AN ADVENTURE INTO THE NATIVE AMERICAN WORLD

Type of Teaching: Lesson Plan

Grade Level: K-8 (Cross-aging for groups)

Time Frame: 1 day/30 minute segments

Subject Matter: Native American World – Music

Teacher Information:Navana Ahrends

CornellGrade School

Lesson Plan Description:

Students will have the opportunity to see and hear two basic Indian instruments.

Through observation and reasoning, they should be able to reach some conclusions about how they were made and used, as well as to be able to compare them to today’s instruments by the same name and in the same instrumental families.

State Standards and Objectives: In Introduction

Resources:

  • Native American Music Student Activity
  • ImageChart
  • AudioMusic Links
  • Various instruments for display in flute and drum families (woodwind & percussion)

Methods:

  • Using student activity worksheet
  • Work in small groups (3 or 4)
  • Assign a picture to each group
  • Fill in photoanalysis activity
  • Discuss results
  • Review families of instruments and characteristics
  • Play audio recordings (Match to pictures)
  • #1 (Flute)Hearing two flutes, which flute in the picture would be playing the highest part and which one the lowest?
  • #2 (Drum) Which picture might represent by this selection?
  • #3 (Drum and Chanting) Which picture might represent this selection?
  • Show Instruments on Display
  • Demonstrate them
  • Allow time for observations, particularly in regard to pitch or tone in relationship to size

Follow-Up Activities:

  • Lower Elementary (K-2)
  • Make drums in various sizes
  • Produce rhythm patterns
  • Perform basic Indian dance steps to basic drum beat
  • Upper Elementary (3-5)
  • Learn to play song flutes or recorders
  • Conduct an experiment on making a scale using pop bottles (or glasses) and water.
  • Use to play a simple tune
  • Junior High
  • Explore other types of Native American instruments and their sounds
  • Research various types of dancing with particular emphasis on instruments used and chanting heard

Evaluation: All students will gather in the gym at the end of the day for a closing activity. Students are to be divided by grade levels and will participate in a KWL closing activity.