Language Arts
Lesson 3
Lesson Title: The Book that Saved the Band - Lesson 3
Synopsis: “The Band” (see Lesson 2) will design and create an audio CD booklet which includes the lyrics from lessons 1 and 2, pictures representing the lyrics, front and back cover, band information (member’s personal bios), a synopsis of the CD’s concept and dedications.
Authors: J. Finn & T. Rudolph
Interdisciplinary Pairing:
- Primarily Language Arts
- Secondary subjects include:
- Music
- Art
- Multimedia (optional)
Objectives:
- Students will construct an audio CD booklet incorporating all or some the following:
- Songs with artwork
- Front and back CD cover
- Band members’ biographies (fictitious or real)
- Synopsis (a brief or condensed statement giving a general view of some subject – from www.dictionary.com)
- Dedications
- Students will revise and edit all writing for content, style, organization, focus, grammar and spelling errors and make corrections where needed.
Intended Grade Level:
Middle School
Prior Knowledge & Skills:
- Comprehension of the selected novel
- Analysis of the selected novel
- Exposure to poetic devices such as simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.
- Exposure to simple song structure (verse/chorus/rhyme).
- Experience with writing poems/songs based on the novel.
- Exposure to song cycle such as those listed below – Materials.
- All songs in the cycle are completed.
Equipment:
- Basic art supplies such as scissors, colored pencils, ruler, computer paper, etc.
- Optional: computer with software such as word processing (Microsoft Word, AppleWorks, Photoshop, iPhoto) and/or multimedia software installed and a printer.
Duration: Several 45 minute class periods (2-5)
Materials:
- CD jewel case (supplied by teacher or student)
- Reference for purchase: www.jewelcaseonline.com
- Jason Finn’s example rubric for this project: filename: CDproject.pdf
Procedure:
- Complete some or all of the procedures in Lesson 1 and 2 [add a direct link to each lesson]
- The student group members (the band) will allocate responsibilities on completing the CD booklet.
- Students may work individually or collectively on any part of the booklet.
- Each day the band members should check, revise, and edit the previous day’s work.
- The band biographies can be fictional, non-fictional, and written by any member of the band.
- Each student should update their rubric each day to ensure they receive maximum credit for work he or she completes. (See Jason Finn’s sample rubric: filename: CDProjectRubric.pdf)
- When all parts of the booklet have been completed, the students will assemble the final product.
Note: The project can be stopped at this point or students can continue the project by producing their own music. See lessons 4, 5, 6, and 7. If you choose not to produce music, proceed to lesson 8.
Evaluation:
- Link to filename: CDproject.pdf
- The teacher can determine the level of evaluation. For example, the teacher may wish to evaluate individual members contribution to group in terms of preparedness and work ethic.
- Note: Author Jason Finn’s preference is not to grade the poems on artistic merit, but to be used as a starting point for the student to use a variety of poetic devices and to gain a deeper and more profound understanding of the novel.
Links & Resources:
Lesson Extension(s):
- Continue with project. Move to Lesson 4.
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