge of music contrasts (e.g., high/low, beat, melodic contour, tonality
and meter) in music from a variety of cultures selected for performance.
MU.K-2.7 Identify musical instruments from a variety of ensembles and cultures.
MU.K-2.9 Explore and/or create musical ideas through a variety of medium, with appropriate guidance.