Have you ever wondered how dozens of musicians play together in perfect harmony? Or why a violin sounds so different from a trumpet, even when they’re playing the very same note? Behind every beautiful orchestra is a fascinating world of instruments, rhythm, teamwork, and creativity!
I’m so excited to share Exploring the Orchestra Family Unit Study with you—a fun-filled musical adventure perfect for kids ages 4-12. Through hands-on experiments, creative art projects, engaging games, and interactive activities, you’ll explore the four instrument families, discover how music is created, meet famous composers, and even build a few instruments of your own.
Whether you’re raising a budding musician or simply looking for a fresh way to introduce music appreciation, this unit study is designed to make learning about the orchestra engaging, memorable, and fun for the whole family.
Below, I’m sharing the 10 topics included in the unit study, along with the exciting hands-on activities you’ll enjoy together.
What is a Family Unit Study?
But first… what exactly is a Family Unit Study?
This Unit Study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big theme—The Orchestra—and breaks it down into ten manageable, bite-sized learning topics. This format gives you the freedom to dive into learning at a pace that works for your family. Perhaps you do one topic per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever suits your fancy! You can learn and explore topics from start to finish in about 1-2 hours each.
Dive in and watch the sparks of wonder ignite. Watch the child-led learning take off. Watch what happens when children are engaged in what they are learning!
Each of the 10 topics includes:
- an interesting fact,
- a discussion question,
- informative information,
- a curated YouTube video,
- a recommended book,
- a math or literacy enrichment question (with three difficulty levels),
- and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity!
Plus, all subjects are covered across the 10 topics! Geography, History, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art, Health, Literacy, and Math.
When everything connects across subjects, learning just makes more sense. Kids remember more, understand better, and actually enjoy the process. It’s the kind of learning that really sticks. 🙌
Before we strike up the band and explore the wonderful world of music, I wanted to share a little something to make your homeschool days just a bit easier (because we all need that, right?).
Our Mini Homeschool Toolbox is a simple, go-to resource filled with helpful printables – like math charts, number lines, and writing supports – to keep your days organized and your lessons running smoothly.
It’s completely free and so handy to have on hand as you move through your homeschool routine. Simply enter your email address below, and a copy will be instantly delivered to your inbox.
Exploring the Orchestra Family Unit Study
Now, let’s take a closer look at the 10 fascinating topics you will cover in the Exploring the Orchestra Family Unit Study.
Topic #1: What is an Orchestra?
Have you ever wondered what makes an orchestra sound so incredible? Discover how dozens of musicians work together, learn about the four instrument families, and meet the conductor who keeps everyone playing in perfect harmony. Then, put your new knowledge to the test as you search for hidden instruments and sort them into their orchestra families in a fun I Spy Instruments activity.
Topic #2: What is a Conductor?
Every great orchestra needs a great leader! Learn how a conductor uses simple hand movements and a baton to keep every musician playing together in perfect harmony. Then, grab a glow stick or flashlight and become the conductor yourself as you lead the orchestra in a fun glow-in-the-dark conducting party.
Topic #3: The String Family
What do the violin, viola, cello, and bass all have in common? Learn how the string family creates beautiful music through vibrating strings and explore how musicians change the pitch to play both high and low notes. Then, build your own simple string instrument and experiment with different string lengths and thicknesses to see how they affect the sounds you create.
Topic #4: The Woodwind Family
Not all instruments make music the same way! Learn how the woodwind family uses moving air to create beautiful sounds and explore why each instrument has its own unique tone and pitch. Then, experiment with bottles of water to create your own woodwind-inspired instrument and see how changing the amount of air affects the sounds you make.
Topic #5: The Brass Family
Ready to make some noise? Explore the powerful brass family and learn how buzzing lips and vibrating air create the bold, brilliant sounds of instruments like the trumpet, trombone, and tuba. Then, build your own trumpet using simple materials and see if you can make music with just the power of your breath.
Topic #6: The Percussion Family
Boom! Bang! Crash! The percussion family is full of instruments that bring excitement and rhythm to every performance. Learn how these unique instruments create sound, then design and build your very own percussion instrument using everyday materials.
Topic #7: What is Tempo?
Some songs make you want to sway gently, while others have you up and dancing! Learn how tempo changes the speed of music and helps composers create different moods and emotions. Then, get your whole body involved in a lively game of Tempo Freeze Dance as you move to music with different beats and speeds.
Topic #8: What is Timbre?
Every instrument has its own unique voice. Explore the fascinating concept of timbre and learn how it helps us recognize different instruments, even when they’re playing the same pitch. Then, challenge your ears with a game of Instrument Bingo as you match instruments to the sounds they make.
Topic #9: Edvard Grieg
Step into the magical world of composer Edvard Grieg as you explore one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music ever written. Learn how Grieg used instruments, tempo, and dynamics to bring trolls, adventure, and storytelling to life, then listen closely to In the Hall of the Mountain King to hear the music tell its tale.
Topic #10: Georges Bizet
Step into the dramatic world of French composer Georges Bizet, whose unforgettable melodies have captivated audiences for generations. Learn how Bizet used music to express excitement, courage, and emotion, then create a musical tracing map inspired by the bold sounds of the March of the Toreadors.
And there you have it, the ten exciting, hands-on learning topics that make up our Exploring the Orchestra Family Unit Study! From discovering the four instrument families and learning how conductors, tempo, and timbre bring music to life, to creating your own instruments and exploring the stories behind famous composers – this orchestra unit study is filled with engaging activities designed to spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love of music.
Grab your copy today and let the music begin!
Get Exploring the Orchestra Family Unit Study Today!
https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-exploring-the-orchestra
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Thank you so much for reading!
xo
Sarah
