School and Community Summer 2024

F rom the Beatles to Bob Marley, teachers can use songs for more than just background music in their classroom. As an English Language Arts teacher, I am always looking to find fresh and fun ways to teach my middle school students. Several years ago, I realized I should incorporate something they love – music – to teach them something they need . So, I taught my students to “mine” music for a variety of purposes. Anyone can “mine” music. Even educators who aren’t music teachers should not be intimidated to teach with music. Songs are a fantastic starting point to embed music into everyday lessons. These lesson topics can be about anything, from grammar and poetry to creative writing and history. When teachers and students “mine” music, they dig out details for a specific purpose. Here are six ways to embed songs in a lesson plan: 1. Use music to investigate grade-level standards. This can include a vast array of items including story elements (setting, climax, exposition and resolution),

rally people to protest for a better world and shows how music crosses societal boundaries to provide unique perspectives on difficult topics. 4. Use songs to inspire creative writing. Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young” tells the tale of a father’s hopes for his child. This song is an example of how students can write about their own goals. Students can also write an additional verse to a song or write one of their own as a memorable way to prepare for a test (how to remember science vocab, math strategies and more). An example of this is the “Bone Dance” in the TV show “Hannah Montana.” Hannah, played by Miley Cyrus, changed up one of her own songs to learn the bones of the human body to pass an anatomy test at school. 5. Incorporate music into everyday classroom tasks. Songs can be utilized as natural transitions between activities, assignments and classes. Playlists become integral when used as timers for snack time, cleaning up, completing crafts, etc. Music is also an avenue for creative thinking and an outlet for self-expression.

BY PAM CLIFTON, WEST ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY R-4

theme, author’s purpose, point of view, vocabulary and so much more. Grammar can be another “find.” The Beatles’ song “Eight Days a Week” (see lyrics at right) contains the perfect lyrics to identify pronouns. “This Love” by Maroon 5 and OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” have numerous

6. Use songs for motivation and entertainment. Teachers should encourage students to explore multiple musical genres, from classical to bluegrass to big band. They can even use music as motivation or as student incentives. A well-behaved class could choose which type of music to listen to, or a rotating weekly “trophy” (stuffed animal) could reward a student. Take the student’s photo with the trophy and allow them to take it home for the week. Exploration of music offers numerous benefits, including stress relief and an improved attitude. It brings people

“Ooh, I need your love, babe Guess you know it’s true Hope you need my love, babe Just like I need you. Hold me, love me Hold me, love me I ain’t got nothin’ but love, babe Eight days a week.”

examples of past-tense verbs. Cyndi Lauper’s classic “True Colors” is a great option for discovering adjectives. 2. Practice poetry with songs to teach students about basic tasks like identifying rhyme scheme, figurative language and tone. A few easy options to practice poetry include Elvis Presley’s

together and connects them in deeper ways. Students might even use this as motivation to start playing an instrument or start a new fitness routine. Before teachers use music in their classrooms, they should always check warning labels for songs and pre approve song lyrics. Check Parent Advisory Label Program (PAL) ratings to see if a song contains inappropriate content such as strong language, sexual references, violence or substance abuse. Teachers should also carefully read lyrics before using the songs in class, listen to the songs and prepare a list of questions before introducing the song. As for me, I can guarantee that on the day I teach my students about pronouns using The Beatles’ song “Eight Days A Week,” I will not be the only one humming the fun-loving tune for the rest of the day.

“In the Ghetto,” Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” and Uncle Kracker’s “Smile.” Songs are a bridge to analyze traditional poetry. For Elvis’s “In the Ghetto,” students can discuss the title and what it means, who the speaker is, mood, literary devices like onomatopoeia or repetition and more. 3. Explore history and travel back in time. Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is an easy choice to get students thinking about numerous historical events referenced in the song. Fall Out Boy released an updated version of the song in 2023, which creates a fun opportunity for comparison between these two periods of time. Bob Dylan’s “Hurricane” tackles the tough topic of racism. Dylan’s song is one of many examples used to

S&C SUMMER 2024 | 39