Carnival of the Animals - Music Center

Putting It All Together Task
Whole class creates mimetic animal characters
Teacher names an animal from Carnival of the Animals.
Teacher gives commands for students to create mimetic characters:
o “Clay” commands (hands are made of clay, arms are made of clay, torso, legs, head, face, whole body is made of clay)
o “Freeze!” (form clay statue of character)
o “Gesture” (characters come to life with facial expression and gesture)
o “Walk” (maintain character‟s position while walking)
o “Freeze!”
o “Back to places”
Character Drill Game
Teacher rapidly calls out the following commands with students following. (Note: teacher can mix the commands up.)
o “Character name” (snap into character position using whole body and facial expression)
o “Freeze!” (freeze in statue position)
o “Gesture” (characters come to life and perform gesture)
o “Freeze!” (freeze in position)
o “Walk” (maintain rhythm and speed of the character, silently and without touching each other.
o “Freeze!” (freeze in position)
o “Back to Places” (return to place in the circle as the character)
o “Freeze!” (freeze in position)
o “Back to Neutral” (snap back to neutral position)
Repeat with different characters. Keep it quick and fun, but hold the students to the criteria
Repeat, playing corresponding musical themes on CD
INQUIRE
Have you ever seen people that have some of the same characteristics as the animals that we‟ve portrayed?
Are there hungry people like the lion who will do whatever they can to get something?
Do you know anyone who flutters around like the bird? Lumbers like an elephant? Glides like a swan?
Can you identify two animals that move in opposite ways?
Can you think of any books or stories about two animals, i.e. the tortoise and the hare?
Music Center Anchor Work Model Curriculum Unit: Carnival of the Animals
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