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MusicLand Theme Park

 

Return to That's Entertainment: Music Lessons for Every Grade

 

 

Subjects

  • Arts & Humanities:
    --Dance, Music
    --Language Arts
    --Visual Arts
  • Educational Technology
  • Social Studies:
    --History
    ----U.S. History
    --Regions/Cultures

 

Grades

  • 3-5
  • 6-8

 

Brief Description

Create a musical theme park that contains "lands" for each of the musical genres!

 

Objectives

Students will
  • use technology in a unique and compelling multidisciplinary unit on musical genres.
  • learn the popular songs/music of the musical genre.
  • learn the events that took place during the time period that may have influenced the music that was being composed and performed.
  • learn the customs and fashions from their chosen time period.
  • learn what other art forms were current and significant to the music topic.
  • develop a keen sense of music history.
  • understand how music has influenced society.
  • learn to appreciate different musical styles.

     

    Keywords

    Music, genres, blueprint, model, research

     

    Materials Needed

     

  • pencils and paper
  • Internet access (for research, if desired)
  • art materials for blueprint and model-making

     

    Lesson Plan

    In the MusicLand Theme Park activity students work in small groups to design "lands" that will function as part of a theme park. Each land focuses on a musical genre -- classical, musical theater, ragtime, swing, rock and roll, and more. The students research their assigned genres and create a blueprint or model of the land; the model must meet specific requirements contained in the activity's instructions.

    Assessment

    The student "lands" must feature
  • performing talent that looks and sounds like the musical artists of their chosen musical style.
  • selections of music to be used as background music throughout the "land."
  • a restaurant that features the type of food that was a favorite during the time period and, if applicable, geographic location of their genre.
  • a souvenir shop that carries reproductions of instruments, recordings, and performers of the chosen era.

     

    Lesson Plan Source

    East Side Union High School District (San Jose, California)

     

    National Standards

    FINE ARTS: Music
    GRADES K - 4
    NA-M.K-4.6 Listening to, Analyzing, and Describing Music
    NA-M.K-4.7 Evaluating Music and Music Performances
    NA-M.K-4.8 Understanding Relationships Between Music, Other Arts, and Disciplines Outside the Arts
    NA-M.K-4.9 Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
    GRADES 5 - 8

    NA-M.5-8.6 Listening to, Analyzing, and Describing Music
    NA-M.5-8.7 Evaluating Music and Music Performances
    NA-M.5-8.8 Understanding Relationships Between Music, Other Arts, and Disciplines Outside the Arts
    NA-M.5-8.9 Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture

    FINE ARTS: Visual Arts
    GRADES K - 4

    NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
    NA-VA.K-4.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
    NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
    NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
    GRADES 5 - 8

    NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
    NA-VA.5-8.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
    NA-VA.5-8.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
    NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

    TECHNOLOGY
    GRADES K - 12
    NT.K-12.5 Technology Research tools

    Return to this week's Lesson Planning article, That's Entertainment: Music Lessons for Every Grade.

    See more music lessons on our special Music in Our Schools archive page.

     


    Last updated 03/25/2015