Rhyme Time Brainstorm!

It's time to get your creative juices flowing and think about what amazing story or feeling you want to turn into a song!

Step 1: Choose Your Story Idea

Think about these questions and circle or write down your favorite idea:

• What's a really fun memory you have? (e.g., a birthday party, playing with a pet, a trip)

• What's a strong feeling you've had recently? (e.g., happy, excited, a little bit grumpy, curious)

• What's an imaginary adventure you'd like to go on? (e.g., flying to the moon, meeting a dragon, finding treasure)

• What's something you really love to do?

My Story Idea:

Step 2: Key Words for Your Story

Now, write down words that come to mind when you think about your story idea. These don't have to rhyme yet, just list everything!

• Nouns (people, places, things):
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Verbs (action words):
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Adjectives (describing words):
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Feelings:
  
  
  
  
  
  

Step 3: Rhyming Fun!

Look at your key words. Can you think of words that rhyme with them? This will be super helpful for your song!

Step 4: Your Song's Main Message (Chorus Idea)

What is the main thing you want people to remember about your song? What's the big idea or feeling you want to share?

My Main Message/Chorus Idea:

My Song Lyrics Template

Now it's your turn to be a songwriter! Use your awesome ideas from the Rhyme Time Brainstorm Activity to write your very own song lyrics.

Remember, your song can be about anything: a fun memory, a made-up adventure, or a feeling you want to share!

My Song Title Idea:

Verse 1

This is where you start telling your story or setting the scene.

Line 1:



Line 2:



Line 3:



Line 4:

Chorus

This is the main idea of your song! It should be catchy and repeat your main message.

Line 1:



Line 2:



Line 3:



Line 4:

My Song Inspiration!

What inspired you to write these lyrics?

Script: Sing Your Story

Introduction: What's Your Song? (10 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, aspiring songwriters! Today, we're going on a musical adventure to explore how we can turn our thoughts and feelings into amazing songs. To start, I want to hear from you: What's a song you really love? What makes it special to you? Is it the beat, the words, or how it makes you feel?"

Allow a few students to share and briefly discuss their responses.

"That's fantastic! You've already noticed that songs can be powerful. They tell stories, share emotions, and can make us dance or think deeply. Today, you're going to learn how to write your own song lyrics! How cool is that?"

Understanding Song Structure (15 minutes)

"Just like a story has a beginning, middle, and end, most songs have different parts that work together. Let's look at some of these parts. (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 3)"

"First, we have the Verse. Think of the verse as where your story unfolds. It introduces characters, settings, or different parts of your idea. A song usually has a few verses, and they help move the story along. (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 4)"

"Next, and this is a big one, is the Chorus! (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 5) The chorus is the heart of your song. It usually repeats, has the main message or feeling, and it's often the part that gets stuck in your head! It's catchy!"

"Sometimes, songs also have a Bridge. (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 6) The bridge is a part that's a little different from the verse and chorus. It might offer a new idea, a different feeling, or a change of pace before returning to the chorus. It adds a little surprise!"

"Let's try to identify these parts in a song you might know. (Play a short, familiar, kid-friendly song clip and pause to ask: 'Where do you hear the verse? Where is the chorus?')"

Brainstorming Your Story (15 minutes)

"Now that we know the parts of a song, it's time to find your story! What do you want your song to be about?" (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 7)

"I'm going to hand out the Rhyme Time Brainstorm Activity. This will help you think of ideas. You can write about a super fun memory, a cool adventure you imagine, or even a strong feeling like happiness or curiosity."

"Take a few minutes to explore the ideas on your activity sheet. Don't worry about rhyming yet, just get those ideas flowing!"

Circulate and provide guidance. After a few minutes, bring them back.

"Great job! Now, on your brainstorm sheet, let's look at the 'Key Words' section. Write down words related to your story idea. If your song is about a 'dog,' you might write 'furry,' 'play,' 'bark,' 'happy.'"

"And then, let's have some fun with 'Rhyming Fun'! For each key word, see if you can think of words that rhyme. This is a secret weapon for songwriters!"

Allow time for students to fill this out. Offer examples if needed.

Crafting Your Lyrics (25 minutes)

"You've got your story idea, your key words, and some rhyming words! You are ready to write!" (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 8)

"I'm giving everyone the My Song Lyrics Template Worksheet. Your task is to write one verse and one chorus for your song. Focus on making your verse tell a part of your story, and your chorus share the main idea or feeling. And try to use some of those rhyming words!"

"Don't worry about it being perfect. The most important thing is to express your story and have fun with it. I'll be walking around to help if you get stuck or need an idea."

Circulate, offer praise, and assist students individually. Encourage them to read their lyrics aloud to themselves to check the flow.

Sharing and Reflection (5-10 minutes)

"Wow, you've all been working so hard! Who would like to be a brave songwriter and share their verse and chorus with the class today? We'd love to hear your musical stories!" (Show The Art of Story Songs Slide Deck - Slide 9)

Allow several volunteers to share. Encourage positive and constructive feedback.

"Fantastic sharing, everyone! Before we finish, what's one thing you learned about songwriting today? Or how did it feel to turn your own ideas into song lyrics?"

Allow a few students to share their reflections.

"You are all amazing storytellers and future songwriters! Give yourselves a round of applause!"

My Song Reflection

Take a few minutes to think about your songwriting journey today!

1. What was your favorite part about creating your song lyrics today?
   
   
   
2. What was one new thing you learned about how songs are put together (like verses and choruses)?
   
   
   
3. If you were to write another song, what would it be about?
   
   
   
4. How did it feel to express your own story or idea through lyrics?