7th Grade Music Lesson

G-RATED VERSION | CLEAN VERSION

Please Note: Sex and drugs of this time are not addressed in this lesson as they may not be appropriate in certain educational settings. You are welcome to put your spin on it if you feel your students are developmentally and socially ready.
This lesson is focused on counterculture's free-thinking.

**INCLUDES TWO REAL-LIFE ENCOUNTERS (INTERVIEWS)**

What is counterculture and how can it change the world we live in?

Students will look at the counterculture of the 1960-70s through the festival at Bethel, New York— the age of hippies, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. Explore the event surrounding this time and event and determine how the counterculture of this time made an impact and changed American culture. This lesson also implements depth and complexity of the topic.

GRADE LEVEL: 7TH-12TH

TIME FRAME: 60-90 MINUTES

TYPE OF ACTIVITY: GROUP COOPERATION OR INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY

OBJECTIVES

o The learner will understand the circumstances and purpose of the Woodstock Art & Music Fair Festival of ‘69.

o The learner will read first-hand accounts of those who attended Woodstock ‘69.

o The learner will hypothesize how Woodstock ‘69’s counterculture changed American culture.

o The learner will explore the changes over time in American culture before, during, and after Woodstock.

MATERIALS:

o Reading Activity (Included) May consider laminating for future use with classes and for durability.

o Depth & Complexity Activity (Included)

o Folder with pockets, one per group. Place the laminated reading activity on the left-hand pocket and

the Depth & Complexity, Geographically Speaking, and Exit Tickets copies in the right-hand pocket, paper

clipped together. Print the cover page and glue or staple it to the front of the folder. Place one folder at

each group’s station.

o Exit Tickets (Included)

o Song from Spotify or other sources: Jimi Hendrix's “The Star Spangle Banner,” Live at Woodstock

o Technology to play the YouTube video of Jimi Hendrix’s appearance on the Dick Cavett Show.

o Internet access for any research needed.

INCLUDES:

o Teacher's Guide

o Introduction Activity

o Procedure

o Closure/Evaluation

o Anwer guides

Disclaimer:

One purchase is for the use of one teacher. If additional teachers would like to use this product, please purchase additional licenses.

Are you ready to introduce (or reintroduce-let’s face it, we all know they forget from year to year) your students to the captivating world of the Elements of Music? Then you’ll enjoy the Elements of Music Vocabulary Mystery Word Match Activity! This engaging lesson is designed to help students familiarize themselves with some essential music vocabulary associated with the elements of music in a fun and interactive way. We all know that students generally love games so they’ll enjoy the gamification of this activity. As they match vocabulary words with their definitions, they’ll discover some letters that they will need to unscramble to find a mystery word.

Activity Overview:

In this activity, students will match vocabulary words to their corresponding definitions related to the elements of music. Each correct match will reveal a letter, allowing students to unscramble and discover the mystery word. This interactive feature adds an extra layer of excitement and challenges to the vocabulary learning experience.

Included in this Activity:

With this activity you will get an interactive worksheet with some words related to the elements of music (e.g., Elements of Music, Duration, Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Texture/Harmony, Form and Tempo) and the corresponding definitions and explanations for each mystery word.

When students have completed and found the mystery word, you can provide them with a blank template and have them find additional words related to the elements of music and their corresponding definitions so that they can create their own. You can use this for earlier finishers, as an extension activity or to dig a little deeper for everyone into the elements of music.

Right in time for your Christmas instrumentalists, we present to you Brenda Lee's hit Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree re-imagined as a HIP HOP TRAP MIX for BUCKET DRUMMING!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are grouped 2 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

The mp3 track is included in this one, so no need to YouTube it. Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Now with digital worksheet to support distance learning!

This product features an engaging back to school Music Talk activity that will have your new students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving on the very first day of school. In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about music and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective using a particular song to explain their opinion. Use this lesson every year to set the tone for what you expect in class; it is a great way to gain insight about your students' current attitudes toward music while getting to know one another with a higher level thinking activity. We have also recently added a digital version of the Music Talk worksheet to support distance learning and cut down on paper.

Product includes:

• Comprehensive Lesson Plan
• "Music Talk" Worksheet
• 6 Corresponding "Music Quote" signs to hang up around your room
• Digital Worksheet to support distance learning for use with Google Drive - newly added!
• Detailed instructions for accessing digital resource

Though this lesson plan is ideal for the first day of school, it can be used all year long without modification.

