Steps for Learning - Activity One: Catchy Character Mobiles

 

1. Tell the students that they are going to learn about the life of young Mozart by viewing a television episode and by reading information on a website. Visit the Character Descriptions section.

Divide the class into eight small groups and assign each group the following characters:

If you are using this activity in a K-2 classroom, you may wish to read the information on the Wunderkind Little Amadeus website that introduces the characters together as a whole-class activity. If you are using this activity with older students, have them read the information in their assigned small groups.

 

2. Tell the students that each group must create a character mobile to introduce its character to the entire class. The character mobiles must contain the following information:

Provide the students with construction paper, scissors, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue, string, and wire hangers to make the mobiles.

 

3. As a class, watch the Wunderkind Little Amadeus episode entitled “Solo for Amadeus”. Explain to the class that in this episode, Amadeus sings a solo for the Bishop of Salzburg’s name day, which is a special celebration. Tell the students to listen carefully to the music they hear as each character appears on the screen.

 

After the class has finished viewing, provide each student with a copy of the Comprehension Checker. For K-2 students, complete the Comprehension Checker as a class. For older students, you can have the students work in pairs or independently to answer the questions. When the students are finished, review the answers as a class. Clarify any questions the students might have.

 

4. Tell the students to write down on their character mobiles any additional descriptive words that they have learned from viewing “Solo for Amadeus” and from the class discussion.

 

5. Provide time for each group to present its character mobile to the entire class. Hang the character mobiles in the classroom.