Music comes in a variety of forms – including classical orchestral music. An orchestra consists of many different kinds of instruments using different methods to make noise. Here are some resources to help teach your kids about the orchestra.
Lesson Plans
- Music Resources for Teachers by Arts Alive
- DSO Kids Lesson Plans by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Orchestra Lesson Plans for Elementary Students by BrightHub Education
- Orchestra Study Guide with Lapbook by Wisdom & Righteousness ($4.99)
- Orchestra Lapbook by Homeschool Helper
- Orchestra Express Lapbook by A Journey Through Learning ($1)
Websites
- The Instrument Lab by Arts Alive
- The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Game by Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures
- Musical Mysteries on BBC NI
- Hey Kids, Meet the Orchestra on Making Music Fun
- Sphinx Kids – Classical Music Interactive Learning & Games
- NYPhilKids – The New York Philharmonic’s kid website
- SFS Kids – San Franciso Symphony: Fun and Games with Music
- NSO Kids – Nashville Symphony Orchestra
- BSO Kids – Boston Symphony Orchestra
- The Orchestra Game by Music Games
- Instruments of the Orchestra matching game
- The Instruments of the Orchestra Interactive Chart by Classics for Kids
- Interactive Music Game Sites listed on Interactive Sites for Education
Worksheets
- Music Worksheets by TLS Books – includes My Musical Instruments book & matching worksheets
- Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin Printable Pack by Mudpies and Makeup
- Orchestra Families Graphic Organizer by Mountain Music Teacher
- Instrument Families of the Orchestra Worksheet – Upper Elementary by Dawn Naill
- Instrument Families of the Orchestra Worksheet – Middle Elementary by Dawn Naill
- Match It! Instruments of the Orchestra by Michelle Higham
- I Can Play! Colouring Sheets by Melody Payne
- ABC Animal Orchestra Colouring Pages by LeapFrog
Make Your Own Instruments
- Instruments of the Orchestra Games by Elementary Music Methods – Battleship and Jeopardy
- Musical Instruments of the Orchestra Playing Cards by Stephanie Morris
Videos
- Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – by the Philadelphia Philharmonic
- Kids Orchestra Video – All about musical instruments
- Baby Einstein: Meet the Orchestra – First instruments
- Vienna’s Vegetable Orchestra on CBS News
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These are all great ideas. Though I admit I’m not a big fan of going to an orchestra concert, I do adore musicals. The orchestra plays as big a role from the pit as all the actors do up on stage combined — that makes them pretty darn important!
This is a really nice resource. I pinned it for future reference. Thanks for putting it together.
This a great resource to educate children about orchestra.