Loud and Soft Secrets

Lesson Plan • Kindergarten Music

30 Minutes

Identify dynamics (Loud/Soft).

Forte, Piano, Dynamics

Learning Objective

Students will be able to distinguish between loud (forte) and soft (piano) sounds and demonstrate them through movement and vocalizations.

5 MIN

Have students close their eyes. Make a loud sound (clap) and a soft sound (finger rub). Ask them to point up for loud and down for soft.

5 MIN

Use Loud and Soft Slides. Introduce "Forte" (Lion) and "Piano" (Mouse). Practice saying these words at their matching volume.

10 MIN

Play music with contrasting dynamics. Use Dynamics Animal Walk cards. March like a giant when music is loud; tiptoe like a mouse when soft.

5 MIN

Pass around a drum. Have each student hit it "Piano" then "Forte". Discuss how we use more force for loud sounds.

5 MIN

Play a very soft lullaby. Have students lie down and "disappear" into the quiet. End with the Instrument Sorting Game cards.

Use a flashlight—bright for loud, dim for soft—to provide a visual anchor for students.

For students sensitive to sound, provide headphones or allow them to use hand signals instead of vocalizing loud sounds.