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Also, check out these great products to start your school year off strong by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐Music Quote Posters

⭐First Day of School Powerpoint

⭐Study Hall Expectations Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Back to School / Open House Brochure

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Music is a great way to get students engaged and support the learning process. Our brain and body must be in a state of calmness to gear up for learning. Studies have shown that using music in the classroom provided an increased level of positivity and calmness in students.

This bundle includes 7 lessons + 3 freebies.

OR BUILD YOUR OWN BUNDLE HERE

Looking for a way to have some fun while learning music? Look no further. This Graphic Scores Unit will have your students exploring how to represent sound using graphics and composing in no time! There are 3 main lessons included in this unit, however, the last lesson will likely take 6-8 lessons to put together and perform. This unit is one I have used with my own students so I know how much fun they have with it! The great thing with graphic scores is you don't really need any instruments to compose which makes this unit even better if you're teaching music on a cart or have limited resources available.

Overview:

This graphic score short unit exposes students to what a graphic score is. They get to represent sound using graphics and compose their own graphic score using found sounds. Students will learn how sound and music can be represented using graphics. They will practice representing a short piece of music through graphics. After, they will represent common soundscapes using their own graphics and will then create their own graphic score to perform. I created this in Google Docs/Slides so that you can customize this unit to your own unique needs.

Learning Goals:

• We are learning how to represent sounds and music using non-traditional notation.
• We are learning to compose a piece of music using found sounds and represent our sound using graphics.

Success Criteria:

• I can represent sound using graphics.
• I can compose a piece of music with a group and perform it using my score.

What’s Included:

• Lesson Plans and Ideas
• Google Slides Lesson on Graphic Scores (including original composition to practice creating graphic scores)
• Graphic organizer for students with fill in the blanks about graphic scores
• Graphic organizer for students to represent original composition as a graphic score
• Graphic organizer for students to represent soundscapes using graphics
• Graphic score for students to create their own graphic scores
• Rubrics to mark graphic score assignments
• 3 Stars and a Wish for peer feedback

In "To the Skies!", introduce your kids to some great music from indigenous instruments from Africa! Using your classroom Djembe or Tubanos (along with tambourines), learn the music by rote by aking it one rehearsal section at a time (with rehearsal markings [A], [B], [C], and so forth). This is terrific practice with your older students who want to work on alternating hands and adding different timbres in with the tambourine

Included is the key for tubano and tambourine notation

At the end, wrap it up and put on a show! Want to layer it?

• Have shakers play eighth notes or dotted quarters all the way throughout or in specific sections
• Have half the class play 1st and 3rd measures, the other half play 2nd and 4th measures
• Do it in a round! :)

Use this in class, a concert, a parent showcase, admin, faculty and staff, whatever you wish!

Have a terrific time with this one :)

End of Year "Music Talk" Activity for Chorus, Band, or Music Class

This resource features an engaging "Music Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, speaking, and moving all in one class period during the last week of school! In this activity, they must choose between 6 different quotes about music from famous figures like Taylor Swift and John Green and articulate why the quote aligns with their perspective on music. I use this lesson at the end of every year to see how my students' perspectives on music have developed and matured throughout the school year. This is perfect if you are looking for an engaging lesson plan during the one of the toughest weeks of the year!

Product includes:

- Comprehensive Lesson Plan

- "Music Talk" Sheet for students to fill out

- 6 Corresponding "Music Quote" signs to hang up around your room

Though I utilize this product during the last week of school, it really can be used all year long. I hope that it is as successful in your class as it is in mine!

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Curriculum connections: Music, Language, Visual Art   Grades: 6-8 What is Included: Songza Assignment (rough copy and final assignment with writing/art), Lesson Ideas, a rubric.   About this Assignment:   This is a great back to school lesson to use with students in September. It provides students with a chance to reflect on their music preferences while learning about musical terms, and about an online music streaming site. It is a chance for your students to curate their own playlists. This activity is suitable for grade 6-8 students. This activity also gives teachers a chance to get to know the music preferences of their students to help create future lessons based on their interests. This lesson could be adapted to be used with other online music streaming websites. The lesson also encourages students to start to discuss music in ways beyond “I like this song”. They can start to learn about the categories in Songza such as genre and decade. There is a short writing piece included so that students can express why they selected the songs they did for their own Songza Playlists. This assignment can be adapted and used to suit the needs of your students.

A fall classic just in time for the spooky bucket drums to come out is the smash introductory song from Disney's hit movie of the same name, we present to you the theme from "Hocus Pocus"!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://youtu.be/tgagV6SqeR4

This is a terrific fortifier for triplets -- Keep it steady and keep it spooky!

