Objective:
Students will be able identify the fundamentals of Transcendentalism in today's music.
Items needed:
A few excerpts from Thoreau: "Intro to Walden" and "Civil Disobedience"
A few excerpts from Emerson: "Self-Reliance" and "Nature"
Dierks Bentley's "Free And Easy Down the Road I Go"
Paper, pencil
Lesson Plan:
Day 1: Read intro to Emerson and Thoreau. Read Emerson excerpts and have them answer questions on handouts.
Day 2: Continue excerpts with Thoreau, and answer questions on handout. Discuss the ideas of Trans. throughout, and have students share what they agree and disagree with. Ask them where they see some of these ideas today. Share "Free and Easy Down the Road I Go." As they listen, have them write down how this song exemplifies the philosophy of Trans. Discuss. Explain that they will be sharing a song, as well as typed-up lyrics, in class next time that do the same. They will only need to share the part of the song that they feel best exemplifies the idea.
Day 3: Students share their songs and their lyrics. Students discuss after each song as to whether or not they agree that the song does, indeed, apply to Trans.
Conclusion: Students can independently identify Trans. philosophy in literature and music. Added bonus: they better understand the views of Transcendentalists and realize that they perhaps have something in common with "crazy" Thoreau and Emerson.
Sometimes I wish that I had pursued teaching secondary because one can really get into a subject much deeper than in elementary school. The unit is sound, in my opinion. I do something like this with students. I allow them to bring a song of their choice, with a copy of the lyrics, and play it for the class. I allow other students time to think and offer comments about the song/lyric. Then we discuss what the actual meaning could be. Many times, we listen to things that have messages that are degrading, and the message is often masked behind the blare of the music. Then, I give them time to rewrite the lyric, using some other object for the expression in the song. It is eye-opening and fun. The kids don't know, really, even though I tell them, the kinds of influence music can have on them. Then we listen, read the lyrics, talk about meanings and their feelings, and the possibility of rewriting the lyrics. I believe in character education and use this every year as part of that ongoing process. Thanks again for the unit idea. Hope it worked for you.
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