Lesson 1: Introduction to Native American Music
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Opening Activity
Prompt students with the following questions:
- Introduce yourself by telling us what music you are listening to and enjoying right now.
- What do you like about this music? What musical genre does your favorite music fit into?
- How do you think these musicians generate their ideas for the music?
- How do you think the musicians’ backgrounds might influence their music?
Facilitate a conversation that assists students to explore how music is influenced by the cultural backgrounds and life experiences of the musicians who create it.
Important note: Remind students not to put down each other’s choice of music even if people like music that is different from their own.
Listening Activity
√ Distribute Thinking Organizer
- Find the list of songs for this lesson in Biographies of All Native American Musicians Presented for Unit 1.
- Play the music videos/recordings while students fill out Thinking Organizer.
Lesson Closure
√ Distribute Exit Ticket.
- Ask students to share what they think the videos/recordings have in common. They will probably conclude that the artists are all Native American. Encourage them to extend that and to notice the different genres represented in the four videos/recordings.
- Important: Teacher should review Exit Ticket for misconceptions about Native American people to be addressed at the beginning of Lesson Two.