Learning Lab Activity Gallery
Engaging lessons and activities encourage students in grades K-8 to identify themes from Harry Potter, create their own characters with composer Edward Elgar, explore musical form with Scott Joplin, and more.
- All
- Pre-K
- Grades K-2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 6-8
- Inspire Creativity Together
Lesson 1: Rapid-Fire Response Game
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Explore music through a fast-paced, creative activity where students respond to musical excerpts using various art forms.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 2: Feelings Mapping
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Track your emotional responses and connect specific feelings to music through this active listening activity.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 3: Creating to Music
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Guided by your emotions, create art in real time as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 4: Mindful Listening
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Engage active listening skills by focusing on a piece of music while observing your own thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions.
Grades: K–8
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Play a freeze dance game with music from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Stand-Up Symphony
In this engaging activity, introduce your students to an orchestra and have them create their own.
Grades: K–3
Orchestra Seating Chart
Do you know where the violins sit? What about the bass trombone? Test your knowledge of the orchestra.
Grades: K–5
Picture the Music
Create a piece of art inspired by what you hear and how you feel as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–6
Night on Bald Mountain
Create a visual representation of Modest Mussgorsky’s Night on Bald Mountain.
Grades 1–3
Surprise Symphony
Use creative movement to explore Andante from Joseph Haydn’s Surprise Symphony.
Grades: 1–3
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Experience the excitement of the Olympic Games when you use creative movement to explore John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme.
Grades: 1–3
Peter and the Wolf
Learn about the characters in Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Examine the composer’s compositional choices and make some of your own.
Grades: 1–5
Danzon No. 2
Perform a clave rhythm with Arturo Márquez’s Danzon No. 2 and other popular music.
Grades: 1–5
Instrument Playground Online
Videos, photos, and activities that introduce teh instruments of the orchestra and the musicians who play them.
Presented by PNC Arts Alive.
Grades: 1–8
Claire de Lune
Bring to life the sounds of your neighborhood by composing a soundscape.
Grades: 2–3
Enigma Variations
Explore theme and variations with Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
Grades: 3–5
The Four Seasons
Explore the changing seasons through music and movement with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Integrate music into the science curriculum by studying how animal habitats and behavioral adaptations relate to the changing seasons.
Grades: 3–6
Hedwig’s Theme
Take flight and explore musical themes with Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by John Williams.
Grades: 3–6
Maple Leaf Rag
Follow a listening map and move to Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag to discover traditional Ragtime form.
Grades: 3–6
The Composer Is Dead
Expand student vocabulary while learning about themes in literature and music through the popular children’s book The Composer Is Dead.
Grades: 4–6
Variations on a Shaker Melody
Uncover the musical form—theme and variations—and hone your listening skills with a listening map puzzle.
Grades: 4–8
Juba Dance
Try your hand at the American folk tradition of patting Juba and discover its relationship to Black female composer Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1.
Grades: 4–8
Lift Every Voice
Explore the cultural significance of Lift Every Voice and Sing, the Black national anthem, and compose your own anthem.
Grades: 5–7
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Play a freeze dance game with music from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Lesson 1: Rapid-Fire Response Game
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Explore music through a fast-paced, creative activity where students respond to musical excerpts using various art forms.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 2: Feelings Mapping
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Track your emotional responses and connect specific feelings to music through this active listening activity.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 3: Creating to Music
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Guided by your emotions, create art in real time as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 4: Mindful Listening
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Engage active listening skills by focusing on a piece of music while observing your own thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions.
Grades: K–8
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Play a freeze dance game with music from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Stand-Up Symphony
In this engaging activity, introduce your students to an orchestra and have them create their own.
Grades: K–3
Orchestra Seating Chart
Do you know where the violins sit? What about the bass trombone? Test your knowledge of the orchestra.
Grades: K–5
Picture the Music
Create a piece of art inspired by what you hear and how you feel as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–6
Night on Bald Mountain
Create a visual representation of Modest Mussgorsky’s Night on Bald Mountain.
Grades 1–3
Surprise Symphony
Use creative movement to explore Andante from Joseph Haydn’s Surprise Symphony.
Grades: 1–3
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Experience the excitement of the Olympic Games when you use creative movement to explore John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme.
Grades: 1–3
Peter and the Wolf
Learn about the characters in Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Examine the composer’s compositional choices and make some of your own.
Grades: 1–5
Danzon No. 2
Perform a clave rhythm with Arturo Márquez’s Danzon No. 2 and other popular music.
Grades: 1–5
Instrument Playground Online
Videos, photos, and activities that introduce teh instruments of the orchestra and the musicians who play them.
Presented by PNC Arts Alive.
Grades: 1–8
Claire de Lune
Bring to life the sounds of your neighborhood by composing a soundscape.
