Unit Plan 23 (Grade 5 Band): Music in School & Community
Grade 5 band students explore how band music supports school and community events, explaining where it’s used and why it matters.
Focus: Explore how band music is used in school and community events (assemblies, games, parades, ceremonies) and why it matters.
Grade Level: 5
Subject Area: Band (Performing • Responding • Connecting)
Total Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks (5 sessions), 30 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students investigate how band music shows up in school and community life—at assemblies, games, concerts, parades, and ceremonies. Through listening, discussion, and simple research, they identify where and why band music is used and how it supports school spirit, honor, and celebration. Students then create a small “Music in Our Community” poster or one-page reflection connecting what they’ve learned to their own experiences.
Essential Questions
- Where do we hear band music in our school and community, and what is happening at those events?
- How does band music help support school spirit, celebrations, and important moments?
- Why does it matter that students and community members have chances to play and hear band music?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Identify at least three places where band music is used in school or community events.
- Describe how band music helps create mood, energy, or respect at an event (e.g., pep rally vs. ceremony).
- Explain in simple terms why band music matters to their school or community.
- Collect basic information (who, where, when, why) about one school or community event that uses band music.
- Create a short written and/or visual product (poster, one-pager, or slide) showing where band music is used and why it is important.
Standards Alignment — Grade 5 Band (custom, NAfME-style)
- BD:Cn11.5a — Identify how band music is used in school and community events and describe why it matters.
- Example: Students explain how band music supports parades, ceremonies, or school spirit.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can name places in my school and community where band music is used.
- I can explain what the band is doing at an event and how the music helps (spirit, celebration, respect).
- I can tell why band music matters to people at our school or in our town.
- I can create a clear poster or one-pager that shows events with band music and why the music is important.