Adirondack Curriculum Project - Adirondack History Songs

Adirondack Curriculum Project tested

NYS Content Area Standard

Social Studies 1. History of the United States and New York
Elementary: #3 "Gather & organize information about the important accomplishments of individuals and groups..."

Title: Adirondack History Songs

Grade Level: 5th Grade

Author: Brian R. Bishop
Corinth CSD

Email: bbishop1@nycap.rr.com

Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
___ Natural History
_X__ Human History
_X__ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: How can music be used to tell the story of prominent people or events of Adirondack history?

Challenge:

Create teams of two (a pair) formed with the help of your teacher. Each pair should select an important event or person from Adirondack history that is of interest to both of you in your pair. No pair may chose the same person or event as another pair in class.

Building on the model(s) provided to you by your teacher, create lyrics for a song that tells the story of your important Adirondack person or event. Your lyrics should match the rhythm of common tune that already has been written.

As you write your song, please consider the following:
* The subject of song is important in the history of the Adirondacks
* The song tells a story about the person or event
* The historical information contained within the song is accurate
* The lyrics of the song fit the rhythm of the song apppropriately
* The song should be entertaining

You will have approximately ____ to work on your song. When your song is completed, we will ask you to perform your song for the rest of our class.

( Lyrics & Song Performed by Students in 2004)

Quality Standards:

The subject of song is important in the history of the Adirondacks
The song tells a story about the person or event
The historical information contained within the song is accurate
The lyrics of the song fit the rhythm of the tune apppropriately
The song is entertaining
Work on the song is completed on time

Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________ Class Period: ________

Product Author(s):

Product Title/Name:
Adirondack History Songs

Evaluator Name(s)

Observed	Standard/Criteria	Possible Points	Rating
	The subject of the song is important in the history of the Adirondacks
	The song tells a story about the person or event
	The historical information contained within the song is accurate
	The lyrics of the song fit the rhythm of the tune apppropriately
	The song is entertaining
	Work on the song is completed on time
	TOTALS

Comments: It is best to begin the project as a class project choosing one particular event / person and creating a class song that can function as a model. Students can then work on individual or small group projects. This project lends itself nicely to a coordinated effort between Social Studies and the Arts in the exploration the history of a specific era and musical genres associated with that era. You could also create CD's of student work and ask art classes to design the CD covers.
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