Selected Poems of Joy Harjo - Music Center

Model Lesson Six – Theatre: Choral Reading of the Found Poem
Grades 2 – 5
Materials: Still camera, video camera, dictionary, chart paper and markers, Teacher & Student Assessment Portfolios.
Enduring Understanding for Unit: As we explore our connection to Nature and to other people, we can gain understanding of our shared values and universal human
heritage.
Essential Questions Related to Lesson and Unit: What are the advantages of choral reading?
Big Idea for Lesson: Words have power when spoken as one voice by an ensemble.
SUMMARY
Lesson Six Outcomes Creative Task & Criteria Assessment Strategies
Students will be able to:
Perform choral reading, speaking with
expression(AP, CE)
Teacher will:
Teach the lesson effectively.
Assess student learning outcomes.
Document, collect and label the evidence of
student learning from this lesson.
Assessing Prior Knowledge
What does “projecting your voice” mean?
What is Choral Reading?
What is “reading with expression?”
CREATE & PERFORM – Becoming an Expert
Task: Students perform the Walk/Freeze, incorporating
qualities of the poem with expressive Choral Reading.
Criteria
Students will be able to:
Use movements that reflect the qualities of the poem.
Look at the focus point when freezing and speaking.
Speak as “one voice.”
Accent the chosen single syllable to communicate
intended meaning.
Clearly articulate the words.
Speak with a dynamic range.
Music Center Anchor Work Model Curriculum Unit: Selected Poems of Joy Harjo.
©2011 Music Center: Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. All Rights Reserved.
Teacher:
Notes how the class progresses from imprecise Choral
Reading to “sounding as if one voice is speaking.”
Takes photographs or video (to record sound) to
document first Choral Reading to listen to and critique in
relation to criteria. Labels with student task/outcomes.
Identifies elements that should be re-taught and/or
included in review.
Uses rubric for Model Lesson Six at the end of the lesson
to assess student learning outcomes.
Student Prompts & Questions:
Describe how you felt when you spoke the Found Poem
in unison.
Describe how it felt to walk using the qualities of the
poem.
Enduring Understanding:
Choral reading has long been a part of every culture.
What are examples of Choral Reading today?
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