Goals:

The students will become more familiar with the songs associated with the Titanic.

The students will reflect on the impact of music on memory.

Materials:

four tape players

four separate places where students can listen to a piece of music without being distracted by the other music

four songs connected with the Titanic

pen or pencils

paper

Time:

This lesson will take one hour.

Procedure:

1.  Lead a discussion about the effect of music on memories. What songs automatically conjure up images? Why is this?

2.  Split the students up into four groups, and explain that they are going to be going to four different stations around the room where they will be listening to four different songs concerning the Titanic. Instruct the students to write down words or thoughts that come to mind as they are listening to each piece, and then ask them to write a journal entry for each one. This journal entry will be unique for each one - for "Nearer My God To Thee" the students will reflect on what feelings the passengers probably were feeling at the time.

3.  The students will then share their entries with each other and have an informal discussion for each song. The students will have a fifteen minute time limit to get everything accomplished.

4.  Send each group of students to a different station and monitor the work by walking around the room. After fifteen minutes, announce that it is time to rotate.

Assessment:

The students will be assessed on their journal entries and their participation. Participation will be judged by teacher observation, and each student will get a check if they are participating in a positive way. The journal entries will be assessed by simple completion - the students will get a check if they have written an entry.

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

Music - exposure to different music

Language Arts - writing in the journal

The Titanic - developed by Kelly Coleman, Nikki Cosgrove, Megan Mills, & Dorothy Weber

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This page was submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program.