Lesson Plan
Unleash Your Inner DJ Lesson Plan
Students will explore how different musical elements evoke specific emotions and will begin to identify how music shapes their personal identity and experiences.
Understanding the emotional power of music helps students develop self-awareness and provides a healthy outlet for expression. It also connects learning to a universal art form that is deeply ingrained in their daily lives.
Audience
Middle School Students
Time
45-50 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, guided listening, and creative activities.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Speakers, The Emotional Power of Music Slides, Soundtrack of My Life Playlist Creation, and My Musical Mood Reflector
Prep
Review Materials and Set Up Technology
15 minutes
- Review Unleash Your Inner DJ Lesson Plan and all linked materials: The Emotional Power of Music Slides, Soundtrack of My Life Playlist Creation, and My Musical Mood Reflector.
- Ensure projector/Smartboard and speakers are working.
- Prepare a short, diverse playlist of instrumental music (e.g., upbeat, calm, suspenseful, happy, sad) for the warm-up, or use suggestions in the slide deck notes.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Musical Mood Check-in
10 minutes
- Begin with a quick Warm-Up: Musical Mood Check-in activity, playing short clips of diverse instrumental music and asking students to identify the mood and what musical elements contribute to it. (See Slide 2-3 of The Emotional Power of Music Slides).
- Facilitate a brief class discussion on their responses.
Step 2
Introduction to the Emotional Power of Music
10 minutes
- Use The Emotional Power of Music Slides to introduce how music affects emotions and why it's a powerful tool for self-expression.
- Discuss key musical elements (tempo, melody, harmony, rhythm) and how they influence our feelings. (Slides 4-7)
Step 3
Activity: Soundtrack of My Life
15 minutes
- Introduce the Soundtrack of My Life Playlist Creation.
- Explain that students will create a mini-playlist reflecting different moments or emotions in their lives. Provide guidance on selecting songs and explaining their choices.
- Allow students to begin working individually or in small groups.
Step 4
Reflection: My Musical Mood Reflector
10 minutes
- Distribute My Musical Mood Reflector.
- Have students complete the journal prompts, reflecting on their personal connection to music and the emotions it evokes.
- Encourage sharing if time permits, or collect for individual feedback.
Step 5
Cool-Down: One Word, One Feeling
5 minutes
- Facilitate a Cool-Down: One Word, One Feeling activity. Ask students to share one word that describes how music makes them feel, or one new thing they learned about music's impact. (See Slide 9 of The Emotional Power of Music Slides).
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Slide Deck
What's Your Musical Superpower?
How does music make you feel?
Welcome students and prepare for the warm-up activity. Explain that today we'll be exploring the connection between music and our feelings.
Musical Mood Check-in
Listen to each music clip.
What emotion does it make you feel?
What musical elements do you notice that create that feeling?
Play 3-4 short, instrumental music clips (15-20 seconds each). After each clip, ask students to write down or discuss the emotion it evokes. Encourage them to explain why they chose that emotion based on what they heard.
Music: More Than Just Sound
Music can transport us, uplift us, or even make us feel understood.
It's a universal language of emotion.
Transition from the warm-up, validating their observations and connecting to the lesson's objective. Briefly introduce the idea that music is a powerful tool for emotions and identity.
How Does Music Do That?
Music uses different 'ingredients' to create its emotional recipes!
Tempo (Speed):
- Fast Tempo: Excitement, energy, urgency, joy
- Slow Tempo: Calmness, sadness, seriousness, peace
Introduce the concept of musical elements. Start with tempo and explain how it affects mood. Ask for examples of fast vs. slow music and the feelings associated with them.
The Heart and Soul of a Song
Melody (The Main Tune):
- The part you hum or sing!
- Can be happy, sad, soaring, or gentle.
Harmony (The Supporting Sounds):
- Notes played together that create a rich background.
- Can make music sound bright and hopeful, or dark and mysterious.
Discuss melody and harmony. Explain how a catchy melody can make a song memorable and how harmony adds depth. You can hum a simple major and minor melody to illustrate.
