Middle School Music Lesson

G-RATED VERSION | CLEAN VERSION

Please Note: Sex and drugs of this time are not addressed in this lesson as they may not be appropriate in certain educational settings. You are welcome to put your spin on it if you feel your students are developmentally and socially ready.
This lesson is focused on counterculture's free-thinking.

**INCLUDES TWO REAL-LIFE ENCOUNTERS (INTERVIEWS)**

What is counterculture and how can it change the world we live in?

Students will look at the counterculture of the 1960-70s through the festival at Bethel, New York— the age of hippies, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. Explore the event surrounding this time and event and determine how the counterculture of this time made an impact and changed American culture. This lesson also implements depth and complexity of the topic.

GRADE LEVEL: 7TH-12TH

TIME FRAME: 60-90 MINUTES

TYPE OF ACTIVITY: GROUP COOPERATION OR INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY

OBJECTIVES

o The learner will understand the circumstances and purpose of the Woodstock Art & Music Fair Festival of ‘69.

o The learner will read first-hand accounts of those who attended Woodstock ‘69.

o The learner will hypothesize how Woodstock ‘69’s counterculture changed American culture.

o The learner will explore the changes over time in American culture before, during, and after Woodstock.

MATERIALS:

o Reading Activity (Included) May consider laminating for future use with classes and for durability.

o Depth & Complexity Activity (Included)

o Folder with pockets, one per group. Place the laminated reading activity on the left-hand pocket and

the Depth & Complexity, Geographically Speaking, and Exit Tickets copies in the right-hand pocket, paper

clipped together. Print the cover page and glue or staple it to the front of the folder. Place one folder at

each group’s station.

o Exit Tickets (Included)

o Song from Spotify or other sources: Jimi Hendrix's “The Star Spangle Banner,” Live at Woodstock

o Technology to play the YouTube video of Jimi Hendrix’s appearance on the Dick Cavett Show.

o Internet access for any research needed.

INCLUDES:

o Teacher's Guide

o Introduction Activity

o Procedure

o Closure/Evaluation

o Anwer guides

Disclaimer:

One purchase is for the use of one teacher. If additional teachers would like to use this product, please purchase additional licenses.

Are you ready to introduce (or reintroduce-let’s face it, we all know they forget from year to year) your students to the captivating world of the Elements of Music? Then you’ll enjoy the Elements of Music Vocabulary Mystery Word Match Activity! This engaging lesson is designed to help students familiarize themselves with some essential music vocabulary associated with the elements of music in a fun and interactive way. We all know that students generally love games so they’ll enjoy the gamification of this activity. As they match vocabulary words with their definitions, they’ll discover some letters that they will need to unscramble to find a mystery word.

Activity Overview:

In this activity, students will match vocabulary words to their corresponding definitions related to the elements of music. Each correct match will reveal a letter, allowing students to unscramble and discover the mystery word. This interactive feature adds an extra layer of excitement and challenges to the vocabulary learning experience.

Included in this Activity:

With this activity you will get an interactive worksheet with some words related to the elements of music (e.g., Elements of Music, Duration, Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Texture/Harmony, Form and Tempo) and the corresponding definitions and explanations for each mystery word.

When students have completed and found the mystery word, you can provide them with a blank template and have them find additional words related to the elements of music and their corresponding definitions so that they can create their own. You can use this for earlier finishers, as an extension activity or to dig a little deeper for everyone into the elements of music.

Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the 1993 smash hit that is guaranteed to get your kids spooky in The Nightmare Before Christmas' Oogie Boogie Song, re-envisioned in a REMIX!

There are four all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ttqPWNKkL0

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

End of Year "Music Talk" Activity for Chorus, Band, or Music Class

This resource features an engaging "Music Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving all in one class period during the last week of school! In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about music from famous figures like Taylor Swift and John Green and articulate why the quote aligns with their perspective on music. I use this lesson at the end of every year to see how my students' perspectives on music have developed and matured throughout the school year. This is perfect if you are looking for an engaging lesson plan during the one of the toughest weeks of the year!

Product includes:

- Comprehensive Lesson Plan

- "Music Talk" Sheet for students to fill out

- 6 Corresponding "Music Quote" signs to hang up around your room

Though I utilize this product during the last week of school, it really can be used all year long. I hope that it is as successful in your class as it is in mine!

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Music is a great way to get students engaged and support the learning process. Our brain and body must be in a state of calmness to gear up for learning. Studies have shown that using music in the classroom provided an increased level of positivity and calmness in students.

