Musical Movement Showcase

Activity Outline

• Goal of Activity:

  • The goal of this activity is to "create and perform a music or dance piece related to themes in the central text."

• Time Allotment: Multiple Weeks

• Learning Objectives

  • By the end of this activity, the students will have created a performance that shows off a theme from the text and conveys a diversity theme.

• Steps of Activity- Full Lesson Plan Available here

  • Get Ready

    • Introduce the project along with this rubric in which students can work to create their song or dance.

    • Assess the music and dance tastes of your students and assign student groups based on this.

    • Assign each group to collaborate with a staff member who can help them with this project.

    • Define expectations of equitable collaboration within each group.

  • Get Set

    • Choose a text from your curriculum that students will use to pull themes from.

    • "As a class, brainstorm topics that connect to central text themes."

    • Have groups talk about how their project will "communicate information and ideas related to social justice or diversity themes," along with themes from your chosen text.

  • Go!

    • When students' projects are complete, let them showcase them in front of other classes, their families, and community members.

    • "Host the showcase. Songs and dances can be performed in succession for the whole group. Encourage the audience to share feedback with students."

  • Reflect

    • Help students to ask these questions about their performance:

      • "What topic or theme from the text was the basis for your piece?"

      • "What important message did your piece express to your audience?"

      • "Do you think you were successful? Why or why not?"

Discussion

I chose to include this activity in my Identity Portfolio because this showcase allows students to identify key themes in the books they are reading and get creative on how they will show off that theme to their communities. This is an important project because not only will the students be growing and learning, their projects have the potential to cause growth and learning in the communities. A showcase like this can start real conversations.

This project allows for real-world connections as showcases like this happen in the grown-up social justice movement. Showing students that they have the ability to bring up these conversations are invaluable. This project also allows for shared inquiry and dialogue. Bringing in other staff members and performing for the community starts a dialogue between the students and the trusted adults that surround them daily. It also helps to start a dialogue in the classroom and in individual groups.

Resources

• Musical Movement Showcase

• Musical Movement Showcase Rubric

References

Do Something. (n.d.). Musical Movement Showcase. Learning for Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2022, from https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/student-tasks/do-something/musical-movement-showcase