Early Primary v. Late Primary

The Early Primary lessons in the Music Building Blocks Curriculum cater to Kindergarten through Second-grade students, aligning with their developmental stage as concrete thinkers who are just beginning to grasp abstract concepts. These lessons are designed to capture young students' attention through engaging, active music experiences, utilizing movement, stories, unpitched percussion, tone bells, children’s literature, games, and simple composition projects. Each lesson also includes clear, single-step directions for activities that support social skills, encouraging cooperation in both large groups and partner settings, which enhances their understanding of music's structure and function while fostering socio-cultural growth.

The Late Primary lessons in the Music Building Blocks Curriculum are crafted for Third through Fifth Grade students who are moving into the concrete operational stage of development. At this stage, students’ thinking becomes more logical and organized, enabling them to begin understanding abstract aspects of music they previously only experienced on a reactive level. As they develop a broader perspective, they can appreciate the value of music from diverse cultures and historical periods. These lessons provide extensive opportunities for improvisation and composition through movement, speech, simple percussion, and xylophones. Lessons are scaffolded to support success for all students, recognizing their continued need for concrete learning experiences.