Tall Shops Ostinato

The Silk Road Project
GRADE LEVEL: 4
EXPECTATIONS: • (OE) identify … music from various cultures
• (OE) communicate their response to music in ways appropriate for this grade
(e.g., through…language).
• (CT) Express their response to music from a variety of cultures and historical
periods
• (CT) Communicate their thoughts and feelings about the music they hear,
using language…
• (CT) Explain, using appropriate musical terminology, their preference for
specific …pieces of music
• (CT) Explain the effects of different musical choices
TEACHING
PROCESS:
GENRE AND
PURPOSE FOR
WRITING
ASSESSMENT
from
• This activity requires the following resources: [CD] Silk Road Journeys:
When Strangers Meet. (Yo Yo Ma), and Silk Road Encounters (The Silkroad
Project Teachers’ Guide, Sourcebook and audio clips downloaded from
http://www.silkroadproject.org/silkroad/index.html ), map of Asia
Repeat this process several times on different days:
• Play a Silk Road Selection. Using the template page provided, students
predict what kinds of instruments they are listening to and where the music
might be from.
• From resources above provide pictures and names of instruments. Post.
• Find the location associated with the particular piece of music, and locate on
the map. Read about these places in the Silk Road resources.
• Students complete their Listening Log pages, checking their predictions
against the facts they have learned.
• Additional activities and information are available in the Silk Road teacher’s
guide and source book.
Report and personal essay.
Create a rubric that considers a number of criteria: accuracy of the prediction
(e.g., providing a musically sensible prediction based on careful listening),
research skills, thoughtfulness of reflection and appropriate use of musical
terminology.
CONSIDERATIONS:
This activity is a generic one which can be adapted for many kinds of listening
experiences requiring students to listen for specific kinds of musical content
(instruments, form, style, etc.), and to come up with some kind of personal
response.
The Silk Road Project was selected to link with the study of Marco Polo in the
grade 4 medieval unit.
©C West 2009 Music Lesson Incorporating Non-Fiction Writing DRAFT ONLY