Unit Plan 28 (Grade 2 Music): Sound Pictures
Grade 2 Music unit where students create sound pictures inspired by images, improvising rhythms and melodies to show mood, action, and expressive intent in a final performance.
Focus: Create musical sounds inspired by images or scenes, improvising rhythmic and melodic ideas for a specific purpose and presenting a final “sound picture” that shows clear expressive intent.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Music (Creating • Expressing • Presenting)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 sessions (3+ weeks), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students become sound painters, using instruments, voices, and body percussion to create “sound pictures” inspired by images and scenes. Looking at photos, artwork, or simple illustrations (storms, playgrounds, forests, city streets), they improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns that match what they see and feel. Working in small groups, students choose one image, plan sounds that fit its mood, actions, and details, then rehearse and present a final version of their sound picture for classmates, explaining how their choices show expressive intent.
Essential Questions
- How can music and sound show what an image or scene looks and feels like?
- How do we improvise rhythmic and melodic ideas that match a specific purpose (showing a mood, place, or action)?
- What makes a sound picture feel ready as a final version to share with an audience?
- How can we use dynamics, tempo, and instrument choices to paint clearer “sound pictures”?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe how an image or scene might sound using musical elements (loud/soft, fast/slow, high/low).
- Improvise short rhythmic and melodic patterns that match a chosen picture’s mood, actions, or setting.
- Work in a small group to plan and rehearse a sound picture with a clear idea or story.
- Present a final version of their sound picture to peers, aiming to show clear expressive intent.
- Explain at least one way their musical choices match the purpose of their sound picture.
Standards Alignment — Grade 2 Music (NAfME-Aligned)
- MU:Cr1.1.2a — Improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns and musical ideas for a specific purpose.
- Example: Students improvise a short rhythm to represent rain or footsteps.
- MU:Cr3.2.2a — Convey expressive intent for a specific purpose by presenting a final version of personal musical ideas to peers or an informal audience.
- Example: Performing a completed rhythm piece for the class.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can listen to or look at an image and imagine how it might sound in music.
- I can improvise short patterns that match a picture’s mood (calm, scary, exciting) or actions.
- I can work with my group to create a sound picture and practice it so it has a clear plan.
- I can share our final version of the sound picture for the class.
- I can tell how our musical choices fit the purpose of our sound picture.