Home›Lesson Plans›The Arts›Music · Grade 7

Sharps & Flats

Seventh graders learn about sharps (♯), flats (♭), and naturals (♮) — the symbols that raise, lower, and reset a note by a half step — and how they connect to the black keys on a piano.

Grade 7Notation45 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain a sharp.
  • ✓Explain a flat.
  • ✓Match symbols to meanings.
  • ✓Read altered notes.
Essential Question

Between the letter notes are the “in-between” notes — the sharps and flats! What do these symbols mean?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Symbol

Project this and match each symbol or idea to its meaning — tap the left, then tap the right.

♯ Match each symbol to its meaningTry it
Symbol / Idea
What It Means
Now tap its meaning!
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Listen · Explore · Create · Perform · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Listen — The In-Between Notes

5 min

Between the letter notes are the sharps and flats — what do they mean?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a sharp on a staff.
  • Ask what it does.
  • Warm up.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Sharps & Flats

11 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Symbol.
  • Match each one.
  • Find them on a keyboard.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Find.
  • Name.
3

Create — Create

13 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Raise a note with a sharp.
  • Lower one with a flat.
  • Play them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sharp it.
  • Flat it.
  • Play it.
4

Perform — Perform

11 min

Students perform.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Play a scale with a sharp.
  • Name the altered note.
  • Give critique.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Play it.
  • Name it.
  • Critique.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain a sharp.
  • Explain a flat.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain it.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Music).

NCAS
MU:Pr4.2.7

Read sharps and flats.

NCAS
MU:Cr1.1.7

Explore altered notes.

NCAS
MU:Re7.2.7

Describe pitch alterations.

NCAS
MU:Pr5.1.7

Perform with accidentals.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Symbol + meaning cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A sharp ___ a note.”
  • Use a keyboard.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with sharp vs. flat.
  • Use a keyboard.
  • Match one pair.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add double sharps/flats.
  • Explain enharmonics.
  • Read a key signature.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎹A keyboard
  • 💻Match the Symbol
  • 🎼Staff examples
  • 🖍️Staff paper
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

sharpraises a note (♯)flatlowers a note (♭)naturalcancels an accidental (♮)half stepthe smallest pitch distanceaccidentala sharp, flat, or naturalpitchhow high or lowblack keysthe sharps and flatsscalea set of notes in order
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does a sharp (♯) do?
Raises a note by a half step.
QUESTION 2
What does a flat (♭) do?
Lowers a note by a half step.
QUESTION 3
What does a natural (♮) do?
Cancels a sharp or flat.

Reflect: sharp or flat.

Have students find the sharps and flats (black keys) on a real or drawn keyboard. A printable sharps-flats sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Sharps & FlatsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Sharps & FlatsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Sharps & FlatsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: accidental, black keys, flat, half step, natural, pitch, scale, sharp
  1. the sharps and flats
  2. lowers a note (♭)
  3. raises a note (♯)
  4. a sharp, flat, or natural
  5. a set of notes in order
  6. cancels an accidental (♮)
  7. how high or low
  8. the smallest pitch distance

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does a sharp (♯) do?
  2. What does a flat (♭) do?
  3. What does a natural (♮) do?
Answer key — Part A: 1) black keys · 2) flat · 3) sharp · 4) accidental · 5) scale · 6) natural · 7) pitch · 8) half step
Part B: 1) Raises a note by a half step. 2) Lowers a note by a half step. 3) Cancels a sharp or flat.