Flight of the Bumblebee

The Flight of the Bumblebee is one of the most entertaining music pieces I have ever heard. It was written by Rimsky-Korsakoy. He was born in March 1844 in Russia. To learn more about Rimsky-Korsakov, at Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Classics for Kids | Composers and Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov @ Wikipedia.

Lesson Plans
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Classics for Kids | Composers
Lesson plans for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5 and much more

Africanized Honey Bees on the Move Lesson Plans

Crafts
Make a Bee Finger Puppet Craft.

For older children or adults: Felt Finger Puppets

There are many more ideas out of the web, just search for them online.

Music/Physical Activity
Listen to the music on Classics for Kids website
Dance like a bee as you dance to this fast and fun music.

Other Music Links
Flight of the Bumblebee
Flight of the Bumblebee - Canadian Brass

Dance like Animals for International Dance Day

April 29 is International Dance Day. Find a dance and dance to it. Here are some dances that animals have performed.

Physical Education/Dance Activity: Dance to the music as they are played. You can pretend you are that animal and try to copy the moves the animals make. If you like, have someone video tape your dance moves.

Dancing Blue Footed Boobies - Ranger Rick
Dance with the Blue Footed Boobies. If you have blue socks, put those on, if not, pretend you are wearing blue socks.

The Stunning Dance of the Peacock Spider! - Ranger Rick

A Spanish Dancer Nudibranch Gives a Graceful Performance Every Time It Swims - Ranger Rick
This has beautiful music played as the background music.
Dance with the music as you watch the nudibranch swims (dances) in the waters.

Flight of the Bumblebee
This a link found on my blog.

Classical Composers

LISTEN
Play musical works to celebrate a composers birthday. If you miss the exact date, you can play the musical piece that they composed anytime of the year.

Instruments: Listen for the different types of musical instruments played in the piece. What are they?
Speed: Is the music fast, slow,...?
Volume: Does the music get louder or softer?
Mood: What kind of mood does the music cause you to experience (happy, sad,...)?

WRITING ACTIVITIES
Write a description of each piece that you listen to. Include: the instruments, the speed, the volume, the feeling, mood, etc. Include music terms in your description.

Research about each composer. Write a short biography of them. Include pictures and other information on paper or slideshow.

Classics FM: Composers
Classic FM: YouTube
Classical.net: Composer Data
Classical Music Including the timeline of different eras.
Classics For Kids - This is an excellent site to find lots of resources.

MARCH

Chopin, Frédéric
March 01, 1810 - October 17, 1849
He was possibly born on February 22 (Source: Chopin)
Country: Poland
Era: Romantic

Chopin: Classic FM
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

Vivaldi, Antonio
March 04, 1678 - July 28, 1741
Country: Italy
Era: Baroque

Vivaldi: Classic FM
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

Famous Works
The Four Seasons

Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel
He is known as C.P.E. Bach.
March 8, 1714 – 14 December 1788
Country: Germany
Era: Baroque
He was a composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist.

Trivia Facts
He was the son of a Johann Sebastian Bach, a famous composer.
His second name (Phillipp) was given in honor of his godfather, Georg Philipp Telemann, who was a famous composer.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Britannica
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

Strauss, Joann I
March 14, 1804 – September 25, 1849
Country: Austria
Era: Romantic

Johann Strauss | : Britannica

Strauss, Eduard
15 March 1835 – 28 December 1916
Country: Austria

Eduard Strauss: Wikipedia

Telemann, Georg Philipp
March 14, 1681 - June 25, 1767
[24 March - New Style]
Country: Germany

Georg Philipp Telemann: Britannica
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

Bach, Johann Sebastian
He is known as C.S. Bach.
March 21, 1685 - July 28, 1750
[March 31 - New Style]
Country: Germany
Baroque Period

Bach: Classic FM
This includes a video called "Fast and Friendly Guide to Bach".
Johann Sebastian Bach: Britannica
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

APRIL

Rachmaninoff, Sergei
April 01, 1873 - March 28, 1943
 [Old Style: March 20]
Country: Russia
Romantic Period

Rachmaninov: Classic FM
Sergey Rachmaninoff: Britannica
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids


MAY

Brahms, Johannes
May 07, 1833 - April 03, 1897
Country: Germany
Romantic Period

Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

JUNE

Strauss, Richard
June 11, 1864 - September 08, 1949
Country: Germany
Late Romantic Period

OCTOBER

Strauss, Johann II
October 25, 1825 - June 03, 1899
Country: Austria
He was known as the "Waltz King".
Romantic Period

Strauss II: Classic FM
Johann Strauss |: Britannica
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids
 
Bizet, Georges
October 25, 1838 - June 03, 1875
Country: France
Romantic Period

Georges Bizet: Britannica
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

Habanera | Muppet Music Video | The Muppets

Famous Works
Habanera from Carmen Suite No. 2

NOVEMBER

Britten, Benjamin
November 22, 1913 - December 04, 1976
Country: England
Modern Period

Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids

DECEMBER
Beethoven, Ludwig van
December 17, 1770 - March 26, 1827
 (Baptized on December 17)
Country: Germany
Classical Period

Ludwig van Beethoven: Britannica
Beethoven: Classic FM 
Celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven's 245th Year | Google Doodles
Composers A to Z: Classics For Kids
 
Ode to Joy | Muppet Music Video | The Muppets