Music Education — Grade 5

Women In Flight: Using music to study American women pioneers in flight

As North Carolina's 97-98 Christa McAuliffe Teaching Fellow, I designed this plan to musically enhance the 5th grade social studies of American heroes, focusing on women pioneers in flight. It is intended to utilize singing and rhythmic activities to compare and contrast the lives of Amelia Earhart and Christa McAuliffe. Amelia Earhart was the first woman to successfully complete a solo trans-Atlantic flight and tragically disappeared while attempting to fly around the world in 1937. Christa McAuliffe was selected for NASA's Teacher-in-Space program and tragically died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster. I traditionally use this plan close to the January 28 anniversary of the shuttle disaster.
NOTE: I have suggested specific songs and instrumental selections found in the Silver Burdett music series. However, similar topical songs in other music series or listening selections such as Holst's "The Planets" could be substituted, yet maintain the integrity of the lesson.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Music Education and Social Studies)

By Robin Smathers.

Lesson plans on the web

Rhythm, math, rhythm

Students are taught to subdivide when counting in order to be rhythmically accurate. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Music Education and Mathematics)

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

A simple melody

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from ARTSEDGE, students learn the notes of the treble clef staff, play simple melodies, and complete a short melodic composition. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Music Education)

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts