Submitted by Kathleen Bragle and Pamela Rezach, New York

Idea posted June 18, 2004

Here are some ideas for cross-curricular incorporation with music:

I have two placemats, one of a map of the U.S. and one of a map of the world, that get used many times during the day. I use them to show the children where a song originated. For example, "Roll Columbia" in the fifth Grade SB series, we see where the Columbia River rises and we have a quick review of oceans, rivers, etc. This is done as a conversation and is VERY quick. I also have a globe which I like to use. Where did this song come from? What continent is this country in?

We have done "Rap of the Presidents" (Music K-8, Rap Of The Presidents) and the "Rap of the States" (Music K-8, Rap Of The States) which opens up ALL kinds of intriguing information and sharing of facts.

The quiet listening that I do at the end of class SOMETIMES is preceded by a short sharing about the composer. I love to share trivia about the composers to make the composers seem more human and more real to the students.

A unit on conducting will always include a discussion of how conducting has evolved. For example, how the role of the conductor during Bach's time was different and how that evolved later into a conductor standing at a podium to lead and inspire the orchestra. (Read Shonberg's book The Great Conductors)

Timelines in the music room can relate composers to events in American and World history.

The presence of my Mozart Bobble Head Doll inspires some comments. All my children know about Mozart and know that he is at the top of my list.

Dennis Kobray visited and performed for our school as Beethoven. Since his visit, our discussions on Beethoven are very relaxed and informal. I think my fifths are on their way to reading independently about him.

I show the children CDs that I have and suggest unlikely places where they can be bought. Discussions follow.

There is a list of songs that I have by the great composers and we perform some of them.

Questions about the piano always open up the history of the keyboard (harpsichord, clavichord, etc.) - from Kathleen Bragle, New York

There's a very easy way to incorporate cross-curricular activities with music, but you have be someone who doesn't *need* to teach multiple songs in a lesson or a unit. I'd rather teach one song and bring in all kinds of great stuff rather than have the students learn a lot of songs for the sake of learning a lot of songs.

Here's my "Spin-off" plan: Select a song. Teach the concept/s you want to teach using this song: rhythm, melodic solfège, form, etc. Keep a map in your room. Spin-off and show the students from where in the world the song originated. Spin-off and teach about instruments from that location. Spin-off and have the students play classroom instruments using rhythms that represent that specific location. Spin-off and teach about a composer from that country. Spin-off and have the students learn about specific characteristics from the time period when the composer lived (this could include history, arts, clothes, etc.). Spin-off and have the students listen to a selection of the composer's music. Spin-off and have the students do a movement activity based upon the form of the music you presented. For the grand finale spin-off, have the students create their own piece of music based upon the form (or whatever other concept your focus is on) of the music you presented.

It does takes several lessons to cover all this material, but your students will be "music smart." I don't do this all the time, but it is a great way to tie it all together when I feel the need to do so. - from Pamela Rezach