Author: Andrew Norris
 Date Created: 2/16/2006 12:12:00 PM PDT
 
Music of the World
VITAL INFORMATION
Subject(s):
History, Media Studies, Music, Research, Social Studies, Technology

Topic or Unit of Study:

Music of the World



Grade/Level:
6-8

Objective:

Students will:
-Identify traditional international music by listening to compact discs.
-Write essays discussing a particular type of music chosen by the students based on their preference including the history of the chosen music, the meaning of the music, and lives of popular musicians.
-Create PowerPoint presentations of ten slides or more, to demonstrate their understanding of the history of chosen music, the meaning this music, and lives of popular musicians.



Summary:

Students will choose a genre of music specific to a particular region, or a popular international band. Their research topics will include origin of traditional music, instruments used, and how the traditional music is incorporated into everyday life. Students will then create a PowerPoint presentation using their information and include this information in their presentation at the "World Music Fair" held at the end of the unit.



IMPLEMENTATION
Learning Context:
This activity adds to Social Studies instruction and individual country projects. This activity will lead to presentations of countries at the "World Fair" held for parents to attend.

Procedure:
Anticipatory Set:

Play a popular international songs. Ask for and record the students' observations. Show a video of people dancing to popular foreign music, or of a foreign band playing. The idea of this lesson is not to study the mainstream artists, but rather music specific to particular regions.

Input:
It is important for students to understand the differences between genres of international music. These difference can be demonstrated by playing different types of music and noting the differences. It is also important for students to understand the requirements for the assignment. You could communicate these requirements by showing a PowerPoint you may have constructed.

It is also important for students to understand how to write an essay.

While providing the students with an example of a PowerPoint presentation, a list of necessary elements will be provided. The elements may include: the origin of traditional music, how the traditional music is incorporated into everyday life, and popular musicians for the particular music.

Check for Understanding:
Some strategies I will use to determine whether or not the students have learned the objectives are:
-First, make sure the students understand the necessary elements of the assignment. You should do this during the explanation of the assignment by simply asking them for questions.
-Second, check for understanding of research materials by requiring progress checks. These checks should take place three times before the actual due date of the project. Each check should ask students to have completed a certain amount of work.
-Third, allow students opportunities to peer edit their papers, as well as have their paper edited by their teacher.
-Finally, require the steps necessary to write an effective paper. These steps include prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

Guided Practice:
Research sessions should take place at the library before the due date. The help of the teacher in researching should take place, as well as help from the librarian. These sessions should also be used by the students to ask particular questions about the assignment if full understanding has not been reached.

Conclusion:
The wrap up of this unit will take place at the "World Fair" at the end of the unit. All of the students will present their presentations to the class. The teacher should also collect the essays written and use a rubric to grade them. Presentations will be graded using a similar rubric including preparation, knowledge of the topic, and effort.

Independent Practice:
This project will require a great deal of work to take place at home. Much of the research, writing, and presentation creation that is not completed during library times will need to be completed at home.

Differentiated Instruction:
For students in need of differentiated instruction, more time, individual help, and alternative assignments will be offered. The task of creating a PowerPoint presentation could be supplemented by incorporating organizational software such as Inspiration. Some alternative assignments include a study of a particular music artist from their specific country, or a study of their favorite music artist, a more interactive presentation that incorporates the more advanced skills involved in PowerPoint, or an additional genre of music. For Spanish speaking ELL students, directions in both Spanish and English will be provided.

Sample Student Products:
The two assignments for this project include the written essay, and the presentation portion.
-The essay should be approximately 2 pages, and discuss particular type of music chosen by the students based on their preference. Students should include the history of the chosen music, the meaning of the music to the people (lyrics, social context), and lives of popular musicians. The essay should be professional and formal. Students will be assessed not only on content, but also on conventions.
-The presentation portion of this assignment should relay the information acquired in the creation of the essay to the rest of the class in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation should include examples of the music, pictures, and original thoughts and ideas from students. The presentation should be well prepared, original, and professional.

Collaboration:
Students will work individually.

Time Allotment:
4 class periods. 50 Min. per class.

Author's Comments & Reflections:
 
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Instructional Materials:
 
Resources:
 
STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT
Standards:
AZ- Arizona Academics Standards
• Subject : Language Arts
• Subject/ Grade/ Domain : Writing
• Grade : Grade 7
• Strand : Strand 1: Writing Process
• Concept : Concept 1: Prewriting
Prewriting includes using strategies to generate, plan, and organize ideas for specific purposes.
 Performance Objective PO 1 : Generate ideas through a variety of activities (e.g., prior knowledge, discussion with others, printed material or other sources).
 Performance Objective PO 4: Establish a central idea appropriate to the type of writing.
 Performance Objective PO 7: Use time management strategies, when appropriate, to produce a writing product within a set time period.
• Concept : Concept 2: Drafting
Drafting incorporates prewriting activities to create a first draft containing necessary elements for a specific purpose.
 Performance Objective PO 1: Use a prewriting plan to develop a draft with main idea(s) and supporting details.
 Performance Objective PO 2: Organize writing into a logical sequence that is clear to the audience.
• Concept : Concept 3: Revising
Revising includes evaluating and refining the rough draft for clarity and effectiveness. (Ask: Does this draft say what you want it to say?)
 Performance Objective PO 1: Evaluate the draft for use of ideas and content, organization, voice, word choice, and sentence fluency.
 Performance Objective PO 7: Apply appropriate tools or strategies (e.g., peer review, checklists, rubrics) to refine the draft.
• Concept : Concept 4: Editing
Editing includes proofreading and correcting the draft for conventions.
 Performance Objective PO 1: Identify punctuation, spelling, and grammar and usage errors in the draft.
 Performance Objective PO 2 : Use resources (e.g., dictionary, word lists, spelling/grammar checkers) to correct conventions.
 Performance Objective PO 4: Apply appropriate tools or strategies (e.g., peer review, checklists, rubrics) to edit the draft.
• Concept : Concept 5: Publishing
Publishing includes formatting and presenting a final product for the intended audience.
 Performance Objective PO 1: Prepare writing in a format (e.g., oral presentation, manuscript, multimedia) appropriate to audience and purpose.


Assessment/Rubrics:
Attachments:
 1.  Rubric for grading essays and presentations.