Expressing Feelings Through Music

Curriculum Area and Standards

Subject: Music
Grade Level: Pre-K
State Standards: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Pre-Kindergarten

• §117.3. Music (b)(1): The student explores and experiences various concepts through singing and playing instruments.
• §117.3. Music (b)(2): The student expresses themselves through music.
• §117.3. Music (b)(3): The student listens and responds to musical performances.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Recognize and express different emotions through music.
• Participate in singing and simple movements to express feelings.
• Listen to and discuss songs that convey emotions.

Materials Needed

• Speaker for playing music
• Visual emotion cards (happy, sad, excited, calm, etc.)
• Small handheld instruments (shakers, tambourines, rhythm sticks)
• YouTube videos (teacher-approved in advance)

Lesson Structure

1. Welcome & Hello Song (5 Minutes)

• Greet students warmly and invite them to sit in a circle.
• Sing "Hello Song" by The Singing Walrus (play on speaker and encourage children to sing along with movements).
• Briefly introduce the theme of today’s lesson: "Today, we are going to explore how music can help us express feelings!"

2. Worship Songs (7 Minutes)

• Play and sing "God of Wonders" and "O How I Love Jesus" with simple actions.
• Discuss briefly:
  • "How does this song make you feel?"
  • "Does it sound happy, peaceful, or excited?"
• Encourage students to tap or clap along with the beat.

3. Feelings Through Music (8 Minutes)

• Introduce an interactive discussion using emotion cards.
  • Show a happy face: "What kind of music sounds happy?"
  • Show a sad face: "What kind of music sounds sad?"
  • Repeat for emotions like excited, scared, and calm.
• Play different short music clips from YouTube (pre-selected, without ads) representing different emotions. Examples:
  1. Happy: "If You’re Happy and You Know It"
  2. Sad: A soft lullaby like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
  3. Excited: A fast, lively song like "Shake Your Sillies Out"
• Have students act out the feelings by moving, making faces, or using instruments.

4. Fun Feelings Song Activity (7 Minutes)

• Teach students a simple "Feelings Song" (to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb"):
  • (Sing with clapping or swaying.)
    “Sometimes I feel happy, happy, happy,
    Sometimes I feel sad, sad, sad,
    Music helps me share my feelings,
    And that makes me glad!”
• Encourage students to choose an action (like clapping, stomping, or swaying) for each feeling.

5. Cool Down & Reflection (3 Minutes)

• Sit in a circle and hum a calm melody together.
• Ask:
  • "What was your favorite song today?"
  • "How did the music make you feel?"
• End with a big group "hug" air hug or a gentle "bye-bye" wave.

Differentiation Strategies

• For shy students: Allow them to tap instruments instead of singing.
• For active students: Encourage them to dance or move with scarves.
• For ELL students: Use facial expressions and body language for clues.

Assessment

✅ Observation: Did students engage with the songs? Did they express emotions through movement or instruments?
✅ Participation: Did they sing, move, and discuss their feelings?
✅ Reflection: Could they identify how different songs made them feel?

This lesson plan is highly engaging, incorporating movement, worship, and emotional learning! It seamlessly integrates music into the Pre-K curriculum while meeting TEKS requirements.
Happy teaching! 🎶😊