An H20 Symphony

Unit Topic: The Galapagos Islands

Grade Level: Middle School

Basic Concepts: Geometry, Color, Principles of Music, Analysis

Content Areas: Music, Art, Language Arts

Time: Each activity will take 1 1/2 hour

Objectives

• Students will pictorially represent music.
  
  
• Students will understand how water and the oceans are reflected in music.
  
  
• Students will analyze song lyrics.

Activity 1

Phase 1: The class will discuss the various ways in which one can make a line. For example, lines can be fat or thick, smooth or wavy or jagged, long or short, straight or spiraled, etc.. It is suggested that examples be drawn on the chalkboard.

Materials: chalk, chalkboard

Phase 2: Next, the teacher will play a piece of instrumental music for the class. (Some suggested pieces are listed below.) The students will be asked to respond to the music on a sheet of paper. By interpreting how the music makes them feel, they will compose a pictorial representation of the music using only lines. Students may also wish to use different colors. It is advised that the teacher model the activity for the class. (See the following sample.)

Materials: music, tape/CD player, large paper, markers

Phase 3: After students complete their pictures, they will be asked to share their picture with the class. They should be prepared to explain how the song made them feel and how they represented this in their picture, i.e. why they chose certain colors or drew lines a certain way.

Materials: pictures

Activity 2

Phase 1: Students will be provided with the lyrics to water-related songs. After hearing the song(s) played, they will be asked to analyze the lyrics. Students should look for examples of ecological concepts, historical information, political messages, and examples of the many ways people use and value water and aquatic environments. After time has been given for the students to individually review the lyrics and jot a few notes, students will share their observations with the class. This could lead to a discussion about how humans interact with or depend on aquatic environments.

Materials: music, tape/CD player, lyrics

Phase 2: The self-assessment form which students will complete can substitute for journal entries for both Activity 1 and Activity 2.

Assessment: Students will complete a self-assessment. A successful student will have completed the self-assessment, fully answering all questions. For example, where two examples are asked for, a successful student will provide two examples.

Extensions:

1. The class may wish to repeat Activity 1 using music with lyrics.

2. Students could be asked to bring in water-related songs to use with these activities.

3. Students may wish to repeat Activity 2 using poetry.

Resources: Activity 2 from: Council for Environmental Education. (1992). Project Wild Aquatic Education Activity Guide. Bethesda, MD: Author.

Suggested Songs (*indicates lyrics)

Back To Activity 1

Other Suggested Resources (*denotes "youth-friendly"):

*Casey, D. (ed.) (1995, September/October). Art to Zoo: Tomorrow's Forecast: Oceans and Weather. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

- Explores the topic of oceans and weather. Brief explanation of topic. Four integrated lesson plans.

*Cole, J. (1992). The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor. New York: Scholastic Inc. [0-590-41431-3]

-Mrs. Frizzle and her class take a trip to the ocean bottom, stopping on the way to explore the mysteries of the deep.

*Council for Environmental Education. (1992). Project Wild. Bethesda, MD: Author.

-Interdisciplinary activities dealing with the environment. Each lesson includes objectives, method, background information, materials, procedure, extensions, and evaluations. Excellent resource for teachers.

Name _____________________

Self-Assessment for An H20 Symphony

How did I use lines and color to convey how the song made me feel? Give at least 2 examples.

Did I effectively explain my drawing to the class? Why or why not?

Three things I learned by analyzing the lyrics of songs are:

Back To Activity 2