Fifth graders have music once in an ABCD rotation for 45 minutes. During their first music class they got a seat on the risers and then shared their musical interests with another classmate. Students wrote down their favorite song/artist/band on a piece of paper and then put it in a bucket. Each student then received someone else’s paper and discovered who wrote that favorite song/artist/band. Each student described to their new friend why they enjoy this music so much!
Next, students were asked to participate in a class discussion about an essential music question: “Why does music exist?” To help students organize their thoughts and build on each other’s ideas, they had this discussion in a “CHALK TALK.” This is an activity in which students share their ideas, read each other’s ideas, make connections, and ask each other questions—on the white board. There isn’t any talking in this activity to promote thoughtful reflection of one’s own ideas and the ideas of others. Students decided that music exists for entertainment purposes, to express one’s own feelings, to make one feel a different way (listen to happy music when you’re sad), and to share ideas that cannot otherwise be expressed.
Next, students were asked to participate in a class discussion about an essential music question: “Why does music exist?” To help students organize their thoughts and build on each other’s ideas, they had this discussion in a “CHALK TALK.” This is an activity in which students share their ideas, read each other’s ideas, make connections, and ask each other questions—on the white board. There isn’t any talking in this activity to promote thoughtful reflection of one’s own ideas and the ideas of others. Students decided that music exists for entertainment purposes, to express one’s own feelings, to make one feel a different way (listen to happy music when you’re sad), and to share ideas that cannot otherwise be expressed.
Fifth graders are now creating a Harlan School Song! Both classes are working collaboratively (during their respective music time) to compose a new school song that will be used this year and in coming years at Harlan. They are currently discussing what purpose the school song should serve, what the song needs in order to be successful, how they want people to feel when they hear the song, and what ideas they’d like to have in the lyrics.