Unit Plan 22 (Grade 2 Music): Music in Our Lives
Grade 2 unit connecting music to home, school, and community as students share a “Music in My Life” map, explaining how interests, knowledge, and skills shape choices.
Focus: Connect music to experiences at home, school, and in the community, showing how interests, knowledge, and skills influence personal choices and intent when creating, performing, and responding to music.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Music (Connecting • Responding • Creating)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 sessions (3+ weeks), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students explore how music is part of their everyday lives—at home, at school, and in the community. They think about when and why they use or hear music (clean-up time, sports events, celebrations, church or community gatherings, car rides, TV, games). Students discuss how their interests (what they like), knowledge (what they know), and skills (what they can do in music) help them make choices about music—what they listen to, move to, or create. They then share and present their own “Music in My Life” ideas with classmates.
Essential Questions
- Where do I hear and use music in my home, school, and community?
- How do my interests, knowledge, and skills help me choose music for different purposes?
- How can I show or tell others how music is important in my life?
- How does sharing our music experiences help us understand and respect each other?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify places and situations where they experience music at home, school, and in the community.
- Explain how their personal interests (favorite songs, styles, activities) influence the music they choose or enjoy.
- Describe ways their knowledge and skills (singing, moving, playing, listening) affect how they participate in music.
- Create a simple “Music in My Life” map, chart, or drawing that shows at least three music experiences and their purposes.
- Share their “Music in My Life” ideas with classmates and explain one way music helps them feel, think, or act.
Standards Alignment — Grade 2 Music (NAfME-Aligned)
- MU:Cn10.0.2a — Demonstrate how interests, knowledge, and skills relate to personal choices and intent when creating, performing, and responding to music.
- Example: Creating music inspired by a favorite activity.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can name times and places where I hear or use music in my life.
- I can explain how my likes and experiences help me choose music for different purposes.
- I can show my music experiences on a map, chart, or drawing.
- I can tell my class how my music skills (singing, moving, playing, listening) help me be part of music.
- I can listen to others’ music stories and respect their choices.