Unit Plan 16 (Grade 3 Music): Choosing Music for Purpose
Grade 3 music unit where students choose songs and melodic ideas for a purpose, perform selections, and explain how context and personal experiences shape music choices.
Focus: Select melodic ideas and songs to match a specific purpose or context, and explain how personal interests and experiences influence those choices.
Grade Level: 3
Subject Area: Music (Creating • Responding • Expression)
Total Unit Duration: 1–3 sessions (3+ weeks), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students learn how to choose music on purpose. They explore short melodic ideas and songs, then decide which ones best fit different contexts (such as a celebration, quiet reading time, or a game). Building on their improvisation and expressive singing work, students select musical ideas that match a mood or intention, perform or demonstrate them, and explain why they fit. They also notice how their own interests and experiences affect the music they like and the purposes they choose it for.
Essential Questions
- How do I decide which melodic ideas or songs fit a particular purpose (like a celebration, calm time, or game)?
- How do my interests and experiences influence the music I like and choose?
- How can I show and tell that my musical choices match a specific context or situation?
- Why might different people choose different music for the same purpose?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Listen to and perform short melodic ideas or song excerpts and decide which ones fit a given purpose or context (e.g., assembly, bedtime, sports event).
- Select one or more musical ideas (melodies, patterns, or songs) to use in a simple improvisation or composition that expresses a chosen intent.
- Demonstrate their selected musical ideas and describe how they connect to a specific purpose or context (such as personal, social, or cultural).
- Explain how their interests, feelings, or experiences influence the music they choose and enjoy.
- Compare their own musical choices with those of classmates and recognize that people can choose different music for the same purpose.
Standards Alignment — Grade 3 Music (NAfME-Aligned)
- MU:Cr2.1.3a — Demonstrate selected musical ideas for a simple improvisation or composition to express intent and describe how the ideas connect to a purpose or context.
- Example: Explaining why a slow tempo was chosen for a calm piece.
- MU:Re7.1.3a — Demonstrate and describe how selected music connects to and is influenced by specific interests, experiences, or purposes.
- Example: Explaining why a song reminds them of a celebration.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can choose a melody or song that fits a specific purpose (like calm, game, or celebration).
- I can perform or demonstrate my chosen musical idea to show that it matches the context.
- I can explain why my choice fits the purpose, using words like calm, excited, gentle, strong.
- I can talk about how my interests and experiences affect the music I like and choose.
- I can respect that classmates may choose different music for the same situation and explain their reasons.