IB unit “How we express ourselves”. Exploring Emotions and Culture Through Music

During this unit, our first-grade students explored how people can share their feelings and thoughts through music. They also learned about musical and cultural heritage of their own and other countries.

During music activities, students discovered different ways music can be performed. They listened to traditional Lithuanian folk instruments, such as the kanklės, skudučiai, skrabalai, birbynė, and lumzdelis. Students paid attention to how these instruments sound and what kind of emotions they can express. They also learned about instruments from other countries, how they are played, and how their unique sounds can help a musician express different feelings and emotions. Students were introduced to important elements of music, like melody, rhythm, tempo, and dynamics.

As part of this unit, the class welcomed a special guest—student Matas’ grandmother, A. Kontrimienė. She led a fun session about how music can help us understand others’ feelings. The children listened to W. A. Mozart’s Turkish March and used colorful cards to show the emotions. This activity helped them be creative, express themselves, and enjoy music.

To finish the unit, students worked on a project called “Let’s Make a Musical Instrument.” They learned about instruments from Latin America, Australia, and Spain, such as the guitar, rain sticks, and castanets. Using recycled materials like cardboard, bottle caps, and paper rolls, students created and decorated their own instruments. Students used them to play rhythm games, improvise, and accompany songs. These joyful activities helped students learn more about music, encouraged teamwork, and taught them to better understand other people’s emotions.