Bluegrass Music as a
Reflection of Culture
WebQuest -
Teacher Page
Author: Dr. Pam Petty Targeted Grade Level: Middle/Secondary
Kentucky Core Academic Standards for ELA: 6th grade
|
|
|
Author: Dr. Pam Petty Targeted Grade Level: Middle/Secondary Kentucky Core Academic Standards for ELA: 6th grade |
|
Content Areas
This multidisciplinary WebQuest includes the following content areas: music, reading, social studies. The target audience for this WebQuest is middle grades, however, suggestions are included for adapting the tasks for younger and older students.
Kentucky Core Academic Standards for English Language Arts (6th grade)
| Standard | Learning Target | Task | Assessment |
| Reading Standards for Informational Text 6–12 | |||
|
Describes Bluegrass music based on
readings. Uses information in text to describe characteristics of Bluegrass music. Uses information in text to draw inferences about Bluegrass music. |
Task 1: Historical Roots of Bluegrass |
Bluegrass History Report http://www.intercom.net/local/school/sdms/mspap/wkidinf.html |
|
Task 3: Calling all BMI's | ||
|
Task 1: Historical Roots
of Bluegrass Task 3: Calling all BMI's |
||
| Writing Standards 6–12 | |||
|
Designs a written and oral
presentation that clearly tells the story of Bluegrass music and
summarizes characteristics/qualities of the music. (Product)
|
Task 2: Bluegrass
History Presentation Task 3: Calling all BMI's |
http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson960/Rubric.pdf |
| Speaking and Listening Standards 6–12 | |||
|
Presents information in a logical and
interesting way. Listens as others share information and asks questions as appropriate. |
Task 2: Bluegrass History Presentation |
The Process:
What do we already know?
Prior to Beginning WebQuest
Teachers should engage students in "grand conversations" on the following to activate schema and connect with previous learning. Use this handout to guide students through this section: http://www.pampetty.com/bluegrasshandoutpre.pdf
1. Students should work with a partner to brainstorm 5 words they think of when they see the words "Bluegrass Music?"
2. Combine and categorize the words into groups by headings (positive, negative, specific songs, specific singers, musical instruments, geographic area, era, etc.)
3. Ask students to make a list of ten topics they think might be included as the main ideas or central themes in Bluegrass music.
4. Ask students to think of ten current songs they know and the topic or main idea of each song (love, work, war, religion, family, home, etc.). Note any similarities between music in popular culture and to traditional Bluegrass music.
5. How does music in general tell us about our culture?
The TasksThe Tasks in this WebQuest ask students to listen to Bluegrass songs, read the lyrics, and use electronic and print resources to chronicle aspects of culture as reflected in the music. Students will have opportunities to compare and contrast their own lives and beliefs with those reflected in the Bluegrass music they hear. Tasks will include responding to several data response formats that guide students through critical analysis of the songs and of different cultural themes which will include:
- descriptions of rural/mountain life
- impact of transportation and travel reflected in song
- themes of heartbreak, courtship, and love
- concept maps on the old "homeplace"
- attitudes on war, patriotism, service to others
- Venn Diagram contrasting what we value now as opposed to what was valued in times past as reflected in Bluegrass music
- traditional stories and folklore told in Bluegrass music
- themes of spirituality and religion
- impact of geographic location on world views
Task 1: Historical Roots of Bluegrass
Students will work in groups to select at least 3 websites from the lists provided below. Students should use this data response format as a guide (you will need to draw your own graphic organizers) to gather information related to the history of Bluegrass music, including famous people, places, and events surrounding the beginnings of this genre of music. Each group should select 3 different websites and work together within each group to complete the data response format listed above. Students may use this handout as a guide for developing their Bluegrass History Report: http://www.pampetty.com/bluegrasshistoryreport.pdf
NOTE: You may encounter some new vocabulary. To check your beginning knowledge of key terms/concepts found in any study of Bluegrass music, please click HERE and follow the directions. To
further develop word meanings and concepts, go to this website and do a Semantic Feature Analysis of each word: http://www.longwood.edu/staff/jonescd/projects/educ530/aboxley/pdffiles/4.pdf
Internet Resources for Bluegrass Music
http://www.ibma.org/events.programs/schools/manual/
http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/? (Bristol, TN)
http://www.bluegrass-museum.org/
http://www.roughstock.com/history/bgrass.html (Monroe History, Flatt and Scruggs)
http://www.beanblossom.com/ (Bean Blossom Festival)
http://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/index.htm
http://folkmusic.about.com/od/historyoffolk/a/Blugrass_Histor.htm
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/appalach.htm
Bill Monroe
http://www.cybergrass.com/
http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/inductees/bill_monroe.htmlTask 2 - Presenting the History of Bluegrass Music
Using the data response format from Task 1, each group should categorize information using this handout. After information has been added to the form, compile data from all groups to generate one compressed list of facts per category. A scribe within each group should work with the appointed "technology guru" to develop a PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the information gathered and provides an overview of important aspects of the history of Bluegrass music. (Tutorials for developing PowerPoint presentations are listed below.)