This bundle includes 7 lessons + 3 freebies.

OR BUILD YOUR OWN BUNDLE HERE

Looking for a way to have some fun while learning music? Look no further. This Graphic Scores Unit will have your students exploring how to represent sound using graphics and composing in no time! There are 3 main lessons included in this unit, however, the last lesson will likely take 6-8 lessons to put together and perform. This unit is one I have used with my own students so I know how much fun they have with it! The great thing with graphic scores is you don't really need any instruments to compose which makes this unit even better if you're teaching music on a cart or have limited resources available.

Overview:

This graphic score short unit exposes students to what a graphic score is. They get to represent sound using graphics and compose their own graphic score using found sounds. Students will learn how sound and music can be represented using graphics. They will practice representing a short piece of music through graphics. After, they will represent common soundscapes using their own graphics and will then create their own graphic score to perform. I created this in Google Docs/Slides so that you can customize this unit to your own unique needs.

Learning Goals:

• We are learning how to represent sounds and music using non-traditional notation.
• We are learning to compose a piece of music using found sounds and represent our sound using graphics.

Success Criteria:

• I can represent sound using graphics.
• I can compose a piece of music with a group and perform it using my score.

What’s Included:

• Lesson Plans and Ideas
• Google Slides Lesson on Graphic Scores (including original composition to practice creating graphic scores)
• Graphic organizer for students with fill in the blanks about graphic scores
• Graphic organizer for students to represent original composition as a graphic score
• Graphic organizer for students to represent soundscapes using graphics
• Graphic score for students to create their own graphic scores
• Rubrics to mark graphic score assignments
• 3 Stars and a Wish for peer feedback

The NFL season is BACK! Your older grade level kids will love RED ZONE

RHYTHMS!

Students will see an NFL team and their corresponding mascot and the students will have to spell out the team and mascot combo with that's right... RHYTHM!

The students will have to decipher the rhythmic syllables using triplets, eighth note pairs, and quarter notes. The rhythm will be shown on the animation on the next slide.

• You can either have the students notate it out on whiteboards...
• make rhythm cards or tiles
• have them write it on the board
• make it a race between A team vs B team to spell it out
• or however you can imagine!

There are 14 teams with 14 unique rhythms that the students will have to decipher. Here comes the kickoff!

Now with digital worksheet to support distance learning!

This product features an engaging back to school Music Talk activity that will have your new students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving on the very first day of school. In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about music and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective using a particular song to explain their opinion. Use this lesson every year to set the tone for what you expect in class; it is a great way to gain insight about your students' current attitudes toward music while getting to know one another with a higher level thinking activity. We have also recently added a digital version of the Music Talk worksheet to support distance learning and cut down on paper.

Product includes:

• Comprehensive Lesson Plan
• "Music Talk" Worksheet
• 6 Corresponding "Music Quote" signs to hang up around your room
• Digital Worksheet to support distance learning for use with Google Drive - newly added!
• Detailed instructions for accessing digital resource

Though this lesson plan is ideal for the first day of school, it can be used all year long without modification.

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Also, check out these great products to start your school year off strong by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐Music Quote Posters

⭐First Day of School Powerpoint

⭐Study Hall Expectations Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Back to School / Open House Brochure

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Welcome to MsNerdWood's Classical Music Escape Room!

Want to introduce your students to the Classical music era in a fun and engaging way? Need a supply teacher activity? I've got you covered!

Introduce your students to the elegance and refinement of the Classical music period with this engaging and interactive escape room activity! Ideal for grades 6-8, this escape room will immerse your students in the world of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven (and more) while they work together to solve challenges and unlock clues.

Key Features:

• Engaging Content: Students will explore the Classical period (1750-1830), learning about key composers, musical forms, and the cultural context of the era.
• Interactive Challenges: Includes a variety of puzzles and activities designed to reinforce knowledge while keeping students actively engaged.
• Flexible Grouping: Can be completed in pairs or small groups, making it perfect for collaborative learning.
• Minimal Setup: Easy to use with minimal preparation, making it an excellent option for regular classroom use or as a go-to activity for substitute teachers.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for introducing the Classical music period or as a review activity. It’s a great fit for music history units, general music classes, or cross-curricular lessons involving history and the arts.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Student-Centered Learning: Promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive way.
• Easy for Teachers: With clear instructions and all materials included, you can focus on facilitating rather than preparing.
• Great for Substitutes: The ready-to-go format ensures that substitute teachers can seamlessly continue instruction with engaging content.

