Description:
The teacher will use Rock & Roll music and lyrics, drama and visual art; as an effective aid to stimulate the student’s vocabulary, and to broaden the student’s knowledge about the art of writing. Added benefits to this lesson play; the students will reflect on the spirit of the times comparing and contrasting it with today’s pop culture. Added enhancements and extensions to this lesson plan which will spark discussion and dialogue are as follows” Time Life photographs of artists and period; excerpts from The History of Rock and Roll PBS series; old forty-five records, album covers, and a kinesthetic treat – watch the record fall and place the needle on a 33 as it spins on the turntable of a Hi Fi stereo system in mint condition!
Subject:
English
Grade Level:
7-12
Rationale:
To incorporate all three learning styles: visual, audio and kinesthetic in an expressive and creative activity which will heighten awareness and appreciation of good literature, and therefore, develop an enthusiastic emulation of the effectiveness of figures of speech and sound effects in writing.
Objectives:
- The student will understand (comprehension), identify (analyze) and then create (synthesize) the following Literary Terms: Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Symbolism, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole, and Narrative Poetry.
- The student will understand the effectiveness of painting with words in ell written and worthwhile literature.
- The student will broaden his knowledge about the art of writing.
- The student will understand the role of music lyric and it’s effect on pop culture.
Time Frame:
6 Days Monday - Monday
Day 1
Brief introduction to each literary term using excerpts from Shakespeare and renowned novelists. (Please refer to background) The students break into groups of four (selected by those who had the same song title)
Each group is given their literary term and tape with songs. They then brainstorm: on the best way to highlight the term they are responsible for teaching. Next, the students will collaborate and plan props, design the backdrop with the song lyrics and the literacy term, decide on calligraphy and visual enhancers such as: mosaics, photographs, pictographs, abstract painting etc.
Day 2
The students, in their designated group, will practice lip synching to the music, dramatizing elements of the song, and choreographing dance movements to emphasize the literary term. They will start painting the backdrop. A collage, mosaic of construction paper or geometric shapes, can be used; but emphasis must be made on the literary term. Song titles and writers/performers are required on the backdrop.
Day 3
The students will perfect their routine and finish the backdrop.
Day 4
Evaluation Group: Each group will perform their three songs emphasizing the particular literary term they must teach. The criteria will be as follows: effectiveness of creative elements, visual displays and teaching. Each group will be video taped. The class will vote on the best group. A prize will be given to the group with the most points on the criteria ballot.
Day 5
Evaluation – Analytical: Each group will collaborate and decide on one of their own songs emphasizing their particular term used. As “Disc Jockey” I will play the various selections while the students (individually) write down what literary terms are being illustrated. A prize will be given to the group with the most effective song.
Day 6
Evaluation – Synthesis: Create a narrative poem which could be set to music. Be sure to incorporate examples of all the literary terms learned. (If performed or put to music extra credit may be given) The top 3 poems will be published in the school newsletter.
Materials:
CD player
Tapes of selected materials, bulletin board paper, construction paper, tempera paint, glue, magazine pictures, props: microphones, guitars, wigs, costumes, etc.
Background:
The teacher will lay out a background of each literary term by using examples from the following: 2 Shakespeare plays, Hamlet “What a piece of work is man…” and MacBeth “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow,…” .
Plus excerpts from the following novels:
Where the Red Fern Grows
Red Badge of Courage
Slave Dancer
Call of the Wild
Keller Angels
Tale of Two Cities
The Scarlet Letter
Each will illustrate a literary term and its effectiveness.
