Submitted by Christine Bock, Knoxville, Tennessee
Idea posted April 28, 2003
Question: I am interested in creating a unit for third grade students that culminates in the rewriting of the words for "The Bare Necessities" to make a school song. What I would like to do is teach about song writing, about using an old tune to write a new song, and then have a contest to have a new school song written by students. Are there suggestions that you might have for this unit? Also, I cannot think of what you call it when you use an old melody but change the words.
Answer: I haven't done exactly this, but I do have an idea on how to present this. I have done a composition unit for several years with my 3rd graders. They write melody and words. Anyway, I photocopy the songs, which I've written out on Finale, and the kids submit black and while illustrations for each. The class votes on the illustration they like the best. Then I bind them all in a book, with the spiral binding thingy - yes that is the technical term! :) - and sell them at our concert for $3. I usually make about $300. Perhaps you could do something like this, including illustrations or poems.