What’s Included:

• Detailed Teacher’s Guide with step-by-step instructions
• Printable student worksheets and challenge cards
• Answer keys and optional extension activities included!

Bring the Classical period to life in your classroom with this escape room activity that’s sure to captivate and educate your students!

Wanna get these kids engaged and smiling ear to ear? Get a TRAP REMIX going full of trap music, backbeats, and trance themes with the theme from Minecraft for Bucket Drumming!

There are four all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2, 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

The mp3 track is included in this resource so you can play right along!

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Curriculum connections: Music, Language, Visual Art   Grades: 6-8 What is Included: Songza Assignment (rough copy and final assignment with writing/art), Lesson Ideas, a rubric.   About this Assignment:   This is a great back to school lesson to use with students in September. It provides students with a chance to reflect on their music preferences while learning about musical terms, and about an online music streaming site. It is a chance for your students to curate their own playlists. This activity is suitable for grade 6-8 students. This activity also gives teachers a chance to get to know the music preferences of their students to help create future lessons based on their interests. This lesson could be adapted to be used with other online music streaming websites. The lesson also encourages students to start to discuss music in ways beyond “I like this song”. They can start to learn about the categories in Songza such as genre and decade. There is a short writing piece included so that students can express why they selected the songs they did for their own Songza Playlists. This assignment can be adapted and used to suit the needs of your students.

RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with STAR WARS and it's sure to get your kids singing and bouncing right along -- it's "Duel of the Fates" Trap Remix!

There are four all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4 times).

• For this, your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see a Death Star icon. Each Death Star is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each ball for the students to hold the ball.

• There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the Death Star icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat

• Death Star icons that are in pairs are played as paired eighth notes

The track can be found here to play right along:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDlr566eYcg

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Whether you have experience teaching music or not, this unit is for you. Have a small budget or no budget for teaching music? I have included ways to make music with your students for very little money. I have used this unit for 5 years teaching music and every year the students love it. This unit will give you a semester (or half a year) worth of material to use with approximately 2 periods of music per week.

What is bucket drumming?

Bucket drumming is a relatively inexpensive way to bring rhythmic practices into the classroom. This unit is designed to be accessible for all teachers to use, regardless of musical training. The use of familiar words helps both teachers and students learn simple rhythms together. The rhythms increase in difficulty and there are options for easy, medium, and hard rhythms. This allows for easy modifications and accommodations ensuring that students of all abilities are successful in this unit. I have taught variations of this unit with grade 6-8 students for over 5 years with success, and these lessons can be modified for other grade levels.

In my experience, students love bucket drumming and enjoy the lessons in this unit. One activity that you can use when you have a few extra minutes is the Elimination Game, and students LOVE it! It can be used as a great warm-up game and to reinforce the skills taught in this unit.

This unit includes games, lessons, and activities to help strengthen ear training, encourage active listening, develop rhythmic abilities, develop composition skills, explore creativity, and most importantly, to have fun! I have also included some helpful information to get bucket drumming started in your classroom. Included in this unit are lessons, games. activities, and rubrics where needed. There are a solid 21 – 31 periods worth of work included in this unit (possibly more).

Included below are the overall lesson plans and activities included in this unit. Most “lessons” can be used for multiple periods and the approximate number of periods is included in brackets beside the activity. I have based these periods on approximately 45 minutes each. These lessons include opportunities to read music, compose, and perform.

Introduction to Bucket Drumming (1 - 2 periods)

Elimination Game (1 period)

Elements of Music (2 – 3 periods)

Rhythm Cards (2 – 3 period)

8 Bar Rhythm Challenges (4 – 6 periods)

Let’s Compose! (5 – 6 periods)

Stomp Composition (6 – 10 periods)

If you have any questions, please let me know! Happy Bucket Drumming!

TIPS:

1. Be sure to leave feedback to earn your TeachShare credits!

2. If you like what you see - follow me for new products and updates (click the star by my store name MsNerdWood).

By popular request, here's an arrangement of the holiday hit that'll sure to get your bucket drumming kids fired up, The Nutrocker, based on theme from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker performed by the Trans Siberian Orchestra!

There are five all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 1, 2, or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

The mp3 is included in this resource, so feel free to play right along!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Welcome to MsNerdWood’s Baroque Music Escape Room!

Want to introduce your students to the Baroque music era in a fun and engaging way? Need a supply teacher activity? I've got you covered.