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Welcome to MsNerdWood's Classical Music Escape Room!

Want to introduce your students to the Classical music era in a fun and engaging way? Need a supply teacher activity? I've got you covered!

Introduce your students to the elegance and refinement of the Classical music period with this engaging and interactive escape room activity! Ideal for grades 6-8, this escape room will immerse your students in the world of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven (and more) while they work together to solve challenges and unlock clues.

Key Features:

• Engaging Content: Students will explore the Classical period (1750-1830), learning about key composers, musical forms, and the cultural context of the era.
• Interactive Challenges: Includes a variety of puzzles and activities designed to reinforce knowledge while keeping students actively engaged.
• Flexible Grouping: Can be completed in pairs or small groups, making it perfect for collaborative learning.
• Minimal Setup: Easy to use with minimal preparation, making it an excellent option for regular classroom use or as a go-to activity for substitute teachers.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for introducing the Classical music period or as a review activity. It’s a great fit for music history units, general music classes, or cross-curricular lessons involving history and the arts.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Student-Centered Learning: Promotes critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive way.
• Easy for Teachers: With clear instructions and all materials included, you can focus on facilitating rather than preparing.
• Great for Substitutes: The ready-to-go format ensures that substitute teachers can seamlessly continue instruction with engaging content.

What’s Included:

• Detailed Teacher’s Guide with step-by-step instructions
• Printable student worksheets and challenge cards
• Answer keys and optional extension activities included!

Bring the Classical period to life in your classroom with this escape room activity that’s sure to captivate and educate your students!

Wanna get these kids engaged and smiling ear to ear? Get a TRAP REMIX going full of trap music, backbeats, and trance themes with the theme from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for Bucket Drumming!

There are four all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

Teenage Mutant Night Turtles TRAP Remix

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Whether you have experience teaching music or not, this unit is for you. Have a small budget or no budget for teaching music? I have included ways to make music with your students for very little money. I have used this unit for 5 years teaching music and every year the students love it. This unit will give you a semester (or half a year) worth of material to use with approximately 2 periods of music per week.

What is bucket drumming?

Bucket drumming is a relatively inexpensive way to bring rhythmic practices into the classroom. This unit is designed to be accessible for all teachers to use, regardless of musical training. The use of familiar words helps both teachers and students learn simple rhythms together. The rhythms increase in difficulty and there are options for easy, medium, and hard rhythms. This allows for easy modifications and accommodations ensuring that students of all abilities are successful in this unit. I have taught variations of this unit with grade 6-8 students for over 5 years with success, and these lessons can be modified for other grade levels.

In my experience, students love bucket drumming and enjoy the lessons in this unit. One activity that you can use when you have a few extra minutes is the Elimination Game, and students LOVE it! It can be used as a great warm-up game and to reinforce the skills taught in this unit.

This unit includes games, lessons, and activities to help strengthen ear training, encourage active listening, develop rhythmic abilities, develop composition skills, explore creativity, and most importantly, to have fun! I have also included some helpful information to get bucket drumming started in your classroom. Included in this unit are lessons, games. activities, and rubrics where needed. There are a solid 21 – 31 periods worth of work included in this unit (possibly more).

Included below are the overall lesson plans and activities included in this unit. Most “lessons” can be used for multiple periods and the approximate number of periods is included in brackets beside the activity. I have based these periods on approximately 45 minutes each. These lessons include opportunities to read music, compose, and perform.

Introduction to Bucket Drumming (1 - 2 periods)

Elimination Game (1 period)

Elements of Music (2 – 3 periods)

Rhythm Cards (2 – 3 period)

8 Bar Rhythm Challenges (4 – 6 periods)

Let’s Compose! (5 – 6 periods)

Stomp Composition (6 – 10 periods)

If you have any questions, please let me know! Happy Bucket Drumming!

TIPS:

1. Be sure to leave feedback to earn your TeachShare credits!

2. If you like what you see - follow me for new products and updates (click the star by my store name MsNerdWood).

Wanna get these kids engaged and smiling ear to ear? Get a TRAP REMIX going full of trap music, backbeats, and trance themes with the theme from Minecraft for Bucket Drumming!

There are two all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL4i9FKuiEA

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Welcome to MsNerdWood’s Baroque Music Escape Room!

Want to introduce your students to the Baroque music era in a fun and engaging way? Need a supply teacher activity? I've got you covered.

Transform your music history lessons into an unforgettable adventure with this engaging escape room activity, designed specifically for grades 6-8. Perfect for regular and substitute teachers alike, this escape room introduces students to the wonders of the Baroque era, making music history fun and exciting.

