Area: Music

“Old Roger is Dead”

Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up (c. 5-10 minutes) Brief initial discussion (10 minutes) Learning of the song and ring play (20 minutes) Whole-group share and discussion (20 minutes) Possible extensions (for extra time, or additional lessons) Welcome and Warm-up Welcome students and share any updates, or follow-up on points from the last session. Warm-up “Old Roger is Dead”

“Afternoon of a Faun”

Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up (c. 5-10 minutes) Brief introduction to the “scene” of “Afternoon of a Faun” (5 minutes) Exploring Various Media (20 minutes) Whole-group share and discussion (20 minutes) Possible extensions (for extra time, or additional lessons) Welcome and Warm-up Welcome students and share any updates, or follow-up on points from the “Afternoon of a Faun”

Water Walk by John Cage

Water Walk by John Cage Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up (c. 5-10 minutes) Brief introduction to John cage and Water Walk  (5 minutes) Viewing to Water Walk (without giving away the “secret”) (5 minutes) Small group discussions (c. 10-15 minutes) Whole-group share and discussion (20 minutes) Possible extensions (for extra time, or additional lessons) Water Walk by John Cage

“I wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” by Nina Simone

Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up (c. 5-10 minutes) Brief introduction to Nina Simone and the song (5 minutes) Listening to “I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free)” with Lyrics (5 minutes) Small group discussions (c. 10-15 minutes) Whole-group share and discussion (20 minutes) Possible extensions (for extra time, or additional “I wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” by Nina Simone

“Respect” by Aretha Franklin

black and white photo of Arthea Franklin singing

Objectives: To explore the ways Aretha Franklin’s song “Respect” can inspire and facilitate philosophic discussions of respect, especially with regards to identity. This lesson is designed primarily as a way of using music to do moral philosophizing; however, it could easily overlap with philosophizing about music and/or aesthetics simultaneously. Whole Sequence Breakdown: Welcome and warm-up “Respect” by Aretha Franklin

Baboon on the Moon

Baboon and the Moon still

This lesson plan can be used either in a classroom or online. Plot Summary: This six-minute film is about a baboon who lives alone on the Moon. Wordless and moving, the video portrays the baboon as full of longing for the Earth, struggling with feelings of sadness and loneliness. Looking wistfully out at Earth, he Baboon on the Moon

Macklemore’s White Privilege II

sign reads: Use your privilege to opt in.

Seattle hip hop rapper Macklemore (aka Ben Haggerty) is one of the few widely-known rappers who is white. In his song “White Privilege” (2005), Macklemore sings about his experience as a white rapper, including how being white was advantageous in the music industry. In 2016, Macklemore collaborated with Chicago singer Jamila Woods to release the Macklemore’s White Privilege II

Can animals make music?

3 monkeys playing musical instruments

We all love music.  Some of us sing daily, if just to ourselves.  It could be our favorite tune from Frozen or simply a tune we made up ourselves.  What makes sound music?  Let’s start with ourselves. The teacher/facilitator may wish to share this video and have the children sing along or they may choose Can animals make music?