Music Lesson Plan For the PBL Unit on Mosquitoes Niki Rinck

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Music Lesson PlanFor the PBL Unit on
MosquitoesNiki Rinck

• An Opera

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Music Lesson PlanQCC Objectives 8.1, 8.2, 8.3,
8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.9, 8.10, 8.12, 8.13, 8.14,
8.15, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18, 8.19, 8.20, 8.21,
8.22 Theme Student opera about mosquito
control in Augusta Lesson Objectives Create
student opera incorporating singing, performing
(vocally and instrumentally), composition,
reading and notating music, evaluating music and
music performances, and understanding
relationships between music, the other arts, and
disciplines outside the arts. Learner Outcomes
Accountability Students encouraged to believe
in themselves, trust themselves, and have fun.
Ownership Students own what is written.
Ownership equals success. Pride Stems from
hard work and self discipline. Acts as a
springboard to other challenging and ultimately
rewarding experiences. Assessment Create,
learn, and perform all of the music for the opera
and all the dramatiwork that goes along with it.
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Music Lesson Plan Continued Introduction View a
previous student opera. Have students split into
groups for a mind mapping activity to determine a
plot for opera. Each group must come up with a
plot associated with mosquito control. Class
will vote on most popular.   Procedures 1) Have
students research stories to base opera and to
find a way to tie it into the core curriculum.
2) Provide fundamental knowledge of some of the
basics of composition. 3) Compose short melody
following guidelines (i.e. key, meter, length,
note values, range). 4) Small groups of 5
compose their own melodies using various Orff
instruments. They in turn will perform these
melodies applying chords they have built on the
specific key (probably C). 5) Assign roles
(major character, supporting character, member of
the crowd, light techs, stage techs, props,
directors assistants, narrator, musicians). 6)
Through class voting, lyrics are decided,
melodies are composed and chords chosen. Each
class is in charge of one song. 7) Rehearse
opera. 8) Perform opera.   Closure Performance,
cast party. Reflect on things that they might do
different next time in class. Put together an
album of pictures and memorabilia of the
performance for the school to view.   Materials
Art instruction, library, area businesses for
prop donations, media for advertising (TV,
radio, newspaper) Hower, E. (1999). Creating
an Opera with Seventh Graders. Music Educators
Journal. 85(5), 21-25.