Lesson Plan
Perseverance Playlist
Students will curate a three-song playlist linked to motivation strategies and explain its impact on perseverance.
Understanding how to tap into motivation helps students develop resilience and overcome challenges, improving their ability to achieve goals both in and out of school.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Students will explore motivation through music and create a personal playlist.
Materials
- Power of Music Slides, * Perseverance Playlist Script, * Playlist Share Sheet, * Music Snippet Station, * Device for playing music (e.g., speaker, classroom computer), and * Pens/Pencils
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Perseverance Playlist Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Power of Music Slides, Perseverance Playlist Script, Playlist Share Sheet, and Music Snippet Station.
- Ensure access to a device for playing music snippets.
- Print copies of the Playlist Share Sheet (one per student).
- Set up the Music Snippet Station with various music snippets ready to play.
Step 1
Introduction: Motivation Triggers (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Begin with the Warm Up activity.
- Use Power of Music Slides to introduce the concept of motivation and perseverance.
- Follow the Perseverance Playlist Script to guide the discussion on what motivates students.
Step 2
Music Snippet Station (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Explain the Music Snippet Station activity where students will listen to short music clips.
- Instruct students to reflect on how different music makes them feel and if it connects to any motivation or perseverance experiences.
- Facilitate listening to various music snippets, encouraging quick journaling or mental notes.
Step 3
Create Your Perseverance Playlist (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Distribute the Playlist Share Sheet.
- Instruct students to choose three songs that motivate them or remind them to persevere, filling out the sheet with their rationale.
- Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
Step 4
Share & Reflect (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Invite students to briefly share one song from their playlist and their reasoning with a partner or the class, using their Playlist Share Sheet.
- Conclude with the Cool Down activity, prompting students to summarize their key takeaway.
Slide Deck
Perseverance Playlist: Tune In!
How does music help you keep going when things get tough?
Greet students and start with the warm-up activity. Introduce the day's topic: how music helps us when things get tough.
What Motivates You?
Motivation is what pushes us to start and keep doing things.
- What gets you excited?
- What makes you want to try your best?
- How does music play a role?
Define motivation and ask students what motivates them. Provide a few examples like getting good grades, playing a sport, or learning a new skill.
Perseverance: Stick With It!
Perseverance is about not giving up, even when things are difficult.
- Think of a time you really wanted to give up, but didn't.
- What helped you keep going?
Explain perseverance as sticking with something even when it's hard. Connect it to motivation by saying that motivation helps fuel perseverance.
Music: Your Secret Weapon?
Music can be a powerful tool to:
- Boost your mood
- Help you focus
- Give you energy
Today, we're going to explore how music can be your secret weapon for motivation and perseverance!
Introduce the idea of music as a tool for motivation and perseverance. Explain the upcoming 'Music Snippet Station' activity.
Music Snippet Station Instructions
You will listen to short snippets of different songs.
As you listen, think about:
- How does this music make you feel?
- Does it make you want to move? To think? To relax?
- Could this song help you feel motivated or persevere?
Explain the instructions for the 'Music Snippet Station' activity. Tell students they will listen to different songs and think about how they make them feel.
Curate Your Perseverance Playlist
Now it's YOUR turn to create a playlist!
Choose three songs that:
1. Motivate you to get started.
2. Help you keep going when things get tough.
3. Make you feel strong and capable.
Transition to the playlist creation. Emphasize that their playlist should be personal and reflect their own experiences with motivation and perseverance.
Explain Your Choices
On your Playlist Share Sheet, you'll write down:
- The song title and artist.
- Why you chose it. How does it connect to motivation or perseverance for YOU?
Review the 'Playlist Share Sheet' and explain that they will explain why they chose each song.
Share Your Soundtrack!
Get ready to share your unique Perseverance Playlist with a classmate or the whole class!
- What song did you choose?
- How does it help you persevere or feel motivated?
Encourage students to share with a partner or the class. Facilitate a brief discussion about the power of music.
Reflect & Rock On!
What is one new thing you learned about yourself or music's power today?
Conclude the lesson with the cool-down activity, asking students to reflect on their learning.
Project Guide
My Perseverance Playlist: Tune In and Rock On!
Name: _________________________
Date: _________________________
Learning Objective: I will curate a three-song playlist linked to motivation strategies and explain its impact on my perseverance.
Instructions:
Think about times when you need to feel motivated or when you need to persevere through a challenge. What kind of music helps you in those moments? Choose three songs that inspire you, give you energy, or help you focus. For each song, explain why it helps you with motivation or perseverance.
Song 1: The Ignition Track
- Song Title:
* Artist: ___________________________________
* Why this song helps me get motivated or persevere:
____
_________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Song 2: The Uphill Climb Anthem
- Song Title:
* Artist: ___________________________________
* Why this song helps me get motivated or persevere:
____
_________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Song 3: The Victory Lap Vibe
- Song Title:
* Artist: ___________________________________
* Why this song helps me get motivated or persevere:
____
_________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Reflection Question:
What did you learn about the connection between music, motivation, and perseverance today?
________________________________________________________________________________
Activity
Music Snippet Station: Feel the Beat!
