Music Lessons with a twist to get students a little excited about learning and to be an active participant not a passive one.
Social Studies/ Science Lessons
Students create lyrics about a topic they are covering in social studies or science. The lyrics will be sung to a common seasonal or everyday tune. Some examples are Old McDonald, Here Comes Santa Claus, Happy Birthday, and The Ants Go Marching.
Example: Tune: Here Comes Santa Claus Topic: Create lyrics about digestion.
Here comes a burger, Here comes a burger being pushed by the tongue. Students finish the song to incorporate the process of digestion in the human body.
Having students create lyrics and perform the song to the class will allow them to comprehend and retain the information. As students create the lyrics they must decide on which facts are relevant. They are unable to have lengthy answers rather than must get to the point quickly. As they are deciding on what information is significant they are learning how to dissect information and decide for themselves what is key.
As well, after the students have created the lyrics they will practice several times before presenting to the class. As they practice, they are continually learning about the topic and retention is greater. How many students do you know who can sing a multitude of songs? Songs are a way to connect to students and it gets the students more excited about learning even if the material is dry. The students must create a song that is factual but can have their personal style infused into it.
Music Lesson Options
Teacher records the songs onto a cd and plays the music daily for students to learn the material. As well, students have the option of downloading it on their MP3 players to assist them in studying for a test. Teacher may play a song a day and the students must sing along.
Teacher gives students a photocopy of all the lyrics to the students. Other groups will perform another group’s music.
Teacher places students in groups and divide the material into sections. Each group must learn about a section and create a song with the relevant information. Teacher will decide before the performance if the student has the major points in the song.