Grades: 2–3
Lesson 1: Rapid-Fire Response Game
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Explore music through a fast-paced, creative activity where students respond to musical excerpts using various art forms.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 2: Feelings Mapping
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Track your emotional responses and connect specific feelings to music through this active listening activity.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 3: Creating to Music
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Guided by your emotions, create art in real time as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 4: Mindful Listening
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Engage active listening skills by focusing on a piece of music while observing your own thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions.
Grades: K–8
Orchestra Seating Chart
Do you know where the violins sit? What about the bass trombone? Test your knowledge of the orchestra.
Grades: K–5
Picture the Music
Create a piece of art inspired by what you hear and how you feel as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–6
Night on Bald Mountain
Create a visual representation of Modest Mussgorsky’s Night on Bald Mountain.
Grades: 1–3
Surprise Symphony
Use creative movement to explore Andante from Haydn’s Surprise Symphony.
Grades: 1–3
Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Explore the excitement of the Olympic Games when you use creative movement to explore John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme.
Grades: 1–3
Peter and the Wolf
Learn about the characters in Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Examine the composer’s compositional choices and make some of your own.
Grades: 1–5
Danzon No. 2
Perform a clave rhythm with Arturo Márquez’s Danzon No. 2 and other popular music.
Grades: 1–5
Instrument Playground Online
Videos, photos, and activities that introduce the instruments of the orchestra and the musicians who play them.
Presented by PNC Arts Alive.
Grades: 1–8
Claire de Lune
Bring to life the sounds of your neighborhood by composing a soundscape.
Grades: 2–3
Enigma Variations
Explore theme and variations with Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
Grades: 3–5
The Four Seasons
Explore the changing seasons through music and movement with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Integrate music into the science curriculum by studying how animal habitats and behavioral adaptations relate to the changing seasons.
Grades: 3–6
Hedwig’s Theme
Take flight and explore musical themes with Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by John Williams.
Grades: 3–6
Maple Leaf Rag
Follow a listening map and move to Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag to discover traditional Ragtime form.
Grades 3–6
The Composer Is Dead
Expand student vocabulary while learning about themes in literature and music through the popular children’s book The Composer Is Dead.
Grades: 4–6
Variations on a Shaker Melody
Uncover the musical form—theme and variations—and hone your listening skills with a listening map puzzle.
Grades: 4–8
Juba Dance
Try your hand at the American folk tradition of patting Juba and discover its relationship to Black female composer Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1.
Grades: 4–8
Lift Every Voice
Explore the cultural significance of Lift Every Voice and Sing, the Black national anthem, and compose your own anthem.
Grades: 5–7
Lesson 1: Rapid-Fire Response Game
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Explore music through a fast-paced, creative activity where students respond to musical excerpts using various art forms.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 2: Feelings Mapping
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Track your emotional responses and connect specific feelings to music through this active listening activity.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 3: Creating to Music
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Guided by your emotions, create art in real time as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 4: Mindful Listening
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Engage active listening skills by focusing on a piece of music while observing your own thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions.
Grades: K–8
Picture the Music
Create a piece of art inspired by what you hear how you feel as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–6
Instrument Playground Online
Videos, photos, and activities that introduce the instruments of the orchestra and the musicians who play them.
Presented by PNC Arts Alive.
Grades: 1–8
The Four Seasons
Explore the changing seasons through music and movement with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Integrate music into the science curriculum by studying how animal habitats and behavioral adaptations relate to the changing seasons.
Grades: 3–6
Hedwig’s Theme
Take flight and explore musical themes with Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by John Williams.
Grades: 3–6
Maple Leaf Rag
Follow a listening map and move to Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag to discover traditional Ragtime form.
Grades: 3–6
The Composer Is Dead
Expand student vocabulary while learning about themes in literature and music through the popular children’s book The Composer Is Dead.
Grades: 4–6
Variations on a Shaker Melody
Uncover the musical form—theme and variations—and hone your listening skills with a listening map puzzle.
Grades: 4–8
Juba Dance
Try your hand at the American folk tradition of patting Juba and discover its relationship to Black female composer Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1.
Grades: 4–8
Lift Every Voice
Explore the cultural significance of Lift Every Voice and Sing, the Black national anthem, and compose your own anthem.
Grades: 5–7
Lesson 1: Rapid-Fire Response Game
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Explore music through a fast-paced, creative activity where students respond to musical excerpts using various art forms.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 2: Feelings Mapping
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Track your emotional responses and connect specific feelings to music through this active listening activity.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 3: Creating to Music
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Guided by your emotions, create art in real time as you listen to a piece of music.
Grades: K–8
Lesson 4: Mindful Listening
Presented at Inspire Creativity Together, MMEA Conference 2025.
Engage active listening skills by focusing on a piece of music while observing your own thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions.
Grades: K–8
SLSO education programs are presented by: