Grade 3 Social Studies: Rhythms & Music of the World Lesson Plan

Lesson Overview

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In this lesson plan we are embarking on a virtual trip around the world, exploring festivals, foods, and music from various cultures.

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‍We will make stops along the way in Mongolia, South Africa, China, and a lot more places to learn from kids about dance moves, musical instruments, rhythm and the cultural significance they hold.

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Get started with Touchable Earth for FREE and get this lesson in interactive format! 

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Lesson Objectives & Curriculum Alignment

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This lesson aligns with the following concepts.

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1. Cultural Appreciation: Students will recognize the diversity of music, songs, and dance across different cultures and understand their significance in cultural expression.
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2. Artistic Expression: Students will learn basic elements of musical rhythm and dance movements from various cultures, enhancing their appreciation of the arts.
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3. Global Connections: Students will make connections between music, songs, and dance and the daily lives and celebrations of people around the world.

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Let's start this global adventures by having a look at children around the world and the music and dance that inspires them.

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Children Around the World:

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Odbayar plays a traditional instrument in Mongolia that is called Morin Khuur - it only has two strings but has a beautiful sound!

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Siphamandla plays a traditional drum in South Africa

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Apple plays traditional instrument in China

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Emmanuel and his classmates perform a traditional dance in Romania

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Activities:

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Each lesson comes with interactive activities that you can embed directly into your LMS to engage students at home or in the classroom, but in case you want to keep this lesson offline here are some suggestions: 

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Extra Resources:

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Discussion Prompts:

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Scenario 1: 

‍Imagine we're musical explorers on a journey around the world. Today, we met new friends from all over the world.

What do you think people in these places feel when they play their traditional music and dance?

Let's share our thoughts and see if we can understand the emotions behind the music.
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Scenario 2:

Every culture celebrates with music and dance, much like we do.

Can you remember a special celebration we learned about today?

What kind of music and dance were involved, and how does it compare to how we celebrate our special occasions?"

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Storytelling Prompts:
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• Imagine you're a musician in one of the countries we learned about. What kind of music would you play, and what stories would your songs tell?"
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• Draw a picture of a dance celebration based on the dances you've seen today. Describe who is there, and what are they celebrating?"

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Blended Activities/Projects Ideas:
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• Family Interview Project: "Interview a family member about their favorite music and dance. What memories do they have related to music? Share your findings with the class."
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• Explore Local Music Events: "Research to find a local music or dance event. It could be a concert, a dance class, or a cultural festival. Share what you learned about the music and dance styles presented."

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