Why Choose This Baroque Music Escape Room?

• Educational and Fun: Students will discover the key elements of Baroque music, learn about famous composers, and understand musical concepts while engaging in thrilling puzzles and challenges.
• Interactive Learning: This escape room is designed to captivate students’ attention, turning traditional music history lessons into an immersive and interactive experience.
• Teacher-Friendly: Easy to set up and facilitate, this activity is perfect for any classroom, especially for supply teachers needing an engaging lesson plan with minimal prep.
• Curriculum-Based: Aligns with curriculum goals, ensuring students gain valuable knowledge about the Baroque period through hands-on activities.

What’s Included?

• Detailed Teacher Guide: Comprehensive instructions to help you set up and run the escape room smoothly, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
• Student Challenges: A variety of engaging tasks, including matching games, true/false questions, and more, focused on the music, art, and culture of the Baroque era.
• Printable Resources: High-quality, visually appealing printables that make learning fun and keep students engaged.
• Answer Keys and Solutions: Complete answer keys for each challenge to support easy facilitation and student success.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover Baroque Music: Students will explore the distinctive features of Baroque music, including its emotional and dramatic qualities.
• Learn About Key Composers: Gain insights into the lives and works of influential composers such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi.
• Master Musical Terminology: Understand essential Baroque music terms like fugue, basso continuo, and ornamentation.

Ideal for Any Classroom:

• Versatile Use: Suitable for regular classroom activities, substitute plans, or enrichment programs.
• Engages Diverse Learners: Designed to cater to various learning styles, ensuring every student is involved and motivated.

Bring Music History to Life!

This Baroque Music Escape Room is more than just an educational activity—it’s a dynamic way to make music history fun. By combining learning with adventure, this escape room will leave a lasting impact on your students and ignite their curiosity about the Baroque era.

Download Today!

Enhance your music classroom with this captivating Baroque Music Escape Room and watch your students embark on an exciting journey through the Baroque period.

In a stark departure from our popular music series, here's a TRAP MUSIC bucket drumming arrangement for the theme song from the hit Disney/Disney XD animated series, Gravity Falls!

There are two all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the link to the TRAP Remix version on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/Fs\_NqvKadOg

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

TREBLE CLEF FOUR CORNERS!

· To play Four Corners, ensure all students understand the lines and spaces of the staff (bottom line E to top line F).

· Number each side of the room 1, 2, 3, and 4 (or alternatively, color code it green, blue, red, or purple with floor tape)

· They will hear a 9 second timer. Students will have a chance to walk to one of four corners and stay there for the duration of the round.

· On the next slide, the treble clef notation will appear in each corner and you will see a letter name from the Treble Clef Staff

· The students will have to guess which treble clef notation it is by showing it with their fingers (1, 2, 3, or 4)

· The teacher then reveals to the students which treble clef note it was (#1, #2, #3 or #4) and the students who are in that corner are OUT!

· Keep repeating until no kids are left!

Included are 12 examples (you can switch it up each time and do different notation each time), the 9 second timer embedded in the powerpoint file, and instructions

eed to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the Imagine Dragons smash hit from 2021, "Enemy"! This one REALLY grooves and is perfect for kids... as the lyrics are ALL clean! :D

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 3 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

• For this, your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see a basketball icon. Each basketball icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each ball for the students to hold the ball. Any smaller balls (grouped in two) will be played as 2 eighth note pairs and students will have to lower themselves a foot or two to dribble eighth notes on the floor

• There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the basketball icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat

The track can be found here to play right along:

https://youtu.be/QOQlBgKxc5w

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in bucket drumming with the hit song from Zedd and Alessia Cara, "Stay"!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS2ifrLAadU

Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

__________________________________

*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

Cup rhythms are terrific for your students of all ages! Inexpensive plastic cups from the dollar store, Target, or others make excellent substitutes for percussion instruments and in unison played together, solidifies steady beat, rhythm acuity, and gets everyone playing as an ensemble!

In this arrangement of Imagine Dragons' hit from 2022, the newly released "Bones"!

students will read each corresponding colored section along with the form identifier for the amount of times played.

Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats. Then, apply it your class set of cups (to be done on the ground, in their seat, or however)!

Notation is as follows:

• CUP WITH ARROW - to be played by striking the cup (upside down) on the floor
• CUP WITH HAND - to be played with cup on the floor and patting the top of the cup
• CLAP - hands clap once
• QUARTER REST - one beat rest

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://youtu.be/kK9g0XTxSM0