ALEX Learning Activity

  

Hearing the Hero

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: LaSheree Sanford-Davis
System:Birmingham City
School:Ramsay High School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2321
Title:
Hearing the Hero
Digital Tool/Resource:
MTSU Symphonic Band "Beowulf An Heroic Trilogy" Video Clip
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This activity allows students to use music as a part of understanding the tone of writing. The activity seeks to have students look at music as a form of literature. The activity can be used in conjunction with other fine arts classes including dance.  

This activity was developed as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 12
1. Read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and historical texts written from particular points of view or cultural experiences, with an emphasis on works of literature from the British Isles.

a. Read, analyze, and evaluate a play by William Shakespeare, including an examination of its contributions to the English language and its influences on other works of literature.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
1.
  • Analyze
  • Evaluate
  • Complex literary text
  • Complex historical texts
  • Points of view
  • Cultural perspectives
  • British Isles literature
  • Analyze
  • Evaluate
  • Examination
  • Contributions
  • Influences
    • Knowledge:
    1. Students know:
    • Necessary skills to read, analyze, and evaluate complex literary and historical texts.
    • Strategies to identify and describe various points of view and cultural perspectives.
    1a.
    • Necessary skills to read, analyze, and evaluate a play by William Shakespeare.
    • Strategies to identify the impact of Shakespeare's plays on the English language and other works of literature.
    Skills:
    1. Students are able to:
    • Read complex texts.
    • Analyze elements within complex texts.
    • Evaluate text based on specific criteria provided by the teacher.
    1a.
    • Read, analyze, and evaluate a play by William Shakespeare.
    • Examine a play by Shakespeare and determine its contributions to the English language and its influences on other works of literature.
    Understanding:
    1. Students understand that:
    • Texts written from various cultural perspectives and viewpoints can provide them with valuable information about the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others in the present and in the past.
    1a.
    • The plays of William Shakespeare contributed to the English language with certain figures of speech and terminology and influenced other literary authors.
    Learning Objectives:

    The student will:

    analyze how style and content contribute to the persuasiveness and beauty of a text.
      Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
    Phase:
    After/Explain/Elaborate
    Activity:

    After reading Beowulf segments, The Coming of Beowulf, The Battle with Grendel's Mother and the Death of Beowulf 

    • Students will listen to the recording of the MTSU Symphonic Band playing "Beowulf An Heroic Trilogy".

    • Divide students into small groups and have them to discuss how the parts of the music tell what is happening in the story.

    • Discuss how the author's style and content contribute to persuasiveness in writing and how the same is true for music.

    • Allow students to explain how the tone of the story is presented and developed through music.
    Assessment Strategies:

    Have students to write a reflection paper describing how both music and writing are persuasive. Students should cite examples from the text and the audio recording. The teacher will use student's finish writing pieces to determine mastery of the standard. 
    Advanced Preparation:

    Students who play an instrument can be beneficial in helping this activity become more engaging.

    Discuss symphonic music and symphony with the class.
    Variation Tips (optional):

    Schools with dance programs may include dance as a part of this activity.
    Notes or Recommendations (optional):
     
      Keywords and Search Tags  
    Keywords and Search Tags: Persuasiveness, Tone