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?
10 page printable workbook for students (PDF format)
Teacher instructions (PDF format)
UK and USA versions (bar/measure, crotchet/quarter note etc)
Colour and greyscale versions

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. The only technology required is a speaker, CD player or computer to play the music on.

Tell me more!
This unit is flexible and ready-to-use! Ideal to fit into your regular curriculum, or to use for last-minute changes to your teaching circumstances. No instruments, technology, or special setup needed - just print the student booklets and students write directly on them. The tasks support key music education standards like active listening, analysis, theory, history and creativity.

As music teachers, we have to be flexible and adaptable to room changes, limited resources, disengaged classes, behaviour challenges and more! I designed these units with these circumstances in mind! Whether you’ve to teach some quiet lessons during exams, or you have no access to technology or instruments, or if you have a class who cannot be trusted with practical work, this unit will keep your students busy, engaged and learning! Despite the “no instruments, no technology label”, these lessons are not boring! They are packed with a range of short activities, mixing theory work, listening excerpts, written tasks and class discussions. The unit should last approximately 4 lessons for students age 9-12.

Similar units for older students are available: Danse Macabre and Purcell’s Rondeau.