Character Traits Lesson Plan
Peter and the Wolf

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Identify instruments and melodies that represent the characters in Peter and the Wolf

• Analyze music for timbre

• Make connections between music and emotions

Materials

• Spotify playlist with recordings of each character

• Speakers to project recordings for the students

• Character Traits worksheet

• Peter and the Wolf story text

• Pencil

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively and orally.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4 Present information, findings and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Teaching Directions

1. Read the “Peter and the Wolf Story Text” to the students, or have students read together in small groups.

2. After students have read the text, discuss the following questions in a large or small group setting:

   • What does it look like to have courage?

   • How did Peter feel about playing in the meadow? How do you know?

   • How did Grandfather feel about Peter playing in the meadow?

   • Why did Grandfather feel ________ about Peter playing in the meadow?

   • What happend when Grandfather made Peter leave the meadow? Why?

   • What do you think Peter was feeling when he captured the duck?

   • Do you think Peter was courageous in the story? Why or why not?

   • If you were Peter, would you have made the same choices?

3. Explain that each instrument in the orchestra has a different timbre, asking students if they can pull from their knowledge about timbre from music class.

4. Explain that Peter and the Wolf is a musical tale where each character has it’s own melody or “mini soundtrack” that represents them.

5. Distribute the “Character Traits” handout to the students. Complete the first section together as a class by listing 3 traits of a bird and what you think the bird’s melody might sound like.

6. Ask students to work in pairs to complete the “traits” and “what you think the theme will sound like” columns for each character.

7. Using the Spotify playlist, play the track for each character and ask students to fill out the “what did the theme actually sound like” box.

Assessment

• Observe students identifying melodies representative of Peter and the Wolf characters

• Listen for student discussion around timbre and melodies in Peter and the Wolf