Appalachian Music Module
Summary of Units and
Materials
Lesson
Media/Games/Resources
1. Introduction - A Sense of Place
Objectives:
1. Students will identify descriptive details and
explain their importance in capturing a reader's
interest.
2. Students will identify similes and use them in
their own poetry writing.
3. Students will demonstrate their understanding
of “sense of place” by identifying examples that
are read aloud to them as well as by writing their
own poems about the topic.
a. Sense of Place (Lesson Plan)
b. Where I'm From poem
c. Where I Came From (Worksheet)
d. Final Poem Template
e. Family Memories Checklist
2. Early History of Appalachia
Objectives:
1. The student will be able to name and identify
on a map the mountain ranges of the
Appalachian region
2. The student will be able to list at least three
characteristics of the earliest native residents of
the region
3. The student will identify the countries of
origin, the characteristics of the people and
several reasons first settlers came to the
Appalachians
a. Early Appalachian History (Lesson Plan)
b. Early History Listening Guide
c. Early History Listening Guide Key
d. Knew, Know, Wonder (Worksheet)
3A. Roots of Music in Everyday Life Pt. 1
Objectives:
1. Students will identify their family musical
roots.
2. Students will identify where music happens in
their lives
a. Roots of Music in Everyday Life
Pt. 1(Lesson Plan)
b. Musical Heritage Discussion Guide
c. Tree Organizer
3B. Roots of Music in Everyday Life Pt. 2
Objectives:
Song Lyrics
World Map (not provided)
Media:
(1) Book: All the Places to Love
Patricia MacLachlan
Homework:
What Are My Family's Musical Roots?
(Worksheet)
Media:
(1) DVD - The Appalachians (excerpts on
AMM Resource DVD)
(2) Book: Mist Over the Mountains:
Appalachia and Its People, Raymond Bial
Media:
(1) MP3 - "Skip To My Lou (On AMM
Resource CD)
1. Students will describe how music is
transmitted in the oral tradition
Homework:
Family Memories Checklist
Media:
(1) MP3 of Songs for "sing along" (On
AMM Resource CD)
(2) Links to YouTube for historic versions
of songs
(On AMM Resource CD)
4. Earliest Mountain Music
Objectives
1. Students will identify ways in which music
was important to early Appalachian settlers.
2. Students will define „ballad‟ and identify
typical subject matter.
3. Students will examine ballads written about
events in Virginia.
a. Earliest Mountain Music (Lesson Plan)
b. Earliest Mountain Music Listening
Guide
c. Earliest Mountain Music Listening Guide
Key
d. Characteristics of a Ballad
e. Ballad Organizer
f. Train Organizer
g. Wreck of Old 97 Lyrics
h. Wreck of Old 97 Newspaper Clipping
Media:
(1) DVD- The Appalachians
(Excerpts on AMM Resource DVD)
(2) PowerPoint Movie andMP3 Wreck of
the Old 97
(On AMM Resource CD)
5. Write a Ballad
Objectives
1. Students will differentiate between the verse
and chorus of a song.
2. Students will identify and label rhyme
scheme.
3. Students will determine the
meter by tapping out syllables.
4. Students will use song parts, rhythm and
rhyme to develop their story in a song form.
a. Write a Ballad (Lesson Plan)
b. Tom Dula Lyrics/ Rhyming Chart
c. Story Map
d. Hear the Beats
e. Supplemental Notes on Ballads
6A. Music in Churches Pt. 1
Objectives:
1. Students will describe early religion in
Appalachians
2. Students will describe various musical styles
of early Appalachian churches
3. Students will engage in 'call and response'
singing
a. Music in Churches (Lesson Plan)
b. Music in Churches Listening Guide
c. Music in Churches Listening Guide Key
Media
(1) DVD- The Appalachians
(Excerpts on AMM Resource DVD)
6B. Music in Churches Pt. 2
Objectives
1. Students will identify by name and symbol
the shapes used in "shape note singing".
2. Students will sing "Yankee Doodle" in shape
notes
“Shape Note Singing Lesson,”Smithsonian
in Your Classroom
(available as free download)
7A. Evolution of Appalachian Musical Styles
Pt. 1
Objectives:
1. Students will identify the key influences in
the evolution of Appalachian music.
2. Students will chart the evolution of
Appalachian music.
a. Evolution of Musical styles Pt. 1
(Lesson Plan)
b. Notes on Evolution of Appalachian
Music
c. Relevant YouTube Resource List
d. Graphic Organizer for PowerPoint
Media:
(1) DVD - Discover Bluegrass Part 1
(Roots of Bluegrass)
(2) PowerPoint - Origins of Appalachian
Music (On AMM Resource CD)
(3) MP3s of tunes in evolving styles (on
AMM Resource CD)
(4) DVD - John Henry
7B. Evolution of Appalachian Music Pt. 2
Impact of Technology
Objectives:
1. Students will describe the influence of radio
and phonograph on the development of
Appalachian music and its transmission to the
world.
a. Impact of Technology (Lesson Plan)
b. Listening Guide—Impact of Technology
c. Listening Guide—Impact of Technology
Key
d. Instructions for making Poof Book
8. Current Appalachian Musical Styles
Objectives:
1. Students will recognize and name styles of
music with roots in Appalachia.
2. Students will compare and contrast the
various styles of music.
3. Students will relate music of today with the
various musical styles.
a. Current Appalachian Musical Styles
(Lesson Plan)
b. Copies of Music Styles
Notes
c. Jigsaw Template
d. Music Style Organizer
e. Jigsaw Organizer
f. Music Bee
g. Index to YouTube videos of Sample
Songs
DVD - The Appalachians (Excerpts on
AMM Resource DVD)
Media:
Links to YouTube videos of Sample songs
(On AMM Resource CD)
9. Instruments in Appalachian Music
Objectives:
1. Students will
recognize and name common Appalachian folk
instruments.
2. Students will identify country of origin of
common folk instruments.
3. Students will describe common ways in
which instruments are played.
a. Instruments in Traditional Music (Lesson
Plan)
b. Guided Notes Musical Instruments
c. Guided Notes Musical Instruments Key
d. Musical Instruments Crossword Puzzle
e. Musical Instruments Word Search
f. Musical Instruments Word Search Key
g. Musical Instruments Bingo
h. Instrument Diagrams
Media:
(1) DVD - Discover Bluegrass
(2) MP3s of Instrument samples (for bingo)
(On AMM Resource CD)
10. Bringing It Home
Objectives:
1. Students will be able to identify their county
on a map that also shows the state and
Appalachian region.
2. Students will identify important musicians
(current and past) in the general Appalachian
region.3. Students will recognize important
musicians and define musical styles in their
immediate region or county.
a. Bringing It Home (Lesson Plan)
b. Doc Watson Resume Card
c. Resume Card Template
d. Musicians of Note - Resources for
Further Information
e. Questions for Traditional Musicians
11. Homemade Instruments
Objectives
1.Students will construct simple stringed
instruments from common household items.
2.Students will demonstrate rhythm patterns by
playing instruments.
a. Resource list of web sites and DVDs
Additional Resources
AMM Resource DVD Index
AMM Resource CD Index
Glossary of Terms
Related Bibliographic Resources
Lesson Plan Evaluation Forms
Summary of Learning Standards Addressed
JAM, Inc, PO Box 44, Independence, VA 24348 (276) 773-0573 www.regionaljam.org