Creative Play
This page contains lessons and/or activities that encourage creativity and/or creative play. New content will be added regularly, so check back and explore some of our other categories by clicking on any of the buttons below.
Early Childhood +
Learning activities are appropriate for pre-school and older. Opera content appropriate for all family members.
Elementary +
Learning activities are appropriate for early readers/writers and older. Opera content appropriate for all family members.
Middle School +
Learning activities are appropriate for students grades 6 and older. Some opera content may not be appropriate for young family members.
High School +
Learning activities are appropriate for students grades 9 and older. Opera content is intended for a mature audience.
Creative Play
Indicates a lesson or activity that encourages creativity and/or creative play.
Learning Series
Indicates a series of lessons or activities on a related subject and/or skill.
New/Beginner
Indicates a lesson or activity intended for those new to opera and/or opera-based learning.
Skill Development
Indicates a lesson or series of lessons designated to develop a specific skill or set of skills.
Recent Posts: (Most recent posts displayed. CLICK HERE to see all posts in this category.)
Make your own instrument using items in your kitchen
Let's Make a Water Xylophone!
Ms. P teaches us how to make and play an instrument using items you probably have in your kitchen. After you've made and tuned your instrument, make sure to check out Ms. P's next lesson (posted below) on how to sing the "Quarantine Blues." :-)
Using Voice, Body Language, and Facial Expression
Acting: Getting Into Character
Join us for one of our Students Compose Opera remote learning lessons on developing characters for the 3rd grade operas at P.S.166 in Manhattan. Met Opera Guild Teaching Artist Gracie Nash shows us how to use voice, body language, and facial expression to help us transform into a new character. This activity is even more fun using a mirror to watch your new character come to life! **PRIOR KNOWLEDGE** We've rated this lesson for 3rd grade and above, but younger students can participate with the help of an older family member.
Create your own special look with this step-by-step tutorial
Character Make Up Fun!
Met Opera Guild Teaching Artist Elizabeth van Os shows us how to create a make up design based on qualities of a character you might like to portray. This activity is rated "E" for elementary students who can work independently, however, younger students can do this activity with some assistance from an older family member.
Test your musical skills!
Rhythm Reading Scavenger Hunt
Met Opera Guild Teaching Artist Shawn Farrar shows us how we can construct and read rhythms using things we can find in our homes. Gather your pens, pencils, markers, paper clips - even pasta or sticks from an outside walk can work - then join us for some rhythm reading fun!
Write your own original aria or libretto!
Using Poetic Devices to Construct Lyrics
Met Opera Guild Teaching Artist Andrea Palma show us how we can use several poetic devices to help us start writing song lyrics and/or parts of our opera libretto. **PRIOR KNOWLEDGE** We've rated this lesson for 4th grade and above. Students should understand: Rhyme, Alliteration, Metaphor, and Simile and a basic knowledge of how to apply word syllables to simple rhythms. A brief instructional video is in the resources, as well as the "Libretto Toolbox" containing complete definitions.
Let's Compose an Opera!
Create Your Own Original Music Drama
Part 1 - The Plot. Getting bored at home? Why not start CREATING your own opera! Use the linked "Story Recipe" to brainstorm the important plot elements of your libretto, a.k.a. text/script.
How can we bring our characters to life on stage?
Costume Design: Making Character Choices
Join us for one of our Students Compose Opera remote learning lessons on developing characters for the 3rd grade operas at P.S.166 in Manhattan. Met Opera Guild Teaching Artist Gracie Nash talks to us about all the important questions we need to ask ourselves about our characters in order to dress them for the stage.
Fun for the whole family!
The Pentatonic Composer's Cube
Met Opera Guild Teaching Artist Shawn Farrar teaches us how to create our own original melodies using a pentatonic scale composer's cube. This is a great activity to promote creativity! Students in 3rd grade or older can work independently on this project, and younger students can do this activity with the help of an older family member. **Prior Knowledge/Need to Know:** quarter (ta) and eighth (ti-ti) rhythms and notation and familiarity with solfege.