Exploring Mozart's Symphony

Grade

6th Grade

Duration

80 minutes

Unit

Exploring Classical Music (Lesson 2 of 4)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• I can describe who Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was and explain the importance of his Symphony No. 40.
• I can identify recurring musical themes and basic structures within Symphony No. 40 through guided listening games.
• I can perform the main themes of Symphony No. 40 on my instrument and give constructive feedback to classmates.

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Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Connections:
While Common Core standards primarily focus on English Language Arts and Math, this music lesson aligns with the overarching goals of Common Core through the integration of Speaking and Listening, Reading, and critical thinking skills:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1

• Engage effectively in collaborative discussions with diverse partners about grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3

• Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text. (Applied here through reading/listening about Mozart's life and Symphony No. 40.)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4

• Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes.

In addition, the lesson supports National Core Arts Standards for Music for 6th grade to:

• Responding: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
• Performing: Develop technical skill and accuracy.

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Materials

• Audio recordings of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 (1st movement focus)
• Printed dyslexia-friendly biography & description handouts (large font, sans-serif typeface, spaced lines) about Mozart and Symphony No. 40
• Instruments (recorders, xylophones, or classroom percussion instruments)
• Whiteboard and markers or digital projector
• Worksheet for listening game notes

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction to Mozart (15 minutes)

• Teacher Activity:
  • Briefly introduce Mozart with a dyslexia-friendly handout.
  • Read aloud portions with clear, expressive voice, inviting students to follow along.
  • Highlight key facts: Mozart’s life, impact on classical music, and significance of Symphony No. 40.
• Student Engagement:
  • Pair-share: "What surprised you about Mozart’s life or music?"
  • Teacher documents brief responses on board.
• I Can Target:
  • I can describe who Mozart was and understand why Symphony No. 40 is important.

2. Listening Game: Theme Identification (20 minutes)

• Objective: Students will identify the main theme and variations in the 1st movement of Symphony No. 40.
• Teacher Activity:
  • Play short excerpts (20-30 seconds) of the 1st movement multiple times.
  • Guide students to listen for repetition and changes in the theme.
  • Use visual aids showing the structure of the movement (exposition, development, recapitulation).
• Student Activity:
  • Students use a simplified worksheet to mark when they hear the theme and changes.
  • Group discussion: "How do the themes feel different when Mozart changes them?"
• I Can Target:
  • I can recognize main musical themes and describe how they change.

3. Instrument Practice: Playing Main Themes (30 minutes)

• Objective: Students will play selected sections of Symphony No. 40's main theme on instruments.
• Teacher Activity:
  • Demonstrate the simplified main theme on an instrument or piano keyboard.
  • Divide the class into groups (recorders, xylophones, percussion).
  • Provide simple notation or fingering charts for the theme.
  • Circulate, giving personalized feedback and encouragement.
• Student Activity:
  • Practice and perform the theme as a group.
  • After each performance, peers provide one positive comment and one suggestion using sentence stems:
    • "I liked how you…"
    • "Next time, you could try…"
• I Can Target:
  • I can perform the main theme of Symphony No. 40 on my instrument.
  • I can give and receive helpful feedback to improve performance.

4. Reflection and Closing Discussion (15 minutes)

• Teacher Activity:
  • Facilitate a whole-class reflection, asking:
    • "Why do you think Symphony No. 40 is still popular today?"
    • "How did listening closely help you understand the music better?"
  • Invite students to share their favorite part or something new they learned.
• Student Activity:
  • Write or draw one new thing they learned about Mozart or the symphony. (Option to write a sentence or create a visual to support diverse learners.)
• I Can Target:
  • I can explain why Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 matters and share what I learned.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation and notes during listening game and instrument practice to assess identification and performance skills.
• Peer Feedback: Quality and participation in peer feedback during instrument performances.
• Exit Ticket: Student written or drawn reflection demonstrating understanding of Mozart and Symphony No. 40.

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Differentiation and Accessibility

• Dyslexia-Friendly Materials: Use clean, sans-serif fonts (like Arial or Comic Sans), larger font size, and well-spaced text for printed materials.
• Multiple Modalities: Listening, verbal discussion, visual aids, hands-on instrument practice, and creative expression (drawing).
• Flexible Grouping: Partner and small group work to support peer learning.
• Scaffolded Instructions: Step-by-step guidance on instrument playing with simplified notation and verbal support.

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Extension Ideas

• Students create their own simple variations of the main theme using classroom instruments or voice.
• Use digital audio software/apps (if available) to visualize sound waves or rhythm patterns of the symphony.
• Research other famous Mozart pieces to compare styles and structures.

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This lesson balances engaging musical exploration, critical listening, and active performance, all embedded in a literacy-supported framework aligned with Common Core standards. It encourages both cognitive and social-emotional learning through peer feedback and self-expression suitable for 6th graders’ developmental level.