Megan Wendlick

Arts Lesson Plan – Poetry – High School Band

1. Time Needed: 50 minutes

2. Materials Needed: Baton, scores, speakers, copy of poem and worksheet for each student

3. Learning Objective: Student will use close reading when analyzing a poem that the

musical piece they are performing is based on. This provides opportunities for students to

respond to music by applying knowledge and skills, contextual understanding, and

artistic expression.

4. Assessment: Students will write down their responses to questions about the poem and

music on a worksheet.

5. Personal Objectives:

 Make sure all students are engaged and on task

6. Procedure:

 Begin class with warm-ups and tuning (3 minutes)

 Rehearse the march piece (10 minutes)

 Rehearse another piece (10 minutes)

 Tell students to put instruments away and return to their seats (5 minutes)

 For remainder of class (32 minutes) complete close reading activity:

i. Hand out a copy of the poem the piece Sleep by Eric Whitacre is based on

and the worksheet with questions

ii. Read the poem out loud to students

 iii. Ask them to individually complete the worksheet that asks questions about

how the poem relates to the music in the piece. Play a recording of the

choir version of the piece in the background while they work.

iv. After the piece is over, have them turn to the person next to them and

discuss their answers.

v. Have a class discussion about how the music relates to the mood and

lyrics of the piece.

7. Closure: Great job analyzing this poem and relating it to the music! I hope you can all see

how poetry and music can be related, and I hope you will think about our discussion

when we rehearse Sleep tomorrow.