The Jurassic Park Music Theme is my personal favorite song by composer John Williams. And that’s saying something! I love any time I find a slow and majestic song that I can share with my students. They need a well rounded diet of songs, and the Jurassic Park Music Theme is such an amazing, moderate tempo song!
In today’s post I have a fun ball movement activity that I have created to go with the Theme Song from Jurassic Park. It has been very popular in my room and hopefully will be in yours too. Honestly, when does a kid say no to the chance to throw a ball around in music?
Who Wrote the Jurassic Park Theme Song?
The Theme Song from Jurassic Park was written by Oscar-winning composer John Williams. John Williams has over 75 scores under his belt, many of which have gone on to win Oscars and be part of box office history. With credits to films such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jaws and so many more, John Williams is an icon of the music and film industries.
Fun facts about John Williams:
- John Williams did a short stint working for the Air Force Band as a conductor and arranger.
- John Williams is the most Oscar nominated person alive today!
Want more about John Williams? Check out this John Williams Biography Pack full of worksheets and group learning activities to learn all about this famous composer.
Introducing the Jurassic Park Music Theme
The first time that I play the Jurassic Park Music Theme I like to show it with the movie scene – the way it was meant to be experienced. It’s the part of the movie where they have just entered Jurassic Park and are seeing dinosaurs for the first time. EPIC!
One word of warning though. You will have to do a bit of audio editing if you want to show the whole clip, as Jeff Goldblum’s character says “He did it. That son of a bitch really did it.” Or something along those lines. I was able to edit out the audio for those couple of seconds and it went just fine.” And the kids just ate it up.
Following the Form of the Theme
There are lots of ways for you to have students follow the form the first time. I am a visual person so I like to show students a listening map. Here is the listening map I created for the Jurassic Park Theme Song.
Listening maps allow students to see the form, and also patterns in the melody, dynamic and timbre changes, and so much more!
Another way you could experience the form is with form response cards. Students can hold up the correct form card when they hear theme A or theme B etc. You can even make it more fun by giving the themes names, such as the T-Rex theme or the Brontosaurus theme, for example.
You could even add some movement as they follow along with the listening map or response cards. While they sit and follow, they can have little T-Rex arms during the “T-Rex theme” and make their hand into a brontosaurus neck during the “brontosarus theme” if you were giving the themes names.
Ball Movement Activity
Now that the students know the form, we are ready to add the balls! Well – almost. They should probably learn the correct movements first. Here is how it goes:
Intro – sit quietly OR act out entering Jurassic Park and looking around in awe
Part A – roll ball one way. Roll it the other way. Grab. Toss. Toss. (Repeat)
Part B – Toss high. Toss high. Pass it around your body in a circle.
Toss high. Toss high. Pass it around your body in a circle. Reverse circle. Toss.
This is the super simplified version. Watch this video for some more clarification of what each movement would look like with the music.
What Type of Ball to Use
I used a mid-sized bouncy ball in the video. With my students I borrowed tennis balls from the PE teacher so I could have a class set of balls. You can use anything light weight that you can get a class set of.
Can’t find a class set? Divide the class in half. One half sits in the circle around the outside. The others get to use the balls, sitting on their music spot. The ones in the circle can be ball retrievers if a ball should escape the grip of its handler. Then switch.
Rules for Ball Management
I came up with a couple rules to keep things from descending into chaos with balls flying everywhere. First, we practice the moves without they balls. They have to earn the balls by getting things right. Then, once balls are out, I kept two simple rules.
- Stay where you are. If you lose control of your ball, you may not go and get it. I will retrieve it for you if I am able.
- Balls that hit the ceiling are mine.
More John Williams Resources
And there it is! A fun and simple ball routine that your students will love, to help teach form with the Theme from Jurassic Park.
If you are thinking of doing a whole unit on John Williams, then I have a great resource for you to check out. This is my John Williams Ultimate Composer Bundle.
It contains SO. MUCH. Listening maps to five iconic movie themes, listening worksheets, activities and worksheets about composer John Williams, and tons of movement and rhythm activities to do along with the songs including visuals for your board. Plus a recommended lesson sequence!
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