Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Function of Music

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The goal-setting phase is crucial to guide students on what is expected of them to learn and understand by the end of the lesson. By clearly establishing objectives, students can direct their focus and efforts to achieve these specific goals. This helps to maximize classroom time efficiency and ensure that the content covered aligns with learning expectations.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to understand the importance of music in individual cultural formation and social integration.

2. Develop analytical skills to identify how different musical genres and compositions are used in various social contexts.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage students' individual expression about their personal relationship with music and its emotional and social impacts.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and establish a connection between the prior knowledge acquired at home and the concepts that will be explored in class. Problem-based situations encourage students to think critically about the impact of music in different contexts, preparing them for more in-depth analyses during the lesson. Contextualization, in turn, broadens the understanding of music's relevance, relating it to real situations and highlighting its cultural and social importance.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine a wedding party without music. How do you think this would affect the atmosphere and the experience of the guests?

2. Think of a movie you watched recently. How did the soundtrack influence your emotions and understanding of the scenes?

Contextualization

Music is not just an art form; it plays a fundamental role in culture and society, shaping our daily experiences. For example, music can be used to express and influence emotions, such as at funerals, where specific songs are chosen to aid in the expression of grief. Additionally, music is used in many important rituals and ceremonies across cultures worldwide, highlighting its importance in social and cultural integration.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The development phase is designed to allow students to apply and deepen their prior knowledge about the function of music in culture and society. Through practical and collaborative activities, students explore how music is used to express emotions, tell stories, and influence behaviors, thus integrating their learning into real and imaginary cultural contexts. This approach not only solidifies theoretical understanding but also promotes research, communication, and teamwork skills.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Cultural Playlist

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop an understanding of how music reflects the culture of a country and its different sociocultural manifestations.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will create a playlist of songs that represent different important aspects of the culture of a country of their choice. They must justify each musical choice based on how the music reflects the traditions, values, and stories of the selected country.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group chooses a country to represent through their playlist.

• Students should research the musical culture of the chosen country, focusing on popular genres, prominent artists, and the influence of music on society.

• Based on their research, each group should create a playlist of up to 10 songs that represent various aspects of the culture of the chosen country.

• After selecting the songs, each group will present their playlist to the class, explaining the reasons behind each choice and how they reflect the culture of the country.

Activity 2 - Musical Drama

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the use of music in the context of theater and its ability to influence the emotions and atmosphere of a scene.

- Description: Students will create short plays of 5 to 10 minutes that include significant musical elements. Each group will choose a daily life situation (for example, a birthday party, a social protest, a religious ceremony) and create a narrative that involves the use of music to express emotions and drive the action.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group chooses a daily life scenario for their play.

• Students must write a script that includes dialogues and moments when music will be incorporated to express emotions or advance the story.

• Students should also select musical excerpts that fit the story they are telling.

• Each group presents their play to the class, focusing on the effective integration of music with the narrative.

Activity 3 - Musical Investigators

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Deepen knowledge about a specific musical genre and its importance in culture and society.

- Description: In this activity, students will act as 'cultural detectives' investigating the history and impact of a specific musical genre. Each group will choose a genre (for example, hip-hop, samba, rock) and will give a presentation that includes the history of the genre, its evolution, and musical examples that illustrate its characteristics.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group selects a musical genre to research.

• Students investigate the origin of the genre, its main artists, and how it influenced culture and society.

• Based on their research, the groups prepare a presentation that includes a timeline, representative songs, and fun facts about the cultural impact of the chosen genre.

• Each group presents their investigation to the class.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This feedback stage is essential to consolidate student learning, allowing them to articulate and reflect on what they learned through practical activities. By sharing their discoveries and challenges, students can gain a deeper understanding of the role of music in culture and society, in addition to developing communication and argumentation skills. The group discussion also offers an opportunity for the teacher to assess students' understanding and clarify any points that may remain unclear.

Group Discussion

After the completion of the practical activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the discussion with a brief introduction, highlighting the importance of sharing experiences and learnings obtained during the activities. Encourage each group to present a summary of what they discovered and discuss their perceptions of how music influences and is influenced by culture and society. Use guiding questions to facilitate the conversation and ensure that all students participate actively.

Key Questions

1. How does the music chosen by your group represent the culture of the country selected in the 'Cultural Playlist' activity?

2. What were the greatest challenges in integrating music and drama in the theatrical piece of the 'Musical Drama' activity?

3. What surprises or discoveries did you make when researching and presenting about the musical genre chosen in the 'Musical Investigators' activity?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the concepts addressed during the lesson. By summarizing and recapping, the teacher helps students reinforce their learning and visualize the applicability of the concepts of music and culture. Additionally, discussing the connection between theory and practice and the relevance of the topic to their lives reinforces the importance of the study of music and its social and cultural implications.

Summary

To conclude, the teacher should summarize the main points addressed, highlighting how music is a deep reflection of culture and society and how it can be used to express emotions, tell stories, and influence behaviors. The activities carried out should be recapped, such as creating cultural playlists, theatrical pieces with musical elements, and researching musical genres, and how these practices helped to theoretically visualize the discussed concepts.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson successfully connected theory and practice in an integrated manner, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge about the role of music in different cultural and social contexts. Practical activities, such as creating playlists and theatrical pieces, served to illustrate and solidify these concepts, providing a deeper understanding and a meaningful learning experience.

Closing

The importance of music in cultural formation and social integration cannot be underestimated. It permeates our daily lives, whether in moments of celebration, sadness, unity, or even solitude. Understanding these functions helps not only in artistic appreciation but also in the formation of more sensitive and empathetic individuals, capable of understanding and respecting the diverse cultural expressions around them.