Music Makers and Art Makers Around Us ✨ cross-curricular
Teacher: TeacherAI | Grade: 1 | Subject: Music, Visual Arts | Duration: 45 minutes
📝 Description: Students explore personal preferences in music and art while learning about museum workers and creating artwork inspired by different cultures.
Standards
- MU:Re9.1.1a (With limited guidance, apply personal and expressive preferences in the evaluation of music for specific purposes)
- VA:Pr6.1.1a (Identify the roles and responsibilities of people who work in and visit museums and other art venues)
- VA:Re9.1.1a (Classify artwork based on different reasons for preferences)
- VA:Cn10.1.1a (Identify times, places, and reasons by which students make art outside of school)
- VA:Cn11.1.1a (Understand that people from different places and times have made art for a variety of reasons)
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Express personal preferences about music using simple vocabulary like "I like" and "because"
- Name at least two jobs people have in museums (guard, guide, artist, visitor)
- Identify three places outside school where they or their families make art
- Recognize that people from different countries and times create art for celebrations, stories, and decoration
- Create a personal artwork that shows something they enjoy, explaining their choice to a partner
Supplies Needed
- Chart paper
- Whiteboard and dry-erase markers
- Construction paper
- Crayons
- Simple background music playlist (lullaby, dance music, nature sounds)
- 3-4 art prints from different cultures (library books or online images)
Lesson Structure
Opening (5 minutes)
Play three different 30-second music clips. After each, ask students to show thumbs up/down for "Do you like this?" Model sharing: "I like the lullaby because it makes me feel calm. What about you?"
Main Activity (35 minutes)
Step-by-step instructions:
- Music Preferences Discussion (8 minutes): Create a chart titled "Why We Like Music." Have students share preferences using sentence frames: "I like _____ music because _____." Record responses like "makes me dance," "sounds happy," "reminds me of home."
- Museum People Talk (7 minutes): Ask "Who works at museums?" Draw simple figures on whiteboard. Introduce: security guard (keeps art safe), tour guide (teaches visitors), curator (chooses art), visitors (people like us). Have students act out each role.
- Art Making Places (5 minutes): Ask "Where do you make art outside school?" List responses on chart paper: home, grandma's house, sidewalk with chalk, sand at beach, etc. Validate all answers - "Yes! Sidewalk chalk is art!"
- Art From Around the World (5 minutes): Show 3-4 art examples from different cultures. Say: "People everywhere make art! This is from Mexico for celebrations. This is from Japan for decoration. This is from Africa for storytelling." Ask what they notice.
- Personal Art Creation (10 minutes): Give each student construction paper and crayons. Say: "Draw something YOU like - your favorite food, toy, place, or activity. This is YOUR art choice!" Circulate, asking "Why did you choose to draw that?"
Closing (5 minutes)
Have students pair-share their artwork, practicing: "I drew _____ because I like _____." Ask 2-3 volunteers to share with whole group. Remind them they are artists too, just like people around the world!
Quick Check: "Name one person who works at a museum. Where is one place you make art outside school? What's one reason people make art?"
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, look for:
- Students using "because" statements when sharing music and art preferences
- Students correctly identifying museum worker roles during acting activity
- Students connecting their artwork choices to personal interests and explaining their thinking
Differentiation Strategies
Support for Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters on strips: "I like this because..." and "I drew... because..."
- Pair with buddy for art sharing activity
- Offer choice of drawing or simple collage for art creation
Challenge for Advanced Learners:
- Ask them to compare two different music styles and explain differences
- Have them draw their artwork in the style of one culture shown (geometric patterns, bright colors, etc.)
- Encourage them to ask classmates questions about their artwork choices
ELL/ELD Support:
- Use visual vocabulary cards for museum jobs with picture symbols
- Allow drawing and gestures to supplement verbal responses
- Pair with bilingual buddy when possible for art sharing
Printable Materials
This lesson uses only classroom supplies - no printable materials required.