Lesson Plan: Using Music to Teach about Moments in History
Kelly Murray Using Music to Teach about Moments in History I. Time, Continuity, and Change A. Demonstrate that historical knowledge and the concept of time are socially influenced constructions that lead historians to be selective in the questions that seek to answer and the evidence they use; II. The student will be able to explain how music was influenced by historic events with emphasis placed on September 11th. III. Students will be able to find a song, identify what event it was influenced by, and respond in writing to how it would be useful to a historian. IV. History V. Day 1 · The song, “Where Were You” by Alan Jackson will be playing while the students enter the class. This will alert them for what is to come and hopefully interest them in the lesson. · Play PowerPoint which consists of: o Introduction § Music can help us learn about historic events such as September 11th, 2001. § Ask students how they felt when they heard the song playing at beginning of class. § Discuss o Where were you on September 11th, 2001? o What do you know or remember about this historic event? o Core Material § Identify location with maps § Timeline of events § Impacts on Society § Songs help us relate to 9/11 § Pause PowerPoint · Divide class into diverse groups of four o Directions: Three songs will be played on the PowerPoint. Time will be given in between songs for you to discuss how it relates to 9/11 and what is learned through the experience. *write notes* o Play PowerPoint § Song 1: Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” o Pause PowerPoint for group time o Hand out copy of lyrics to each group § Song 2: John Legend’s “Coming Home” o Pause PowerPoint for group time o Hand out copy of lyrics to each group § Song 3: Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”. (edited) o Pause PowerPoint for group time o Hand out copy of lyrics to each group · Reflect on experience through entire class discussion o Allow each group to share o Explain Homework: § Each student should research using the internet and library for a song that relates to the historic event of 9/11 or historic events that followed the attacks. § Print out lyrics and bring to class tomorrow Day 2 · Review Day 1 · Have students present songs to you o Make sure they are okay to use for assignment · Provide a clear, in-depth explanation of project: o Write a paper responding to the song from a historian’s point of view. o Give each student a handout containing the questions listed in section V1 of this lesson plan. Answering questions such as these will help you write the paper. o 2 pages, double-spaced, 12-font o Attach lyrics to paper o Due: 1 week from today VI. 1. Why do you think this song was written? 2. What questions do these lyrics raise in your mind? 3. What evidence in the lyrics help you know what it was written about? -Provide lyrics 4. List three things the song tells you about life in the U.S. at the time it was written. 5. How might this song be useful to historians? | 