Instructions:
Welcome to the Music Snippet Station! Here, you'll get to listen to short parts of different songs. Your job is to really tune in to how each song makes you feel and what it makes you think about.
As you listen to each snippet, ask yourself:
- How does this music make my body feel? (e.g., energetic, calm, focused, happy, thoughtful)
- What thoughts or memories come to mind?
- Does this music make me feel motivated to do something? If so, what?
- Could this song help me to keep going when I'm facing a challenge?
Quick Notes (Optional): You can jot down a few words or feelings for each song if it helps you remember! You won't be graded on this, it's just for your own reflection.
Snippet 1:
Snippet 2:
Snippet 3:
Snippet 4:
Snippet 5:
Teacher Note:
- Prepare 3-5 diverse music snippets (30-60 seconds each) that evoke different emotions or energy levels. Consider instrumental, upbeat, reflective, or empowering songs. Ensure the music is age-appropriate and does not contain explicit lyrics. Play each snippet and allow students a brief moment of reflection before moving to the next.
Script
Perseverance Playlist Script
Introduction: Motivation Triggers (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today we're diving into something we all experience: motivation and perseverance. Has anyone ever felt like giving up on something, but then found a way to keep going? What helped you?"
Teacher: "We're going to explore how music can be a secret tool to help us with this. Our goal today is to create a personal three-song playlist that helps us stay motivated and persevere."
Teacher: "First, let's think about motivation. What does 'motivation' mean to you? What gets you excited to start something, or to keep trying even when it's hard? Turn to a partner and share one thing that really motivates you. It could be anything—getting good grades, playing a sport, learning a new dance, or even just getting through your chores!"
(Allow 2 minutes for partner discussion, then bring the class back together for a few shares.)
Teacher: "Great ideas! So, motivation is that inner 'spark' or push that gets us going. Now, what about perseverance? Perseverance is about sticking with something even when it's difficult, not giving up. Can anyone share a quick example of a time they had to persevere?"
(Allow for 1-2 student shares.)
Teacher: "Excellent! We all face challenges, and music can be a powerful tool to help us find that motivation and perseverance. Think about how a certain song can change your mood or give you energy. We're going to explore that power today!"
Music Snippet Station (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, let's get ready for our Music Snippet Station activity! I'm going to play short snippets of different songs. As you listen, I want you to really focus on how each song makes you feel. Does it make you want to move? To think? To relax? Most importantly, does it make you feel motivated, or like you could persevere through a tough task?"
Teacher: "You don't need to write anything down for this part, just listen and reflect. We'll listen to a few snippets, and then we'll move on to creating our own playlists."
(Play 3-5 diverse music snippets, 30-60 seconds each. After each snippet, pause briefly for reflection. Encourage students to close their eyes or simply listen intently.)
Create Your Perseverance Playlist (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Fantastic listening, everyone! Now it's your turn to become a DJ for your own motivation! I'm handing out the Playlist Share Sheet. Your task is to choose three songs that truly speak to your motivation and perseverance. These should be songs that:
- Motivate you to get started.
- Help you keep going when things get tough.
- Make you feel strong and capable.
Teacher: "For each song, I want you to write down the title and artist, and then, most importantly, explain why you chose it. How does this particular song connect to motivation or perseverance for you? Use the space provided on your sheet to explain your choices. You have 10 minutes to work on this."
(Circulate around the room, offering support and answering questions. Remind students to think about their personal connection to the music and the concepts of motivation and perseverance.)
Share & Reflect (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. I'm excited to hear about your unique Perseverance Playlists! Who would like to share one song from their playlist and tell us why they chose it? You can share with a partner or with the whole class."
(Facilitate a brief sharing session. Encourage a few students to share with the whole class, or have students turn and talk with a neighbor.)
Teacher: "Thank you for sharing your amazing insights! It's clear that music has a special power for each of us."
Teacher: "To wrap up, let's do a quick Cool Down. On your Playlist Share Sheet (or a separate piece of paper), please answer this question: 'What is one new thing you learned about yourself or music's power today?' I'll collect these as your exit ticket."
(Collect the Playlist Share Sheets as students finish.)
Teacher: "Excellent work today, everyone! Remember, you now have a personal playlist that can help you stay motivated and persevere through anything!"
Warm Up
Motivation Kick-Off: Warm-Up!
Instructions:
Think about something you love to do – maybe a hobby, a sport, a video game, or a subject in school. What is it that makes you want to do that thing? What gets you excited to start, and what keeps you going even when it gets a little challenging?
Share your thoughts with a partner, or be ready to share with the class!
Teacher Note: Encourage students to think about both external motivators (like rewards or praise) and internal motivators (like personal enjoyment or a sense of accomplishment).
Cool Down
Reflect & Rock On! Cool Down
Instructions:
Take a moment to think about everything we discussed and created today regarding music, motivation, and perseverance.
On your Playlist Share Sheet (or a separate piece of paper), please answer the following question:
What is one new thing you learned about yourself or music's power today?
Teacher Note: Collect this as an exit ticket to assess student understanding and personal reflection. If students are using the Playlist Share Sheet, there is a dedicated space for this reflection.