Lenny.com
Explore
Create
ActivitiesNewMathEnglish Language ArtsScience & EngineeringSocial StudiesGlobal LanguagesHealth & Physical EducationSpecial EducationCounseling & Life SkillsArts & CreativityESL
Lenny.com
Lenny.com
Explore
Create
ActivitiesNewMathEnglish Language ArtsScience & EngineeringSocial StudiesGlobal LanguagesHealth & Physical EducationSpecial EducationCounseling & Life SkillsArts & CreativityESL
Lenny.com
Lenny.com

Solutions

Lenny for EducatorsLenny for SchoolsLenny for Districts

Product

ExploreSign inCreateSupportAbout

Resources

Getting startedMTSS Acceleration Program

Newsletters

School Funding Newsletter

© 2026 Lenny Learning Inc.

TermsPrivacyAccessibility
LinkedInInstagramX
Lenny
Arts & CreativityCreative ThinkingIdea GenerationArtistic ExpressionArtistic ProcessCollaboration in ArtsVisual and Graphic ArtsGraphic DesignDrawing and PaintingSculpture and 3D ArtPrintmaking and GraphicsPhotography andDigital Design and MediaArt History and AppreciationMusicMusic FundamentalsSinging and Vocal PerformanceInstrumental MusicMusic Composition and CreationMusic History and AppreciationDanceCreative MovementDance TechniquesChoreographyDance History and CultureTheaterDramatic Play and ImaginationActing SkillsPlaywriting and Script DevelopmentTechnical TheaterTheater ProductionTheater History and AppreciationArts and SocietyArt in Culture and CommunityInterdisciplinary ConnectionsArts Advocacy

Stage Magic

A vibrant 3rd-grade music exploration comparing two iconic musical theater numbers: "Defying Gravity" from Wicked (2024) and "Circle of Life" from The Lion King (2018 Musical Awards Gala). Students analyze vocal performance, staging, movement, mood, and musical elements to uncover how Broadway tells unforgettable stories.

Iingraham

Stage Magic

A vibrant 3rd-grade music exploration comparing two iconic musical theater numbers: "Defying Gravity" from Wicked (2024) and "Circle of Life" from The Lion King (2018 Musical Awards Gala). Students analyze vocal performance, staging, movement, mood, and musical elements to uncover how Broadway tells unforgettable stories.

Iingraham

A) Crescendo (gradually getting louder) B) Diminuendo (gradually getting softer) C) Rest (silence)

2. When Rafiki sings a line alone and the choir answers back together, what is this called?

A) Solo song B) Call and Response C) Hum

In the Director's Chair: Your Creative Vision!

Imagine you are directing a school musical. Which showstopper style would you choose for your big finale?

Style A: Flying Solo Spectacle One character with soaring high notes, flying wires, and glowing magic!

Style B: Giant Community Celebration Everyone in the aisles with animal masks, drums, and 50 voices singing!

Why would this style make the audience feel amazed?

Broadway Showstoppers • Music & Theater Arts Page 2 of 2

p
ff

Choral Swell: Starts with solo voice projection and layers dynamic intensity as every animal enters.

Key Instruments

Synthesizers, driving rock/orchestral drum kit, soaring cinematic string section.

African hand percussion (djembes, shakers), orchestral brass horns, wood flutes.

Rapid Fire Vocabulary Solutions

1. Question 1 Correct Answer: A) Crescendo

Teach: "Crescendo" comes from Italian meaning "to grow." Connect to physical flight rising.

2. Question 2 Correct Answer: B) Call and Response

Teach: Musical conversation common in African folklore, gospel, and work songs.

Scoring Rubric for "In the Director's Chair" (2 Points Total)

Formative Assessment

Full Credit (2 pts)

Student selects either style and gives a musical or theatrical reason (e.g., "I chose flying because high belting makes the audience feel goosebumps").

Partial Credit (1 pt)

Student selects a style but writes a vague explanation (e.g., "Because it is cool") without musical or staging vocabulary.

Extension Idea

Have students stand and practice a 10-second vocal crescendo or an animal puppet movement to connect physically with the music!

Teacher Guide: Page 2 Answer Solutions Page 2 of 2

You might also like

Pumpkin Tap Slides

Pumpkin Beats

A playful, 3-part preschool music sequence teaching rhythm stick fundamentals, steady beat, tempo contrasts, and dynamic sound-and-silence control through Halloween songs.

Lenny Avatar
Lenny
9
Instrument Chronicles Dossier

Band Family Expedition

An in-depth exploration of ten core band instruments, combining historical origins, anatomical labeling, beginner five-note fingering diagrams, and foundational staff line/space reading.

MW

Melinda Wallace

3
Showstopper Showdown Answers

Showstopper Showdown Answers

A comprehensive 2-page teacher answer key and instructional guide for the musical theater lesson. Features full solutions, highlighted listening checkpoints, music vocabulary explanations, and classroom discussion prompts for "Defying Gravity" and "Circle of Life."

I

ingraham

Autumn Charades Action Cards

Seasonal Action Charades

A seasonal drama and communication curriculum where students practice non-verbal expression, vocabulary, and teamwork through accessible, sensory-friendly seasonal charades.

D

dfleisch

8
Rock Pioneer Slides

Rock N Roll Roots

A vibrant music exploration introducing Chuck Berry, the electric guitar riff, and the rock and roll classic Johnny B. Goode. Students investigate 1950s rock history, rhythm patterns, storytelling lyrics, and the song's voyage into outer space.

I

ingraham

3
Showstopper Showdown Worksheet

Showstopper Showdown Worksheet

A 2-page print-ready listening and comparison worksheet analyzing "Defying Gravity" (Wicked) and "Circle of Life" (The Lion King). Includes guided listening checklists, staging observation fields, musical element meters, and a creative director reflection prompt.

I

ingraham

Mandé Beats Slides

Pulse of the Drum

A comprehensive 3-week world percussion curriculum for high school general music, guiding students through foundational West African and Afro-Latin drumming traditions, instrument anatomy, polyrhythms, and culminating ensemble performance.

TI

Tom Ingram

9
Curate the Rack Slides

Curate the Rack

A hands-on fashion merchandising lesson where students transform broad merchandise assortments into a cohesive, high-converting feature rack using color stories, visual merchandising formulas, and outfit-building strategies.

J

Jennifer.Leber

3
Body Beats Teacher Guide

World of Dance

A 5-day K-2 physical education and creative movement unit introducing the foundational elements of dance, cultural traditions around the world, and collaborative movement storytelling.

BJ

Bellini John

12
Happy Metropolis Slides

City That Smiles

A high-energy third-grade art history lesson exploring American pop artist James Rizzi, famous for his vibrant 3D cityscapes with animated buildings and crowded New York scenes. Students analyze Rizzi's iconic style, explore anthropomorphic architecture, and create their own expressive 3D paper buildings.

KP

Katherine Perkins

2
The Actors Voice Slides

Theatre Tools Foundations

Comprehensive elementary performing arts series exploring physical pantomime, vocal expression, and character storytelling across grade bands.

S

slee

4
Elise Remixed Slides

Elise Remixed

An engaging music comparative listening lesson exploring Ludwig van Beethoven's classic 'Für Elise' alongside Jon Batiste's energetic modern reimagining. Students explore steady beat, tempo, dynamics, instruments, and how a famous melody can be remixed with movement and fun.

I

ingraham

4