- Tutorials for PowerPoint
PowerPoint in the Classroom - One of the best.
Frequently Asked Questions about PowerPoint - Information for more advanced users ... comprehensive site that includes how-to's, troubleshooting, special effects, etc.
PowerPoint Tips and Tricks - Just what it says it is.
Presentations should be shared either in the classroom, an open-house/technology event, and/or electronically via AuthorStream or VoiceThread (or similar media outlet).
Task 3 - Calling all BMI's (Bluegrass Music Investigators)!
You have done the prep work and are now ready for the nitty-gritty of investigating Bluegrass music. Woven into the lyrics, underscored by the beat, tempo, and musical score, there are themes that provide insight into the cultures of the people who write, sing, play, and LOVE Bluegrass music. Your job is to carefully pull apart the layers, chronicle the language used, and demonstrate what you find.
Students should work in groups with each group selecting one theme from the ones listed below. Some music is suggested and some links are included to on-line resources, however, you may find it useful to also play Bluegrass music CD's and add other songs to the ones listed below. The same format is used for each theme: (click here for a print-friendly handout of this form)
Words/Phrases Related to Theme Symbolism found in Words/Phrases Belief Statements based on Words/Phrases Further, categorize the statements in terms of consistency and discrepancies among songs within each theme.
Themes:
*This website features several CDs with Bluegrass and other traditional music: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/
Adaptations and Extensions
Now that you have the "flavor" of some of the major themes that comprise Bluegrass songs, let's think of some way to express what you have learned.
1) Design a flyer in the form of an advertisement for heaven using some of the words, phrases, and analogies found in the Bluegrass songs you investigated.
2) Make a music video to go with a Bluegrass song by using a digital camcorder to capture images and motion that tell the same story as the song.
3) Make a PowerPoint presentation that moves with the music to tell the story.
4) Do an in-depth comparison of NEW Bluegrass music vs. traditional Bluegrass music from times past. Use timelines of themes, musical characteristics, profiles of performers/artists, and look for patterns over time in regard to wars, political movements, economic fluctuations, and social issues.
5) Develop an annotated bibliography of literature (all genres) that connect to themes in Bluegrass music.
6) Develop a Connected Theme Line - different type of music/literature/media with the same theme:
Bluegrass song
Country Music song (or other type of music)
7) Make a Jeopardy game from Bluegrass music trivia.
8) Trace traditional Bluegrass music to people and places of origin.
9) Take a Bluegrass music theme and experiment with different types of writing:
- poetry: verse as a tribute to the body, history, people of Bluegrass music (younger grades: http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/; older grades: http://www.poetrymagic.co.uk/approaches.html)
- cinquain: 5 line poem with specific number of syllables per line - description of the MOODS of Bluegrass music
- Haiku: form of poetry that usually focuses on nature (mountains, homeplaces, country living)
- Historical fiction: Take a Bluegrass ballad or the "kernel" idea from a song, research the time period, event, area, people and write a piece of fiction based on the song and your research.
Resources
|
Internet Resources for Bluegrass Music
Print Resources
Rural Roots of
Bluegrass : Songs, Stories History -
by Wayne Erbsen
Bluegrass Breakdown:
The Making of the Old Southern Sound
|
Click here to begin Student Page of the Webquest
Planning:
Kentucky Core Academic Standards: http://www.corestandards.org
Standards: http://www.menc.org/resources/view/national-standards-for-music-education (National Association for Music Education)
Lyrics: http://www.bluegrassworld.com/lyrics.htm
Lyrics: http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/
Evaluation
03/21/2011 06:23:36 PM