The Walking Classroom

Walk, Listen, and Learn

  • Sample educational podcasts!
  • Teacher Resources
  • Buy
  • Apply
  • Our
    Program
    • Program Overview
    • Implementation
    • Why It Works
    • Research Studies
    • The Walking Classroom Mobile App
    • Listen to Sample Podcasts!
    • Testimonials
    • Our Ambassadors
    • Science Career Series
    • Videos
  • What’s
    Happening
    • Bloggy stuff
    • Newsy stories
    • Resource-ish stuff
    • Your stories!
  • FAQs
  • About
    Us
    • About The Walking Classroom
    • Awards
    • Staff & Board
    • Financial Information
    • Supporters and Partners
    • The Walking Classroom Press Kit
    • Conferences
    • Contact Us
  • Donate

Blog, Resources

Timely Topics: Mix in Music

03.17.20
posted by Natalie Dekle

March is Music in Our Schools Month, so add a bit of music to your day! Walk, listen, learn (and maybe even hum along!) with a little help from The Walking Classroom!

Pick from A Patriotic Playlist

Looking to link a song to a social studies lesson? Familiar songs with some history (pun intended!) behind them can create some cross-curricular fun!

  • “Yankee Doodle” (4-#57, Complete-#68)
  • “The Star-Spangled Banner” (5-#64, Complete-#74)

Lesson plans will help you discover how “Yankee Doodle” has changed over time or how it is connected to George Washington! Follow up with an activity that includes some opportunity for self-expression!

Ideas are in abundance for “The Star-Spangled Banner” as well! Journey back in time to the War of 1812 to get some background on the origin of our national anthem. Then explore some classroom activity ideas. Incorporate video clips, or mix in some math, poetry, or art.

And if your crew is looking to extend their patriotic playlist, there are other ideas for slipping in even more music!

. . . or Travel Further Back in Time!

Introduce your students to some music from the Renaissance era and then explore other creative pursuits from the time with these podcasts.

  • Madrigals (5-#27)
  • Renaissance Artists (5-#25, Complete-#52)
  • Leonardo da Vinci (5-#26)

First, provide background about the era, and let your students explore Renaissance art, music and dance. Check their knowledge with a crossword puzzle or online quiz! Next, build a unit on Renaissance music. Share more about specific styles of music, their features, and composers. Find some fun facts about madrigals or investigate the instruments of the time.

Mix in some art, with lesson plans about Renaissance artists. Or focus on the quintessential Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. Add in a video introduction, and support your studies with an activity or two! Mix art, invention, and music, and mount your own invention convention, as you challenge your students to create an instrument of their own!

There’s No Striking Out!

Well, at least there’s not with this popular pick! Celebrate the fact that baseball season is right around the corner by enjoying a podcast all about the unofficial anthem of baseball, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (5-#6, Complete-#30). This is destined to be a hit with your “team”!

Written by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer in 1908, this song has been going strong for 110 years. In fact, its chorus is still sung during the seventh inning of many a baseball game! Focus on the narrative elements of the song, or go further afield!

For instance, you can use this song to span curricular areas with an array of activities. Or keep the focus in language arts as you incorporate other poems or songs about baseball (yes, there are quite a few!). Look for literary elements – you’ll find loads of figurative language in these selections!

The fun doesn’t end here. Be on the lookout for more ideas and learn about other timely topics in future posts.

What are some ways you have incorporated music in your class? We’d love to hear about them.

previous
next

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Timely Topics: Native American Heritage Month
November 9, 2020
Tags: Aztec, Inca, Maya, Native Americans, timely topics
Timely Topics: Black History Month, Part II
February 20, 2020
Tags: Black History month, civil rights, history, Revolutinary War, timely topics
Timely Topics: Black History Month, Part I
February 18, 2020
Tags: Black History month, civil rights, history, timely topics

Blog Topics

  • Blog
  • News
  • Resources
  • Stories
  • Walking Classroom App

GET OUR BLOG POSTS IN YOUR EMAIL

Share Your Story

share-your-storyWe want to hear your story and share it with others in our community.

Share your story!

Videos

video-iconSee The Walking Classroom in action and hear from some of the teachers using it.

Watch our videos!

sponsors_03

newsletter_03

Site Map

Guidstar gold status

The Walking Classroom Institute
1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 295
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

(919) 240-7877
info@thewalkingclassroom.org

Privacy Policy (Web)

Privacy Policy (Mobile App)

 

The Walking Classroom Institute is a 501(C)(3) Nonprofit Organization. © Copyright 2021, The Walking Classroom Institute. All rights reserved.