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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

A simple melody

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2215/

A lesson plan for grades 5–8 English Language Arts and Music Education

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In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students learn the notes of the treble clef staff, play simple melodies, and complete a short melodic composition.

Students will:

  • apply prior knowledge of rhythmic concepts in their short compositions;
  • compose lyrics through poetry rhyming;
  • compose, on classroom instruments, a short melody that uses Middle C, D, E, F, and G;
  • identify the letter names of the lines and spaces in treble clef;
  • play, on classroom instruments, written melodies that use Middle C, D, E, F, and G;
  • play the compositions of their classmates; and
  • use patterns in writing poetry that match the rhythm of the tune composed.

ARTSEDGE provides detailed instructions for completing the lesson, a supply list, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, and links to related web resources and an assessment rubric.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.07: Compose a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected topic and format (e.g., poetry, research reports, news articles, letters to the editor, business letters).

Music Education (2001)

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
  • Goal 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.
    • Objective 4.02: Compose short pieces for voices or instruments using major and minor pentatonic and diatonic scales and varied rhythmic values.
    • Objective 4.04: Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose and arrange music.
  • Goal 5: The learner will read and notate music.
    • Objective 5.01: Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and 6/8 meters.
    • Objective 5.02: Read melodic notation in the treble clef.
    • Objective 5.03: Identify notated pitches in the treble and/or bass clef.
    • Objective 5.05: Use standard symbols to notate meter, rhythm, pitch, and dynamics in patterns.

Grade 6

  • Goal 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
    • Objective 1.01: Sing with pitch and rhythmic accuracy and proper breath control, in an appropriate range.
  • Goal 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.
    • Objective 4.01: Compose short pieces using the basic elements of music to demonstrate repetition and contrast.
    • Objective 4.03: Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose music.
  • Goal 5: The learner will read and notate music.
    • Objective 5.01: Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 and 2/2 meters.
    • Objective 5.02: Identify pitches in treble and bass clefs.

Grade 7

  • Goal 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
    • Objective 1.01: Sing consistently on pitch, with accurate rhythm and proper breath control, in an appropriate range.
  • Goal 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.
    • Objective 4.01: Compose short pieces using the basic elements of music to demonstrate tension and release.
    • Objective 4.03: Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose and arrange music.
  • Goal 5: The learner will read and notate music.
    • Objective 5.01: Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/4, 2/4, 4/4, 6/8, and 2/2 meters.
    • Objective 5.02: Identify pitches in the treble and bass clefs.

Grade 8

  • Goal 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
    • Objective 1.01: Sing consistently on pitch, with accurate rhythm and proper breath control, in an appropriate range.
  • Goal 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.
    • Objective 4.01: Compose short pieces using the basic elements of music to demonstrate repetition and contrast, and tension and release.
    • Objective 4.03: Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose and arrange music.
  • Goal 5: The learner will read and notate music.
    • Objective 5.01: Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/3, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 3/8, 2/2, and mixed meters.
    • Objective 5.02: Read melodic notation in the treble and bass clefs.