1 Read the words of the Plastics Poem.

Read the words of the Plastics Poem.

Think of things that you could do to help reduce plastic pollution.

For example: I could use cloth shopping bags

Write 2-5 new lines. You can use the worksheet that's provided, or write on a piece of paper.

Read the lines you’ve written and choose the 2 (or 4) you like the best.

Decide on a form for your composition. For example:
A Read the poem
B Read your new lines
A Read the poem again

Extra Challenge: Create an ostinato with mouth sounds. An ostinato is a pattern that repeats.

For example: tu ch-ch tu ch
ta ti-ti ta ta

Do the mouth sounds while someone else in your home reads the poem. Incorporate this into your performance.

2 Read the Words of the song, "Show you Care."

Read the Words of the song, "Show you Care."

Think about the song's meaning.

What is the song about?

3 Listen to Verse One of the song, "Show you Care."

Listen to Verse One of the song, "Show you Care."

Play the song again, and sing part one with the recording.

If you have other singers in the house, invite them to sing with you.

Have some singers sing part one, and some sing part 2.

4 Listen to James Taylor sing, "The Water is Wide."

The song, "Show you Care" uses the melody of a traditional folk song, "The Water is Wide."

Listen to the James Taylor recording of "The Water is Wide." Sing along with James Taylor.

The water is wide, I can't cross over, and neither have I wings to fly.
Build me a boat that can carry two and both shall row, my love and I.

There is a ship and she sails the sea. She's loaded deep, as deep can be.
But not so deep as the love I'm in, I know not how I sink or swim.

Oh love is handsome and love is fine, the sweetest flower when first it's new.
But love grows old and waxes cold and fades away like Summer dew.

Build me a boat that can carry two and both shall row, my love and I,
And both shall row, my love and I.

5 Listen to a Choral Arrangement of "The Water is Wide."

Listen to a Choral Arrangement of "The Water is Wide."

How is this similar to the James Taylor version?

How is this performance different?

6 Compare the performances

Listen to three performances of the song, “The Water is Wide.”

Compare the performances.

If you have a printer at home, complete the worksheet, "Compare the Performances."

If you don't have a printer, write your comparison on a piece of paper.

7 Which Performance did you Like the Best?

Which Performance did you Like the Best?

Write 3-4 sentences telling which performance you liked the best, and why.

Use musical terms in your answer.

8 Optional Assessment

Assessment may not be required for your school or district.

Your teacher may ask you to email one of the suggested assessments.

For this lesson, your teacher may ask you to send the worksheets.

9 Music Is Literacy

A note to parents, teachers, principals and admin.

Music education is important for all learners.

For more details copy and paste these links into your browser

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2013/09/the-importance-of-keeping-the-beat/

Https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1656&context=stu_hon_theses

https://www.luther.edu/oneota-reading-journal/archive/2012/learning-literacy-through-music/

Https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/663701/SA-DECS-Fluency-doc.pdf