NYC interactive subway

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Editor’s Note: This is a lesson plan created by Nathan via an experimental feature on this website. It has been minimally edited by Devin Ulibarri. You may test the feature yourself, and submit your own lesson plans here: https://musicblocks.net/create-a-lesson-plan/

NYC interactive subway and swing jazz

Age:

8-10

Number of students:

Up to 10.

Rationale:

Students will learn the basics of the ‘on event do’ block, the basics of the phrase maker, and the ‘switch/case/default’ block, as well as what the swing rhythm is in jazz.

Objectives:

Students will understand how the ‘on event do’ block triggers the switches when clicked on. In addition, make their own jazzy melody for the background music of the game with the phrase maker, allowing them to understand how the phrase maker works. Students will explore how to ‘switch/case/default’ block change the direction of the switch. Finally, they will understand how swing rhythm works and understand the ‘swing feel’.

Lesson

Review:

Start with a review of how the Phrase Maker works, reading pitches, higher and lower, over time on a grid.

Introduction:

Begin by introducing the game. Introduce the concept of the game (going from one station to another) and hand out the computers.

Part 1: Playing the game

1. Repeat instructions

2. Have them start playing, tell them to listen to the music while they play.

3. Let them have fun for about fifteen minutes!

This is what the game looks like when you run it.

Break

Part 2: Exploring the Code

A. ‘On Event Do’ block

1. Find block in start block. Ask students on their prediction on its function

2. Explain the function: when the mouse is clicked on (the event), the action will initiate.

B. Switch/case/default blocks

1. From the on event do block, find the corresponding action.

2. Explain function of switch/case default, and how it applies here (it makes the switches switch based on the box number.

Find “on event do”
Find the corresponding switch icon within the interface (after you run your code.
Observe the result of clicking the switch.

C. Phrase maker

1. Have students open pitch maker and create their own melody.

Click on the Phrase Maker to initiate it.

2. Follow instructions in the comment, which says “put the exported action block into ‘swing’ block (inside start block named ‘melody’). You can choose to keep the existing ‘jazzy licks’ block or delete it”.

This is what the Phrase Maker looks like when you first open it.
This is an example of a complete melody within the Phrase Maker.
This is the part of the code where you insert your new action block.

D. Explain ‘the swing feel’

1. Explain swing feel by listening to examples of music.

2. Write out in notation on whiteboard.

Assessment:

1. Observe participation in playing the game.
2. Did the students understand the ‘on event do’ and ‘switch/case/default’ blocks?

Resources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_music

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington

3. “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” by Duke Ellington: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg

Project Link: https://musicblocks.sugarlabs.org/index.html?id=1722888432280992&run=True