4th Grade State Composition Unit Plan
During Student Teaching I had the opportunity to create a unit plan for my 4th Grade general music students. The students were able to compose in groups of 4-5 a state song for a state of their choice! Below is an overview of this plan!
Goals
SWBAT explore singing in tune with a healthy singing voice
SWBAT chant duple rhythm patterns with consistent tempo and accurate meter
SWBAT sing do-re-mi patterns in tune and with a healthy singing voice
SWBAT compose an eight measure composition using duple rhythm patterns and do-re-mi patterns
SWBAT create lyrics for an eight measure long song based on facts gathered on selected state
SWBAT perform compositions for class with accurate meter, consistent tempo, and a healthy singing voice
SWBAT explore singing in tune with a healthy singing voice
SWBAT chant duple rhythm patterns with consistent tempo and accurate meter
SWBAT sing do-re-mi patterns in tune and with a healthy singing voice
SWBAT compose an eight measure composition using duple rhythm patterns and do-re-mi patterns
SWBAT create lyrics for an eight measure long song based on facts gathered on selected state
SWBAT perform compositions for class with accurate meter, consistent tempo, and a healthy singing voice
Pennsylvania State Standards
9.1.5.A. Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities: Pitch 9.1.5.B. Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts: Sing, Read and Notate Music 9.2.3.A. Explain the historical, cultural and social context of an individual work in the arts: State Songs 9.2.3.H. Identify, describe and analyze the work of Pennsylvania Artists in dance, music, theatre and visual arts: Pennsylvania State Song |
National Standards
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture. |
Lesson Plans
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Student Work Samples and Videos
Before the Student's wrote their lyrics they first had to research information about their state. I created a website and worksheet for the students to gather fun facts about each state that they could use for their lyrics later!
Here is the link: http://musicalstates.weebly.com/ |
The Final Product! This is a sample where the students have combined both the rhythm, pitch, and lyrics for their song. Check below for examples of my teaching and a group performance video!
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The video is a 4th grade class singing through the Pennsylvania state song. I divided the song in half, first half the girls sang, second half the boys sang. In order to prepare the students for the state composition project I decided that it would be great for them to learn the Pennsylvania State Song. I was shocked at how well they not only sang the song, but enjoyed singing the song as well!
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In order to prepare the students for creating a song using only Do-Re-Mi I had the students practice turning the notation that they would see into sound through some activities. I noticed that when the students were in their small groups they were able to keep a great relative pitch and actually turn their compositions into sound and get an idea of what it would sound like.
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This is a video of the performance of a group in one of my fourth grade classes. Their state composition used facts from the state of Florida. They were very creative with their composition. They created a beat while singing the song and then they also wanted to rap their song as well. I was so pleased with how creative they were with the project!
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Assessment
For the composition project I created a rubric that I would use to grade each groups performance and the final composition sheet that they handed in to me. To the right is a sample of this rubric. I also asked the students what they liked and disliked about composing and what they found difficult and easy about composing music. Here are some of their responses. "I really liked creating the tune" "The part that I liked was performing the song" "I did not like standing in front of everyone" "Everyone's eyes watching me was not my favorite part" "It was hard for everyone to agree on the lyrics" "It was a lot of fun getting to pick the music and the lyrics for our song" |
Reflection
After really looking back upon my lesson I am really glad that I took a leap of faith when deciding to create this lesson for my elementary emphasis. My co-op had planned for me to create a unit plan for each grade level and I knew that I really wanted to students to have some composition experience. I created a framework for my lesson and then it just developed organically based on the student's prior knowledge and what I felt they needed to know. I was so surprised by each individual classes creativity and their ability to make the project their own. I was shocked at how interested the students were in not only their state's facts, but facts about Pennsylvania and the state song itself. It was wonderful to expose the students to the art of composing and I definitely want to do this unit again with some slight adjustments. I would like to coordinate with the student's elementary teacher, so that the students can apply their knowledge on states that they are learning in class and apply this information to their composition immediately.
After really looking back upon my lesson I am really glad that I took a leap of faith when deciding to create this lesson for my elementary emphasis. My co-op had planned for me to create a unit plan for each grade level and I knew that I really wanted to students to have some composition experience. I created a framework for my lesson and then it just developed organically based on the student's prior knowledge and what I felt they needed to know. I was so surprised by each individual classes creativity and their ability to make the project their own. I was shocked at how interested the students were in not only their state's facts, but facts about Pennsylvania and the state song itself. It was wonderful to expose the students to the art of composing and I definitely want to do this unit again with some slight adjustments. I would like to coordinate with the student's elementary teacher, so that the students can apply their knowledge on states that they are learning in class and apply this information to their composition immediately.