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Looking to use Middle School Lesson 32 in your Middle School classroom?

While teaching this learning module you will cover multiple concepts including: Beat, Timbre of Band Instruments

You'll also cover the themes of: Composers, Our Musical World, North America, Central America, 1900s

Middle School Lesson 32

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Introduction

In this lesson, you will:

  1. Learn about Cinco de Mayo
  2. Learn about “La Bamba”
  3. Watch a performance of “La Bamba”
  4. Learn about Ritchie Valens
  5. Watch a biography of Ritchie Valens
  6. Watch a dance to “La Bamba”
  7. Read the translation for “La Bamba”
  8. Teach “La Bamba”
  9. Teach the bucket or Desk Drum patterns for “La Bamba”
  10. Play bucket or desk with “La Bamba”
  11. Read about “Los Machetes”
  12. Read some fun facts about Mexico
  13. Learn the dance steps for “Los Machetes”
  14. Dance “Los Machetes”
  15. Watch a performance of “Los Machetes” on AGT
  16. Watch another performance of “Los Machetes”

Extensions:

May the 4th is “Star Wars Day”
There is a module in Learning Modules – General for classes with 1:1 devices to work in Chrome Music Lab creating the Star Wars themes.  If you have devices you could opt for this lesson instead of lesson 32.

Musicplay is a menu. The teacher is not expected to teach every song or activity. Choose the songs and activities from the list that will best fit your schedule and the needs of your students.

Objectives

  • I can sing and move to music.
  • I can read and perform rhythms.
  • I can perform a traditional dance.

Learn about Cinco de Mayo

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Read about Cinco de Mayo.

Learn about “La Bamba”

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Song Used: La bamba

Read the slides.

Watch a performance of “La Bamba”

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Song Used: La bamba

This video is from the movie La Bamba that was made about Ritchie Valens, starring Lou Diamond Phillips.
This is a YouTube link.

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Learn about Ritchie Valens

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Song Used: La bamba

Read the slide.

Watch a biography of Ritchie Valens

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Song Used: La bamba

This is a YouTube link.

If the link doesn't work, search the internet for "Ritchie Valens - Mexican-American Singer & Songwriter | Mini Bio| BIO".

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Watch a dance to “La Bamba”

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Song Used: La bamba

This is a YouTube link.

If the link doesn't work, search internet for "Mexico - Veracruz - La Bamba".

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Read the translation for “La Bamba”

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Teach “La Bamba”

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Song Used: La bamba

Play the video, pausing after each phrase to echo.

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Teach the bucket or Desk Drum patterns for “La Bamba”

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Instrument Song Used: La Bamba

Practice the patterns shown.

You can play this on a desk with 2 sticks, or on bucket drums.

Play bucket or desk with “La Bamba”

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Instrument Song Used: La Bamba

Play the entire song.

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Read about “Los Machetes”

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Unit Used: Grades 5 and Middle School Dances

Read about "Los Machetes".

This is a dance from Mexico that we can learn for Cinco de Mayo!

Give each student a pair of rhythm sticks.

Read some fun facts about Mexico

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Read together.

Learn the dance steps for “Los Machetes”

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Unit Used: Grades 5 and Middle School Dances

Read and try the dance steps.

Dance "Los Machetes"

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Unit Used: Grades 5 and Middle School Dances

Copy the movements on the video with the students.

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Watch a performance of "Los Machetes" on AGT

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Unit Used: Grades 5 and Middle School Dances

This is a YouTube link.

If the link doesn't work, search internet for "Los Machetes America's Got Talent".

Video not working? Try a different video source.

Watch another performance of "Los Machetes"

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Unit Used: Grades 5 and Middle School Dances

This is another YouTube link.

This one features an adult dance performance with real machetes.

If the link doesn't work, search internet for "Machetes Dance".

Video not working? Try a different video source.
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