Polish Music and Culture For Elementary School
As a Polish-American, many of my musical influences are rooted within Polish culture and traditions. This traditional polish Christmas carol “Bóg się Rodzi” is a song I used to sing as a child. Pay attention to the use of dynamics and steady tempo. This peaceful song is great for really getting to know what traditional polish songs sound like.
ACTIVITY: Emphasis is placed upon music as a source of cultural understanding, an important means of personal expression, and an enhancement to other types of learning. Also, this lesson is taught so students can learn to sing independently, on pitch and in rhythm, with appropriate timbre, diction, posture, maintaining a steady tempo.
Learning objectives for Unit:
Study culture of Poland as well as cultures of countries within Europe, sing in foreign languages, learn basic rhythmic patterns, sing in solfege, use self expression, and perform simple folk songs by memory.
Materials Needed:
Recording- "Bóg się Rodzi"
"Pani Zo" lyrics
Wawel Dragon story
Rhythmic notation flash cards
Polish artifacts
OUTLINE OF LESSON:
1. Play recording of "Bóg się Rodzi" while students walk into class. Go over slideshow presentation of music of Poland. (5-10min)
2. Teach “Pani, Zo, Zo, Zo" lyrics by rote. Just as America has hand games for children, so does Poland. This hand clapping game is an excellent source for developing rhythm as well as learning to recite lyrics in a different language. (5-10min)
3. Teach hand clapping that goes along with "Pani Zo, Zo, Zo." (5min)
4. Combine song with movement. (10min)
5. Read "The Wawel Dragon" to class. (4-5min)
6. Split class into groups. Each group creates movements for different parts of the story to create a mini-play. (10-15min)
7. Each group comes up to act out their part of the story. (10min)
8. IF TIME*** Split the class up into four groups. Hand out a Polish "Artifact" to each group with it's description. Students read description and have a short "Show and Tell" in front of class.
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION:
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
By the end of Grade 4 students will:
- Improvise "answers” in the same style to given rhythmic and melodic phrases
-Improvise and compose simple rhythmic and melodic ostinato accompaniments
-Improvise and compose simple rhythmic variations and simple melodic embellishments on familiar melodies
-Improvise and compose short vocal and instrumental melodies, using a variety of sound sources, including traditional sounds, nontraditional sounds available in the classroom, body sounds (such as clapping)
-Create and arrange short songs and instrumental pieces within teacher-specified guidelines
ACTIVITY: Emphasis is placed upon music as a source of cultural understanding, an important means of personal expression, and an enhancement to other types of learning. Also, this lesson is taught so students can learn to sing independently, on pitch and in rhythm, with appropriate timbre, diction, posture, maintaining a steady tempo.
Learning objectives for Unit:
Study culture of Poland as well as cultures of countries within Europe, sing in foreign languages, learn basic rhythmic patterns, sing in solfege, use self expression, and perform simple folk songs by memory.
Materials Needed:
Recording- "Bóg się Rodzi"
"Pani Zo" lyrics
Wawel Dragon story
Rhythmic notation flash cards
Polish artifacts
OUTLINE OF LESSON:
1. Play recording of "Bóg się Rodzi" while students walk into class. Go over slideshow presentation of music of Poland. (5-10min)
2. Teach “Pani, Zo, Zo, Zo" lyrics by rote. Just as America has hand games for children, so does Poland. This hand clapping game is an excellent source for developing rhythm as well as learning to recite lyrics in a different language. (5-10min)
3. Teach hand clapping that goes along with "Pani Zo, Zo, Zo." (5min)
4. Combine song with movement. (10min)
5. Read "The Wawel Dragon" to class. (4-5min)
6. Split class into groups. Each group creates movements for different parts of the story to create a mini-play. (10-15min)
7. Each group comes up to act out their part of the story. (10min)
8. IF TIME*** Split the class up into four groups. Hand out a Polish "Artifact" to each group with it's description. Students read description and have a short "Show and Tell" in front of class.
NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION:
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
By the end of Grade 4 students will:
- Improvise "answers” in the same style to given rhythmic and melodic phrases
-Improvise and compose simple rhythmic and melodic ostinato accompaniments
-Improvise and compose simple rhythmic variations and simple melodic embellishments on familiar melodies
-Improvise and compose short vocal and instrumental melodies, using a variety of sound sources, including traditional sounds, nontraditional sounds available in the classroom, body sounds (such as clapping)
-Create and arrange short songs and instrumental pieces within teacher-specified guidelines