ALEX Classroom Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ARTS] MUS (6) 15 :

15) Select music to listen to and explain the connections to interests or experiences for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (7) 15 :

15) Select contrasting music to listen to and compare the connections to interests or experiences for a specific purpose.

[ARTS] MUS (8) 15 :

15) Select programs of music and demonstrate the connections to an interest or experience for a specific purpose.

[ELA2021] (7) 15 :

15. Utilize digital tools and/or products to enhance meaning.

Examples: hashtags, videos, slide presentations, audio clips, GIFS, memes; social media platforms

[ELA2021] (8) 14 :

14. Utilize digital tools and/or products to enhance meaning.

Examples: hashtags, videos, slide presentations, audio clips, GIFS, memes, clips from social media

No matter where you teach, students are likely to listen to music. Their tastes may vary widely—pop, rap, country, classical, jazz, R & B. Regardless of their preferences, they each bring a rich knowledge of musical tunes and lyrics to the classroom. This lesson takes advantage of that interest by asking students to create a soundtrack for a novel that they have read. Students begin by analyzing how specific songs might fit with a familiar story. Students then create their own soundtracks for the movie version of a novel they have read. They select songs that match the text and fit specific events in the story. Finally, students share their projects with the class and assess their work using a rubric. Examples in this lesson focus on The Beast by Walter Dean Myers, but any piece of literature can be used as the basis of students' soundtracks.