ROSE TREE MEDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
COURSE CURRICULUM
COURSE TITLE: General Music
GRADE LEVEL: Grade 1
CREATION DATE: November, 2003
Essential Question, Concept or Theme: I. Student will sing and play a varied repertoire of music as a life long
learner.
PA Standards: PA 9.1 A, B, C, D, E, G, H; 9.2 A, B, C, D, F, G, H, K, L; 9.3 A, B, D; 9.4 NS 1, 2, 7, 8, 9
Benchmark/Skills
I. PERFORMING
A. Singing
 Vocal Development – Engage in
vocal exploration (sing, call, whisper,
speak) in high, medium, low registers
 Intonation – Develop pitch matching
skills using sol-mi-la
 Expression – Sing songs using
dynamics mp-mf
 Part singing – sing echo and
call/response songs
 Diction – Develop diction skills
through modeling; sing on “oo” to
develop resonance
 Song Repertoire – Sing and memorize
multicultural songs
Aligned Materials/
Resources/Technology
Assessment
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Playing Assessment
Individual and Group
Performance
Individual Feedback
Teacher Observation
Self Assessment

Materials
Orff instruments
Rhythm instruments
Multicultural instruments
Melodic instruments

Resources
Textbooks
Curriculum
Compact disks
Transparencies
Assessments
Big Books for Primary
Grades

B. Playing
 Percussion (Pitched and Unpitched)
Explore techniques for playing mallet
instruments and nonpitched percussion
Use body percussion
Play a steady beat using bilateral and
alternating motions
Play simple melodic and rhythmic
patterns as accompaniments
Develop awareness of timbre
General Music Grade 1
Approx. Time Allotment:
Page 1
Instructional Strategies
Singing
 Use hand signs
 Singing games and dances
 Singing alone and in a group
 Sing and clap melodic and
rhythmic pattern

Vocal development
Playing
 Use body percussion
 Mallet technique
 Playing pitched and nonpitched
percussion instruments
Technology
Encore
-1-
November, 2003
Essential Question, Concept or Theme: II. Listening/Responding
Approx. Time Allotment:
PA Standards: PA 9.1 A, B, C, D, E, I; 9.2 A, B, C, D, E, G, H, J; 9.3 A, B, C, D; NS 6, 8, 9
Aligned Materials/
Benchmark/Skills
Assessment
Instructional Strategies
Resources/Technology
II.
LISTENING/RESPONDING
 Materials
 Perform dances
 Listening
 Written Assessment
Orff
instruments
 Creative Movement
Respond to phrase structure
 Individual and Group
Rhythm instruments
 Analyzing basic forms, i.e.:
Respond to characteristics of
Performance
Multicultural
instruments
AB, ABA
rhythm (i.e.: steady beat,
 Class Discussion
Melodic
instruments
long/short, silent beat)

Guided listening
 Individual Feedback
Staff
boards
Respond to characteristics of
 Timbre identification
 Teacher Observation
melody, (i.e.: high/low,
 Recognize and demonstrate

Self Assessment
 Resources
upward/downward motion)
understanding of tempo,
Textbooks
Respond to expressive qualities,
rhythm, dynamics, texture,
Curriculum
(i.e.: fast/slow; loud/soft)
phrase structure, melody
Compact disks
Listen to music that suggests a
Transparencies
story
Assessments
Listen to and identify
Big Books for Primary
pitched/nonpitched instruments
Grades
Demonstrate appropriate audience
Worksheets
behavior
 Responding (Movement)
 Technology
Develop alternating patterns, i.e.:
Encore
pat-clap, pat-tap, pat-stamp
Develop basic locomotor
movements, i.e.: walk, skip, hop,
jump, twirl, gallop, jog
Perform creative movements that
explore the musical concepts of
time/space/energy
General Music Grade 1
Page 2
-2-
November, 2003
Essential Question, Concept or Theme: III. Creating
PA Standards: PA 9.1 A, B, C, J, K; NS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Benchmark/Skills
III.


