Elementary School General Music

Teaching the Notes on the Staff

Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Objective(s):
1. Students will be able to recite the musical alphabet (A-G).
2. Students will be able to name the lines on the staff (E, G, B, D, F).
3. Students will be able to name the spaces on the staff (F, A, C, E).
Materials:
Musical alphabet sign
Four large staff visuals three for lines, one for spaces
Elvis Guitar Broke Down Friday
Every Good Boy Does Fine
Every Green Bus Drives Fast
FACE
Cut outs Elvis, little boy, green bus, happy face
White boards with music staff on them and markers for each student
Procedures:
1. Teacher will introduce musical alphabet A, B, C, D, E, F, G
2. Teacher will explain that the lines and spaces that the students have been writing on
each have letter names from the musical alphabet
a. Start with Line names
b. Relate numbers of lines that are already known (1st line, 2nd line, etc.) to letter
names (E, G, B, D, F)
c. To remember these lines, you can remember some silly sentences!
d. Show one large staff visual at a time.
e. Leaving the large visuals accessible, ask students to help teacher place small
cutouts on the letter names that you call out. Then ask individuals to come up
and do the same.
f. Can anyone think of any other silly sentences for the notes on lines of the
staff?
g. Hand out white boards and markers, ask students to write down their
sentences on the lines.
h. Repeat process with Space names.
Assessment:
Teacher will ask the class to recite the musical alphabet and observe for accuracy and
participation. (group assessment)
Teacher will ask individuals to place cut outs on the correct line or space. (individual
assessment)
Teacher will ask individuals to create their own silly sentences for the lines on the staff.
(individual assessment)

Evaluation:
1. Were students able to recite the musical alphabet?
Indicate accuracy level for class:

75-85%

86-94%

95-100%

Novice

Competent

Mastery

2. Were students able to name the lines on the staff?

Indicate accuracy level for class:

75-85%

86-94%

95-100%

Novice

Competent

Mastery

3. Were students able to name the spaces on the staff?

Indicate accuracy level for class:

75-85%

86-94%

95-100%

Novice

Competent

Mastery

Common Core State Standards addressed:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and
teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas
and expressing their own clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.C
Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.

NAfME National Standards addressed:

Anchor Standard #1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Anchor Standard #10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make
art.

New Hampshire Framework for the Arts addressed:

5. Reading and notating music.