Holst Mars - Music Listening unit, no prep, no tech, no instruments!

Engage your music students in Romantic music with this no-prep, print-and-go unit based on Mars from The Planet Suite by Gustav Holst. Perfect for classrooms with limited access to instruments, technology, or a dedicated music space, these general music lesson plans are designed to develop listening skills, foster music appreciation, and encourage creative thinking through a wide variety of activities. Mars: Bringer of War by Holst from The Planets Suite is a timeless classical favourite and your students will be engaged in learning about the music with a space exploration theme!

What’s included?
8 page printable workbook for students (PDF format)
Teacher instructions (PDF format)

• Listening Activities: focus on identifying instruments and musical features including ostinato, fanfare, dissonance and coda
• Theory activities: written tasks based on 5/4 time signature, ta, te-te and triola rhythms
• Composer study: learn a little about the life and works of Gustav Holst
• Composition: students compose a short rhythmic ostinato using inspiration from the music
• Practical tasks: using clapping instead of instruments
• Opportunities for whole class, group and pair activities: encourage collaboration through discussions and shared tasks
• Non-music exercises: allow your students to use their imagination, imagining travelling to Mars and planning an interview with Holst

Not included: the audio file for the recording of Mars is not included for copyright reasons. However, the timings are clearly noted in the teacher instructions and the piece is easy to find on all major streaming platforms… and you probably have the CD in your classroom collection from years ago! The only technology required is a speaker, CD player or computer to play the music on.