CREATING
Improvising
Simple rhythmic, melodic
and movement patterns
Simple instrument
accompaniments
Composing
Compose original verses to
familiar songs
General Music Grade 1
Approx. Time Allotment:
Aligned Materials/
Resources/Technology
Assessment




Playing Assessment
Individual and Group
Performance
Individual Feedback
Teacher Observation

Materials
Orff instruments
Rhythm instruments
Multicultural instruments
Melodic instruments
Staff boards
Manipulatives

Resources
Textbooks
Curriculum
Compact disks
Transparencies
Assessments
Big Books for Primary Grades

Technology
Encore
Band in a Box
Page 3
Instructional Strategies
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-3-
Compose and perform various
patterns
Improvise melodic and
rhythmic patterns
November, 2003
Essential Question, Concept or Theme: IV. Reading and Notating
PA Standards: PA 9.1 A, B, C; NS 5
Benchmark/Skills
IV.

READING/NOTATING
Rhythm
Steady beat, strong beat,
long/short, silent beat
Read quarter and eighth
notes, and quarter rest
Duple and triple meter
Repeated patterns and
ostinatos

Form
Phrase structure, AB, ABA

Melody
High/low, skip/step,
same/different
Sol/mi/la

Timbre
Environmental
Vocal (sing, speak, shout,
whisper)
Body percussion
Classroom percussion and
pitched instruments

Texture and Harmony
Ostinato
Bordun
Singing with and without
accompaniment
General Music Grade 1
Approx. Time Allotment:
Aligned Materials/
Resources/Technology
Assessment
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




Written Assessment
Playing Assessment
Individual and Group
Performance
Small Group Assignments
Individual Feedback
Teacher Observation

Materials
Orff instruments
Rhythm instruments
Multicultural instruments
Melodic instruments
Staff boards

Resources
Textbooks
Curriculum
Compact disks
Transparencies
Assessments
Big Books for Primary Grades
Worksheets
Manipulatives

Technology
Encore
Band in a Box
Page 4
Instructional Strategies


-4-
Rhythmic and melodic
notation
Write rhythms and melodies
using manipulatives
November, 2003
Essential Question, Concept or Theme: I. Student will sing and play a varied repertoire of music as a life
Approx. Time Allotment:
long learner. II. Listening/Responding III. Creating IV. Reading and Notating
PA Standards: PA 9.1 A, B, C, D, E, G, H; 9.2 A, B, C, D, F, G, H, K, L; 9.3 A, B, D; 9.4 NS 1, 2, 7, 8, 9; PA 9.1 A, B, C, D, E, I; 9.2 A, B, C,
D, E, G, H, J; 9.3 A, B, C, D; NS 6, 8, 9; PA 9.1 A, B, C, J, K; NS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; PA 9.1 A, B, C; NS 5
Remediation
Multicultural/Interdisciplinary
Adaptations/Inclusion Techniques
Enrichment Strategies
Strategies
Connection
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Specific adaptations for each child
should be in keeping with the intent
of the lesson and the lesson’s
activities.
Peer tutors or teacher aides when
necessary
Preferential seating
Adaptive instruments
Simplify task when necessary
Adaptive assessment (oral quiz, not
written)
General Music Grade 1
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Computer software
programs
Optional performances
Interdisciplinary
connections
Media (video, distance
learning)
Supplemental songs,
dances, games
Page 5
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Limit scope of
content
Extensive use of
repetition and
imitation
Extensive echo
singing
Assisted movement

Social Studies
Childhood songs
Native American songs and dances
African songs/Spirituals
Multicultural songs
American folk music and instruments
Patriotic songs

Language Arts
Songs in foreign languages
Poetry connections
Folk Tales

Mathematics
Rhythms and numerical values

Science
Animal songs
Structure of instruments
Timbre

Art
Relating music to fine arts
Using art to express feelings about music

Physical Education
Dance
Eurthymics
-5-
November, 2003