Transform your music history lessons into an unforgettable adventure with this engaging escape room activity, designed specifically for grades 6-8. Perfect for regular and substitute teachers alike, this escape room introduces students to the wonders of the Baroque era, making music history fun and exciting.

Why Choose This Baroque Music Escape Room?

• Educational and Fun: Students will discover the key elements of Baroque music, learn about famous composers, and understand musical concepts while engaging in thrilling puzzles and challenges.
• Interactive Learning: This escape room is designed to captivate students’ attention, turning traditional music history lessons into an immersive and interactive experience.
• Teacher-Friendly: Easy to set up and facilitate, this activity is perfect for any classroom, especially for supply teachers needing an engaging lesson plan with minimal prep.
• Curriculum-Based: Aligns with curriculum goals, ensuring students gain valuable knowledge about the Baroque period through hands-on activities.

What’s Included?

• Detailed Teacher Guide: Comprehensive instructions to help you set up and run the escape room smoothly, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
• Student Challenges: A variety of engaging tasks, including matching games, true/false questions, and more, focused on the music, art, and culture of the Baroque era.
• Printable Resources: High-quality, visually appealing printables that make learning fun and keep students engaged.
• Answer Keys and Solutions: Complete answer keys for each challenge to support easy facilitation and student success.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover Baroque Music: Students will explore the distinctive features of Baroque music, including its emotional and dramatic qualities.
• Learn About Key Composers: Gain insights into the lives and works of influential composers such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi.
• Master Musical Terminology: Understand essential Baroque music terms like fugue, basso continuo, and ornamentation.

Ideal for Any Classroom:

• Versatile Use: Suitable for regular classroom activities, substitute plans, or enrichment programs.
• Engages Diverse Learners: Designed to cater to various learning styles, ensuring every student is involved and motivated.

Bring Music History to Life!

This Baroque Music Escape Room is more than just an educational activity—it’s a dynamic way to make music history fun. By combining learning with adventure, this escape room will leave a lasting impact on your students and ignite their curiosity about the Baroque era.

Download Today!

Enhance your music classroom with this captivating Baroque Music Escape Room and watch your students embark on an exciting journey through the Baroque period.

By popular request, here's an advanced arrangement of the holiday hit that'll sure to get your bucket drumming kids fired up, First Snow, by the Trans Siberian Orchestra!

There are four all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

This version differs from the standard version with the implementation of sixteenth note patterns (which is great to work on with your kids for alternating hands!)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0DngW4WOGY

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? ***

**
Find them here!**

The follow-up to "Rhythm Wind Up and PITCH! and MELODY Wind Up and PITCH!"
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This one will get the kids on their edge of their seats!

You will need 1 thing for this particular game:

• A sticky suction cup ball (or maybe a soft squishy ball)

The students will see an instrument at the bottom of their screen and memorize the timbre of the instrument (should know beforehand what it is and how it sounds!) They will then hear a musical example of an endless loop of orchestral and band instruments playing in all different ranges from low to high (Teacher will click the speaker icon to play)

Take a listen...

....

....

One of the instruments will be the instrument that is on the screen. AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THAT INSTRUMENT, they throw their suction cup ball at the target. The first kid who gets it correct is the winner (and make sure you advance the slide to make the target turn green) :)

Obviously, we cannot play this as a class because of

1. The amount of suction cup balls tossed at the screen would be insane

2. Team A v Team B would be a bit more competitive and only two balls would be launched at once

If you don't have a whiteboard/projection screen, you can alternatively have the students raise their hand when they hear it and choose the kid who has their hand up the fastest.

Have a great time with this fast paced game!

In "KING CAT", introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos, learn the music by rote by taking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C], and so forth). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands, especially with trickier syncopations and advanced rhythms such as sequential triplets and sixteenth notes!

The notation on the first space F is a bass (middle of the drum) and the notation on the third space C is a tone (four fingers near the rim of the drum, pitched a bit higher)

At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?

• Have tambourines or shakers play on specified beats (try 2 and 4)
• Have shakers play 16th notes all the way throughout or in specific sections
• Have half the class play 1st and 3rd measures, the other half play 2nd and 4th measures
• Do it in a round! :)

Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!

Have a terrific time with this one :)

Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the hit song from the 1995 smash film "A Goofy Movie" with I 2 I from Powerline!

There are four all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4, 6, or 8 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://youtu.be/-qzWOhUURzo?si=quREsFN87FIonlmh

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music (which has turned into a great video meme)? Involved them with BUCKET DRUMMING! in the video turned meme "The Whopper Song"!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4, 6, or 8 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b35HEjVX9Wg

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!