This fifth grade music project involved choosing a Shel Silverstein poem, one rich with visual and aural images. Students recorded their narrations into the Garageband program, then explored and strategized to include music and sound ideas to enhance the poem’s mood and imagery in compelling ways. They created a “score” or cue sheet to plan and document their piece of work. This lesson incorporated performing, improvising, composing, arranging, notating, listening, analyzing and describing music, as well as understanding music in relation to language and culture. We discovered, among other things, that “Shel Silverstein” is a bit of a tongue-twister.

Many, many thanks to Karin Gravina for her help along the way!

–Daphne Bye

Created by Sophie and Mae
The Silverfish

Created by Gaelen and Willa
I Won’t Hatch

Created by Drey and NJ
WARNING

Created by Brody and Ian
The Worst

Created by Giselle and Jayde
Dreadful

Created by Elijah
Jumping Rope

Created by Emilio and Max
Dancing Pants

Created by Noah and Rachel
The Acrobats

Created by Brooke and Alice
True Story

Created by Fernando and Eli
True Story

Created by Noa and Emma
Rain

Created by Jenny and Yacine
Hug o War

Created by Henry
Skinny

Created by Tai
The Acrobats

Created by Emily and Stella
Sky Seasoning

Created by Riley and Gavin
Rudy Felsh

Created by Alana and Olivia
I Won’t Hatch

Created by Arlo and Mateo
Rudy Felsh