Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify different musical instruments and understand their roles in an orchestra.

Materials and Prep

Materials: None

Prep: Familiarize yourself with the names and sounds of different musical instruments.

Activities

1. Listen to different musical pieces and try to identify the instruments being played.

2. Research and learn about the different sections of an orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion).

3. Create your own musical instrument using household items and experiment with making different sounds.

Fifth Grade Talking Points

• "In an orchestra, there are different sections of instruments. The strings section includes instruments like the violin, viola, cello, and double bass."
• "Woodwind instruments are played by blowing air through them. Some examples are the flute, clarinet, and oboe."
• "Brass instruments are made of metal and are played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece. The trumpet, trombone, and French horn are part of the brass section."
• "The percussion section includes instruments that are struck, shaken, or scraped to make sound. Examples are the drum, cymbals, and xylophone."