George Gershwin 
A WebQuest for 4th & 5th Grade (music)

Designed by

Gale Hill
Fierke School - District 146
 
 

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page

Introduction

 Pretend that you are George Gershwin.  You love to compose music.   You know that your new song will be a great hit.   If only it can be heard by a large group of people.
      Your brother just came by to tell you about a concert next week.  It is written in the paper that you will perform a great new song for this concert .  Here is that opportunity that you have been waiting for.

Learners

This lesson is designed for fourth and/or fifth grader.  Our fifth graders are studing "The Roaring Twenties".  So this web quest, will enforce their social studies curriculum.
 

Curriculum Standards
 
26.A.3c Music: Describe the processes involved in composing, conducting and performing.
26.B.1c Music: Sing or play on classroom instruments a variety of music representing diverse cultures and styles.
27.B.2 Identify and describe how the arts communicate the similarities and differences among various people, places and times.

Process

1. First you will need to research Gershwin's life.  Start by looking at the web sites in the resource section.  After you have gathered the information, write a paragraph on Gershwin's  life.

Be sure that:

• your sentences begin with a capital letter.
• your sentences use the correct end marks.
• you have at least ten sentences in your paragraph.
• you have included facts about Gershwin life.
• you have included facts about Gershwin music.

When you are finished with your rough draft, meet with your teacher for final editing.

2. Next listen to the song "I Got Rhythm".  This can be found in the resource section.

3.  Sing the song  in music class, using the music books.

4.  During music class, practice changing lyrics to songs with your teacher.

5. Next, write you new lyrics to the song "I Got Rhythm".  The lyrics may be found in the resource section.

Be sure that:

• you have a topic for your new lyrics
• the words match to the rhythm of the song

When you are finished with your rough draft, meet with your teacher for final editing.

Resources Needed

Music Books
Internet Sites

Evaluation

Your song and paragraph about Gershwin will be collected and graded as follows:

Song:  It should be neat, easy to follow, and go with the rhythmic beat of the music.  It should make sense.  Did you pick one topic for your song and stick to it?

Paragraph about Gershwin:  It should be neat, easy to understand, and listing the important events in Gershwin's life.  It will need to be at least ten sentences long.  Make sure you use correct punctuation and capitalization.

Conclusion

Congratulations!  You have created your own lyrics to a song by Gershwin.  You have learned about Gershwin's life and listened to some of his music using the internet.  Well done!

Credits & References

 Sources for images http://www.intcon.net/~songbird/graphics-1.html#Backgrounds