An At-Home Literacy Lesson Plan Crafted by BGCHarlem Literacy Specialist Kristin Richardson Jordan
Parents:
In honor of New York Music Month, we are taking a look at music, emotions, and sound. Join us for various June literacy lessons on this topic!
The following literacy activity allows students to explore music and sound while also learning about the importance of their own emotions.
Start by encouraging your child to do a weather report check-in.
Then, explore the song list below and do the 'match up' to assign each song with the right corresponding emotion that it conveys.
Lastly, instruct your student to pick one of the emotions they explored in the activity and make a playlist of 3 songs and a weather report connected to that emotion. They can use the steps and explanations below for guidance.
For extra fun, please encourage them to post their playlists and weather reports in the comments!
ANNOUNCEMENT: We’re going live on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays! Click here if you want your child to participate in our virtual after school program.
Materials: A partner, blank paper, emotions worksheet, pen or pencil, Internet access/YouTube, and crayons
Addresses Common Core Standards:
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on the ideas of others and expressing their own clearly.
Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner. Use appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Students:
I've Got the Music in Me: A Literacy Lesson on Music and Emotions
Step 1: Weather Report Check-In
As we begin to shift into June, let's remember how we were talking about climate on last month (May) and how emotions can be illustrated in a weather report check-in:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DGQUNJHMZWRxYPiJABkApvae5U6_N4ps
View the video above on making a weather report and then make your own. This can be written down in a journal just for your own reflection, or it can be shared in conversation with a partner or parent. Why do you think your feelings matter? We will allow time and space to share weather reports and talk about the importance of feelings in our virtual classroom this on Wednesday!
Step 2: Match Songs with Emotions
Let's listen to some famous songs. If you were to pair each of these songs (labeled A - F) up with one of the emotions (listed 1-6) in this fill-in-the-blank below on how would you pair them up? (Check below for the answer key)
A. "Once Upon A Dream" Sleeping Beauty
B. "Be Prepared" from The Lion King
C. "The Mob Song" Beauty & the Beast
D. "I Can Go the Distance" Hercules
E. "Reflections" from Mulan
F. “Hakuna Matata” from the Lion King
Fill-in-the-Blank Match Songs with Emotions
_____________ is a song connected to feeling tense.
_____________ is a song connected to feeling calm.
_____________ is a song connected to feeling joyful.
_____________ is a song connected to feeling sad.
_____________ is a song connected to feeling fearful.
_____________ is a song connected to feeling brave.
[get a printable version of this sheet]
[answer key 1.C 2. A 3.F 4.E 5.B 6.D]
Follow Up Discussion Questions:
Which of the songs above speaks to you, and how?
What's one new thing you learned while listening to these songs?
Which songs were easy to pair up with which emotions? Why?
Can you think of any other songs that come to mind in connection to the emotions listed above?
What is "music"? How does music impact us?
Step 3: Curate Your Own Music List
Pick one of the emotional states mentioned above and make a playlist of 3 songs connected to that emotion. Then write 1-3 sentences of a weather report for your song list like the example below.
Example
For this example, I chose "joy."
1. "Under the Sea" from Little Mermaid
2. "Where You Are" from Moana
3. "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin
Weather Report
It is bright and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky. It's warm out, the perfect temperature, and there is a cool, comfortable breeze.
Want to learn more about feelings and emotions?
Grow your feelings and emotions vocabulary by checking out the video below.
Follow BGCHarlem social media channels for daily updates. Students, we would love to see your work! Be sure to upload a picture of yourself with your completed lessons using the hashtag #BGCHarlem.
View our additional 'Resources For Students & Parents for Dealing with COVID-19' HERE