Content:
The following selections of songs will illustrate the appointed literary term:
Metaphor: MacArthur Park, Nothing But a Hound Dog, You are the Sunshine of My Life
Simile: Like a Rolling Stone, Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water, You Fill Up My Senses
Personification: Money, The Times they are a Changin’, Just any Old Kind of Day
Alliteration: Sounds of Silence, Tiptoe through the Tulips, Bad to the Bone
Onomatopoeia: Splish Splash I was taking a Bath, Shake, Rattle and Roll, Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Symbolism: Ebony and Ivory, Candle In The Wind, Long and Winding Road
Hyperbole: Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor, Purple People Eater, Monster Mash
Narrative Poem: Taxi, The Edmund Fitzgerald, Rocky Raccoon, or Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
Evaluation:
Group performance will be judged be the creative elements, visual, display, and effectiveness in teaching the topic. (Please refer to Day 4)
Individual analysis of each term by selection tape. (Please refer to day 5)
Individual synthesis: create a narrative lyric incorporating all the terms learned. (Please refer to Day 6)
Selected Recordings:
“Bad To The Bone” recorded by George Thorogood and the Destroyers, on Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Del Sound Music, 1998. (George Thorogood)
“You Fill Up My Senses” recorded by John Denver on The Very Best of John Denver, RCA, 1994. (John Denver)
“Money” recorded by Pink Floyd on Darkside of the Moon, EMI, 1973 (Roger Waters)
“Taxi” recorded by Harry Chapin on Heads and Tales Elektra, 1977. (Harry Chapin)
“Any Old Kind of Day” recorded by Happy Chapin on Heads and Tales, Elektra, 1977. (Harry Chapin)
“The Sunshine of My Life” recorded by Stevie Wonder on Talking Book, Motown, 1972. (Stevie Wonder)
“Long, Winding Road” recorded by the Beatles on Here Come the Beatles, Apple, 1970. (McCartney & Lennon)
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” recorded by the Beatles on The Beatles, Apple, 1968. (McCartney & Lennon)
“Splish Splash” recorded by Bobby Darin on Best of Volume 1 Atlantic, 1991. (Bobby Darin)
“Rocky Raccoon” recorded by the Beatles on The Beatles, Apple, 1968. (McCartney)
“Tiptoe Through the Tulips” recorded by Tiny Tim on God Bless Tiny Tim, Reprise, 1968, re-release 1998. (Public Domain)
“Like A Rolling Stone” recorded by Bob Dylan on Greatest Hits, Columbia, 1967. (Bob Dylan)
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” recorded by Simon and Garfunkel on Bridge Over Troubled Water, Columbia, 1970. (Paul Simon)
Sounds of Silence” recorded by Simon and Garfunkel on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Columbia, 1966. (Paul Simon)
“Shake, Rattle and Roll” ” recorded by Joe Turner Calhoun on King’s Record Collection Volume I, UniHIP-O Records, 1998. (Joe Turner Calhoun)
“Nothin’ But a Hound Dog” recorded by Big Mama Thornton on King’s Record Collection Volume I, UniHIP-O Records, 1998. (Leiber/Stoller)
“Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor” recorded by Lonnie Donnegan and His Skittle Group on Dr. Demento’s 20th Anniversary Collection WEaA/Atlantic/Rhino, 1991. (Sheb Wooley)
“Purple People Eater” recorded by Sheb Wooley on Dr. Demento’s 20th Anniversary Collection WEaA/Atlantic/Rhino, 1991. (Sheb Wooley)
“Monster Mash” recorded by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Cryp on Dr. Demento’s 20th Anniversary Collection WEaA/Atlantic/Rhino, 1991. (Bobby “Boris” Pickett)
“Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” recorded by Sha-Na-Na on Best of Sha-Na-Na, Madacy Records, 1998/ (Prockriss)
“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” recorded by Gordon Lightfoot on Summertime Dream, Warner/Reprise, 1976. (Gordon Lightfoot)
“McArthur Park” recorded by Richard Harris A Tramp Shining, MCA, 1968. (Jimmy Webb)
“Ebony and Ivory” recorded by Paul McCartney on Tug of War, 1982. (Paul McCartney)
“Candle in the Wind” recorded by Elton John on Very Best Of, Polygram.
Enrichment/Additional Resources:
Time Life Photographs, 45 rpm, 33 rpm records, Beatle memorabilia, Woodstock ticket stub, album covers of various artists, Hi Fi stereo unit, excerpts from The History of Rock and Roll, PBS series.
