A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
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Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:
Opening Activity - Pictures
the teacher will present the idea that musical form is created through the repetition and contrast of musical ideas
the teacher will play a short repetitive piece of music and a piece filled with contrasts
the teacher will explain that repetition and contrast are not only a quality of music but can also be found in other artworks such as digital slideshows
the teacher will ask if the students can describe the differences between a digital slide show and an action movie
the teacher will provide an example of a digital slideshow (pictures and music)
the teacher will describe the following process for creating the visual part of the slideshow
first, the teacher imagines a general topic and then considers two contrasting perspectives (for example, dogs sitting and dogs running)
next, the teacher accesses the Pexels website (or other Creative Commons site) and demonstrates downloading the pictures
on a computer/tablet, the teacher organizes the downloaded pictures into two separate files based on their themes
the teacher demonstrates importing the pictures into ShotCut or another digital video program
the teacher shows the students how to adjust the time duration that each slide is shown and how to rearrange their order
finally, the teacher organizes the pictures into a slideshow with an AB form
Opening Activity - Soundtrack
the teacher accesses the Free Music Archive website (or other Creative Commons site)
the teacher demonstrates the process for reviewing and downloading music files
the teacher demonstrates the process for importing an mp3 file into Audacity or another audio editing program
the teacher shows the students how to edit the length of the file and how to copy and paste clips into the same audio track.
the teacher demonstrates how to organize the clips into an AB form
the teacher downloads the music file from Audacity and imports it into the digital video software so that the pictures and audio will play at the same time.
Core Activity - Pictures
the students will choose a general topic with two contrasting perspectives
the students will access the Pexels website (or other Creative Commons site) and download pictures
the students will organize the pictures into two separate files based on their themes
the students will import their pictures into ShotCut or another digital video program
the students will organize the pictures into a slideshow with an AB form
the students will complete any necessary editing (duration of slides, transitions, etc.)
Core Activity - Soundtrack
the students will access the Free Music Archive website (or other Creative Commons site) and search for two music selections with different characteristics
the students will download the mp3 files form the web and import them into Audacity (or other audio editing program)
the students will edit the sound files so that each is 30 seconds in length
the students will copy and past the clips into one audio track so that the music is in AB form and the track is no longer than one minute in length
After all of the previous steps have been completed, the students will use the same sound files to create a new audio track that is in ABA form and also one minute long
Closing Activity – Pictures
the students will download and import pictures that represent a third contrasting theme (for example, cats)
the students will organize all of the pictures into a slideshow with an ABACABA form
Closing Activity - Sound
the students will download and import a third sound file that is different from the first two
the students will edit and organize all three sound files so that they are with an audio track that is in ABACABA form and is 1.5 minutes in length
Conclusion
the students will import the audio track into the digital video software program
the students will write a one-page reflective paper describing their observations and opinions of the AB, ABA, and ABACABA forms.
the students will play their slideshow for the class
the students will share their thoughts with the class
Assessment Strategies:
The students will send the teacher their slideshows as digital files either as email attachments, uploaded to Google Drive, or through the school’s Learning Management System.
The teacher will
evaluate the slide shows for evidence of repeating and contrasting elements
evaluate the slide shows for adherence to AB, ABA, and ABACABA forms
evaluate the students’ reflective paper for insights and understanding of the influence that form has on our perception of artistic works
Each criterion can be evaluated using Pass/Fail, a holistic rubric, or analytic rubric at the teacher's discretion.
Advanced Preparation:
The teacher should be familiar with the websites and software programs.
The students should be introduced to the software programs prior to this lesson.
Music files can be retrieved from Free Music Archive at http://freemusicarchive.org or other Creative Commons site.
Audacity can be downloaded from https://www.audacityteam.org/download/
Variation Tips (optional):
The students can work on their projects individually or with a partner.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
Provide students with a document containing directions for the project.