Lesson Planning Format

(Revised 2014)

Teachers Name: Allison Beres

Date: April 5, 2013

Grade: Middle School General Music (gr. 6-8) Title of Lesson: The Music of America

Plan: what learners will o be able to do (behavioral objective)

Partner: (Honor THEIR world by beginning with an experience students

bring to the classroom. Include time for collaboration through sharing and dialogue.)

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to compose their own variations on a theme with a success rate of 90%.
o understand (cognitive objective)

Students will differentiate between variations on a single theme and identify distinct traits of the music of other cultures.
o encounter (experiential objective)

The students have been asked to bring in an item or song that represents them as an American. Each student will present his/ her item/ song to the class and briefly describe why they picked it. Following will be a class discussion on the similarities and differences of each item.
Present: (Sequence of the lesson steps. Take the learning from THEIR
world to the world of the classroom. Present the information and allow time for students to practice. Engage critical thinking, problem posing and problem solving.)

Students will create their own interpretations of a theme and variations in small groups with other students from varied cultures.
o perceive differently (critical objective)

Students will realize how the richness of various cultures adds to the great diversity in America and perceive themselves to be talented composers.

Focusing Question: In what ways will students (complete the sentence)

In what ways do different styles of music impact a sense of diversity and patriotism in America?
Assessment: Formative- Facilitate the students' dialogue

1. The class will begin by listening to "We are the World 25 for Haiti." 2. Following will be a discussion on how and why these different cultures achieve unity through music. 3. Students will then listen to "Variations on America" by Charles Ives. 4. We will listen to the song again with students writing down what they hear in each variation given the following items to listen for based on their knowledge: instrumentation, tempo, meter, dynamics, range, harmonies, dissonance, etc. 5. We will discuss the differences and similarities of the theme in each variation. 6. The teacher will give the students a 12-bar melody to be used as a theme for their own composition. 7. The students will be put into groups of 3-4 pre-determined by the teacher.
Personalize: (Make the learning personal to the student. Provide
opportunities for creativity and for students to be musicians. Encourage creativity and innovation.)

and ensure an understanding of how different cultures achieve unity through music Summative- Evaluate the final products as creative, thoughtful composition, while incorporating the full melody given in advance.

8. As they have done in the past, each group will create their own variation on the given theme. 9. The students can use instruments in the classroom, their own bodies (including voices), or abstract materials (pencils, markers, etc.) as instruments for their orchestra. 10. The teacher will play the melody once through and each group will follow with their own variations.
Perform: (Communicate and share the new learning through performance,
demonstration or exhibition.)

Materials: Access to

YouTube/ Spotify to listen to songs, classroom/ misc. instruments

11. The students will perform their composition at Back to School Night for their parents and at the Memorial Day assembly during the school day.

Process: (After the lesson, take time to reflect.) Take time to reflect on whether or not the students reached the intended

objectives. Did the students gain an understanding of the importance of diversity in America through freely creating their own composition?