The Beat and the Volume
Rhythm (The Beat):
- The pattern of sounds and silences.
- Makes you want to tap your foot or dance!
Dynamics (Loudness/Softness):
- Loud (forte): Powerful, dramatic
- Soft (piano): Gentle, mysterious, intimate
Explain rhythm and dynamics. Emphasize how rhythm makes us want to move, and dynamics control how loud or soft the music is, adding drama or intimacy.
Putting It All Together
These elements combine to create the unique 'feeling' of every song.
Think about your favorite song. Which elements stand out to you?
Summarize how these elements work together. Connect it to their own experiences of listening to music and identifying emotions.
Your Musical Story: Soundtrack of My Life
You'll create a mini-playlist (3-5 songs) that represents different moments or emotions in your life.
For each song, explain:
- What moment or emotion it represents.
- Why you chose that song.
- What musical elements contribute to that feeling.
Introduce the "Soundtrack of My Life" activity. Explain the task and encourage creativity. Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers, only personal connections.
One Word, One Feeling
Share one word that describes how music makes you feel, or one new thing you learned today about music's power!
Conclude the lesson with a cool-down activity. Ask students to share one word that summarizes how music makes them feel, or one new insight they gained.
Activity
Soundtrack of My Life: Playlist Creation
Music has a powerful way of connecting with our experiences and emotions. For this activity, you are going to become the DJ of your own life and create a mini-playlist that reflects your story.
Your Task:
Create a playlist of 3-5 songs that represent different moments, memories, or emotions in your life.
For each song, you need to:
- List the Song Title and Artist.
- Describe the Moment/Emotion: What specific memory, feeling, or period in your life does this song represent? Why is it significant to you?
- Explain the Musical Connection: Thinking about what we discussed (tempo, melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics), explain how the music itself helps to evoke that feeling or memory. What musical elements make it fit that moment?
My Soundtrack:
Song 1:
Title & Artist:
Moment/Emotion it Represents:
Musical Connection:
Song 2:
Title & Artist:
Moment/Emotion it Represents:
Musical Connection:
Song 3:
Title & Artist:
Moment/Emotion it Represents:
Musical Connection:
Song 4 (Optional):
Title & Artist:
Moment/Emotion it Represents:
Musical Connection:
Song 5 (Optional):
Title & Artist:
Moment/Emotion it Represents:
Musical Connection:
Journal
My Musical Mood Reflector
Take some time to reflect on your personal connection to music and how it influences your emotions and identity. Answer the prompts below thoughtfully.
-
Describe a time when a specific song perfectly matched your mood. What was the mood, and what about the song made it such a good fit?
-
Can music ever change your mood? If so, give an example. What kind of music do you listen to when you want to feel a certain way (e.g., happy, calm, focused, energized)?
-
Think about a song that brings back a strong memory. What is the memory, and how does the music trigger it? How do the musical elements of that song (like tempo, melody, or rhythm) contribute to that memory or feeling?
-
How does your taste in music reflect who you are as a person? Do you think the music you listen to says something about your personality or identity? Explain your thoughts.
-
If you were to introduce yourself to someone using only three songs, which songs would you choose and why? What would each song say about you?
Warm Up
Musical Mood Check-in
Instructions: Listen to the short music clips your teacher plays. After each clip, write down the emotion or mood you feel and one musical element (like fast tempo, high melody, strong beat, or soft volume) that you think contributes to that feeling.
Music Clip 1:
- Emotion/Mood:
- Musical Element:
Music Clip 2:
- Emotion/Mood:
- Musical Element:
Music Clip 3:
- Emotion/Mood:
- Musical Element:
Music Clip 4:
- Emotion/Mood:
- Musical Element:
Cool Down
One Word, One Feeling
Instructions: To wrap up our lesson, think about everything we discussed today about music and emotions.
In the space below, write down:
- One word that describes how music makes you feel, or
- One new thing you learned today about music's impact on emotions or identity.
Bonus: Be ready to share your word or learning with the class if called upon!