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The Evolution of Rock and Roll Standard:
HS. 6 Analyze ideas critical to the understanding of history
including Transistor, Baby Boomer, GI Bill of Rights, Interstate
Highway Act, Men & Womens Roles, Rock and Roll, Beatniks,
Taft-Hartley Act, Sputnik, NASA, National Defense Education
Act.
Objective:
Students will analyze ideas and characteristics critical to
understanding the development of Rock and Roll from the 1950s to
today.
Materials: Computer with projector, document camera. Working
speakers. Template for student notebooks. Music video.
Timing: (51 minutes) Introduction/Notebook set up (5 minutes)
Activity (35-40 minutes)
- video is paced to allow 1 minute of music with approximately 2
minutes of note-taking during the class period.
Wrap Up (5 minutes) Directions:
Students will copy the template into their notebooks, then
listen to each song clip. As each clip finishes, students should
take notes on what they observed or heard in each song (guided by
the teacher). Between songs in the rows, students should also look
for similarities or changes that are occurring.
Visuals: Music video, template for notebooks. Lesson:
1. Teacher introduces topic for the day. Briefly discuss how
Rock and Roll continued to evolve since its debut in the 1950s and
many of our current musical styles feature heavy influences from
R&R. Model how to format template in notebooks on the document
cam. Explain how the activity works, remind students to be prepared
to write and discuss after each clip.
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2. Teacher will play each song clip. After each clip is over,
pause the video and help students reflect and analyze what they
heard and saw. Possible points to consider: - Who is singing? (1
man, group of 3 women)
- Do you know what race the artist is? (Remind students about
the importance of crossing racial boundaries in early R&R) -
What instruments do you hear? (Importance of the development of
electric guitar) - Do you hear any other musical styles? (Jazz, Doo
Wop) - What are they singing about? - Are they dancing? Is that an
important part of the performance? - How is the artist using their
voice in relation to the instrumental accompaniment? - Are there
any unusual features to the song? (Is there a breakdown with lots
of clapping? Call and response?) - How easy would the song be to
dance to?
3. Continue to play each clip and reflect/analyze, either by
switching over to a document camera or writing on the board. Remind
students to consider the similarities between songs within each
row. 4. Reflect at the end of the class, as time allows. What did
they learn? Were they surprised by anything that they noticed? How
does this make them feel about some of their favorite songs? Were
there any characteristics that they noticed about songs that did
not share a row (i.e. two songs with Diana Ross)?
Wrap-Up:
Review and discuss lesson with students. What did they learn?
Were they surprised by anything that they noticed? How does this
make them feel about some of their favorite songs?
Modifications: Students who need additional support could be
directed to write less in each box or have the template printed for
them.
Behavior Issues: Some students may have issues with the pace or
need reminders to stay on task. Transitions:
- Today we will be looking at some of the ways that Rock and
Roll evolved from its first form in the 1950s into some of the
musical styles we listen to today. Because R&R was so important
to the culture of America from the 1950s onward, its influence can
be found in some really surprising places. - Everyone needs to open
their notebook to their activity section (model/direct entry into
log, model how to create boxes, labels on page).
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- We are going to be listening to song clips and then discussing
what we hear and see. As you watch the videos, listen to the music
and think about what you hear. Who is singing? What are they
singing about? What do they look like? What instruments do you
hear? Be ready to talk about the songs and write about them quickly
after the clip is over.
Assessment:
The graphic organizers included with the assignment serve as the
assessment for this lesson.
Included Sources The Supremes You Cant Hurry Love The Emotions
Best of My Love Destinys Child Say My Name The Isley Bros. Shout
Marvin Gaye Got to Give it Up Pharrell Williams Happy The Ronettes
Be My Baby Diana Ross Im Coming Out Notorious BIG Mo Money, Mo
Problems Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock Queen Crazy Little Thing
Called Love The Black Keys Tighten Up
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The Evolution of Rock and Roll
Name _______________________
Directions: Listen to each song clip. As you listen, think about
what is going on in the song. What instruments do you hear? Who is
singing? What are they singing about? What is the tone (mood)
of
share what you noticed.
Rock and Roll R&B