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Music & Feelings

First graders learn that music can make them feel different feelings — a fast, bouncy song feels happy and energetic, while a slow, soft lullaby feels calm — and how to listen for the feeling in music.

Grade 1Music & Emotion30 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Know music has feelings.
  • ✓Match music to a feeling.
  • ✓Listen for the feeling.
  • ✓Move to the mood.
Essential Question

Have you ever heard a song that made you want to dance, or one that made you feel calm and sleepy? Music has feelings! How does music make you feel?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Music & Feelings Check

Project each item and have children answer about how music makes us feel.

🎵 Understand music & feelingsTry it
Answer each question about music and feelings.
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Listen · Explore · Create · Perform · Reflect)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Listen — Music Has Feelings

4 min

A song can make you dance or feel calm — music has feelings!

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Play a happy and a calm song.
  • Ask how each feels.
  • Warm up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Feel it.
  • Warm up.
2

Explore — Explore Feelings

8 min

Children explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to Music & Feelings Check.
  • Note fast = happy.
  • Note slow = calm.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Explain.
3

Create — Create

9 min

Children create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Move to a happy song.
  • Move to a calm song.
  • Show the feeling.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Move happy.
  • Move calm.
  • Show it.
4

Perform — Perform

6 min

Children perform.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Move with the music’s feeling.
  • Follow a leader.
  • Be kind.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Move it.
  • Follow.
  • Be kind.
5

Reflect — Reflect

3 min

Children respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a feeling music gives.
  • Say what a fast song feels like.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Music).

NCAS
MU:Re7.2.1

Describe how music makes you feel.

NCAS
MU:Re8.1.1

Recognize the feeling in music.

NCAS
MU:Cn10.0.1

Connect music to feelings.

NCAS
MU:Re7.1.1

Respond to music.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Feeling picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “This song feels ___.”
  • Play example songs.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with happy vs. calm.
  • Use pictures.
  • Move to the beat.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Match more feelings.
  • Draw a song’s feeling.
  • Make happy/calm music.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎵Happy and calm songs
  • 💻Music & Feelings Check
  • 👟Space to move
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

feelingan emotionhappya glad feelingcalma peaceful feelingexcitedfull of energysleepyready to restmoodthe feeling of musicfastquick and bouncyslowsoft and gentle
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Can music make you feel different feelings?
Yes — like happy or calm.
QUESTION 2
How might a fast, bouncy song make you feel?
Happy and full of energy.
QUESTION 3
How might a slow lullaby make you feel?
Calm and sleepy.

Reflect: feel the music.

Have children listen to a song at home and tell a family member how it makes them feel. A printable music-feelings sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Music & FeelingsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Music & FeelingsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Music & FeelingsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: calm, excited, fast, feeling, happy, mood, sleepy, slow
  1. a glad feeling
  2. ready to rest
  3. soft and gentle
  4. an emotion
  5. full of energy
  6. quick and bouncy
  7. a peaceful feeling
  8. the feeling of music

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Can music make you feel different feelings?
  2. How might a fast, bouncy song make you feel?
  3. How might a slow lullaby make you feel?
Answer key — Part A: 1) happy · 2) sleepy · 3) slow · 4) feeling · 5) excited · 6) fast · 7) calm · 8) mood
Part B: 1) Yes — like happy or calm. 2) Happy and full of energy. 3) Calm and sleepy.