Musical Hits for the Holidays
Description:
LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES
The student will locate sheet music for songs of the holiday in indexes, books and on the Internet.
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES:
This activity may be a part of a music and social studies study of the music and customs of holidays celebrated during the winter season.
MOTIVATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
-become interested in the research process.
-understand the importance of information skills.
-experience increased confidence in research ability.
-achieve satisfaction in research accomplishments.
Goals & Objectives:
Students will study the various aspects of holiday songs, including theme, melody, role, customs, etc. Students then research songs and create a list of favorites to be voted on. After votes are tallied students can create a CD of the songs chosen after locating and learning the music and lyrics. This lesson is designed to increase student interest by using a relevant topic and allowing student choice in the study and location of holiday songs and lyrics.
Materials & Sources:
Resource List
| Credits: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
Adapted for SOS by Kori Gerbig
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University
|
| Sources: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
december 2002; 19:4; 13-14.
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com |
Procedures:
INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:
-The music and classroom teachers may coordinate research activities with the library media specialist. The music teacher concentrates on teaching the songs and recording original versions of favorites. The classroom teacher concentrates on the history of the selected customs, and the library media specialist assists students in researching music.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:
-During the study of holidays and holiday customs of the winter season, students may help identify the holidays and customs for research. They also may learn how such customs are celebrated. The classroom teacher and music teacher focus on music and the role it plays in such customs.
-Introduce the activity by asking students about what makes a favorite. Introduce examples and discuss how some music and songs become classics or “favorites.†Provide lists of songs that groups such as ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) rank as the top songs of the holiday season. Explain that students will make a CD of the top school favorites of the season for the holiday they are studying.
-First share lists of top hits or favorites. For example, these are some popular songs that appear on several lists for Christmas:
*The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
*Feliz Navidad
*Frosty the Snow Man
*Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
*Here Comes Santa Claus
*I'll Be Home for Christmas
*Jingle Bell Rock
*Let It Snow! Let
*Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
*Little Drummer Boy
*Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
*Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
*Silver Bells
*White Christmas
*Winter Wonderland
-The music teacher introduces and discusses different categories of music for the holidays being studied such as religious, popular, etc., as well as the use and purpose of the music and its significance. Other variations include style such as melodies that are sung in a country music style, rock and roll, instrumental, etc. As students listen and learn differences, they also may discuss preferences as they work in small listening groups.
-Students prepare voting lists for the school. When the master lists are completed (allow for write-ins), students vote on favorites. When the voting is tallied, a ranked list of favorites for the school may be shared.
-Small groups are formed to find the sheet music for the songs and to decide on how the songs should be sung or recorded. The library media specialist highlights copyright and use of materials. Introduce music and song indexes as well as the use of book indexes to locate songs in music books. The library media specialist also may bookmark acceptable sites for research on the Internet.
-The music teacher and students then work together to determine which songs will be learned, sung, and/or recorded on CDs.
FOLLOW-UP:
-CDs may be made to share with students, faculty, staff, and families.
-CD labels can be designed and created by the students.
Assessment:
-The students will use indexes to locate music for favorite holiday songs.
Sources:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
december 2002; 19:4; 13-14.
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com
