I first used this lesson with my 5th grade students, I then adapted it to 4th grade.
In this lesson students use music to learn about fractions. They create music while recording the fractions they used. They then input their songs into Scratch in order to hear the music they wrote.
I love this lesson because students get an opportunity to experience how fractions and by extension math is all around them. It is powerful for them to make the transdisciplinary connection between music and math.
Lesson Outline:
- Watch video of visualized Beehtoven music . Students record what they See, Think, Wonder
- Review the names of music notes with students. whole note, half note, quarter note, etc
- Students cut music notes and paste them onto corresponding Fraction Bars
- Students create a chart of music notes.
- Students are given a line of music. They write down the equation for each bar. Example 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/2 = 4/4 Explain that each bar adds up to 4/4 or one whole. (extension: teach fractions in 3/4 and 2/4 time)
- Students are given a blank music sheet to compose their own compose song. Below each bar they write the mathematical equation. They also color the bar below to show how it adds up to 1 whole.
- Show students how to put their music into computer code using Scratch.
- They can use the “play drum” command or “play notes” command and then input the desired note.
- They convert their fractions to decimals and then follow their music sheet to input each note into Scratch.
- As they input their music they can listen to it to make sure their calculations are correct.
- Students share their music with each other. Example of my student’s work
- Students reflect on what pattern they created and identify the concepts they learned. Example of my student’s reflection
Lesson Part 1 (Note: The video is from when I taught the lesson for 5th grade students instead of the adapted version for 4th graders that I explain above)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRDWSiunB00]
Lesson Part 2: Putting the music into Scratch
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YBIGI2kA1s]
Example
This lesson was created in collaboration with Sally Oxenberry and Alexis Ramsey. Who are both amazing Music Teachers.