MUSIC IN THE

MOVIES UNIT
Elise Hackl

Music in the Movies

This unit is designed for junior high students
(6-8) in the ACES program- students with
emotional disorders, social/communication
disorders, anxiety disorders, and behavior
challenges.
This unit will take place over 3 weeks.

National Core Arts Standards

National Core Arts Anchor Standard #2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and
work
National Core Arts Anchor Standard #3: Refine and complete artistic work
National Core Arts Anchor Standard #6: Convey meaning through the presentation
of artistic work
National Core Arts Anchor Standard #9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work
National Core Arts Anchor Standard #11: Relate artistic ideas and works with
societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding

Unit Objectives
Given a multiple-choice assessment, the learners will identify the correct composer
for 4 of 5 questions (80% accuracy).
Given treble clef staff paper and writing utensils, the learners will create an 8-beat
motif using quarter and/or eighth notes with 7 of 8 beats accurately written.
Given an 8-beat motif written in treble clef, the learners will play 7 of 8 beats
correctly on an instrument of their choosing in 2 of 3 trials.

GAGNES EVENTS
OF INSTRUCTION
Music in the Movies Unit Plan

Gagnes Events of Instruction

1. Gain Attention

Each day, an attention grabber is

used to ensure students are engaged.
Jaws theme opening
Beethovens 5th Symphony
Star Wars Theme
20th Century Fox Movie Reel

2. Inform Learners of Objectives

Students will review objectives

through slides at beginning of class
Objectives are listed on student
handout
Behavior objectives hung around
room and in PBIS Matrix/Point Sheets

Gagnes Events of Instruction

3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning

Each day includes a review for prior

knowledge
Formative assessments- intro slips

4. Present the Content

New content is presented daily

through multiple formats
Stations
Partner Work

Gagnes Events of Instruction

5. Provide Learning Guidance

6. Elicit Performance

Stations
Pair/Share

Students practice

Teacher Feedback through simulation

Practice through stations

Teacher Monitoring

Practice for performance

Gagnes Events of Instruction

7. Provide Feedback

8. Assess Performance

Partner Work
Simulation Feedback

Pair/Share

Teacher Monitoring Stations

Partner Performance

Pair/Share

Quiz/Station Formative Assessments

Gagnes Events of Instruction

9. Enhance Retention, Transfer to the
Job

Final Performance
Exit Slips

THE UNIT

Smartboard/Projector
Slides guide class throughout unit, beginning and end of class as whole class work
through unit slides

Attention-Grabber
Expectations
Elements, Venn Diagram
Exit Slip Instructions

Day 1:
Introduction:
Beethovens 5th symphony plays as students enter room (1. Gain attention)
Review objectives for the day (2. Inform students of objectives)
Fill in movie elements slide (3. Stimulate recall of prior learning)
Core Activities:
Elements of a movie discussion/slide (4. Present the content)
Imagine the element slide (5. Provide learning guidance)
Wrap-Up:
Snowball Paper Review (6. Elicit Performance, 7. Provide Feedback)
Draw the element exit slip (7. Provide feedback, 8. Assess Performance)

Unit Schedule- Intro Handout

Online link
for
all
students to
access

Daily schedule, overall unit schedule

Transitioning students
Missing students
Students with anxiety

SNOWBALL exit slip examples

Day 2:
Introduction:
Happy Pharrell Williams Minion Movie playing as students enter (1. Gain attention)
Review objectives for the day (2. Inform students of objectives)
Review elements of a movie on Smartboard page (3. Stimulate recall of prior learning)
Core Activities: Stations (4. Present the Content, 5. Provide Learning Guidance, 6. Elicit Performance, 7. Provide Feedback)
Station 1: Listening Activity
-Students will listen to 10 different movie themes and decide which element they would best fit under. Students will organize
this information into a Google doc, which can then be shared with the teacher (and used later for peer pair and share).
Station 2: Composer Website
-Students will work their way through the website of a composer of their choosing. When finished, students will create a fake
facebook page (written) and blog post (online) that the composer may have written if they were alive at this time.
Station 3: 4 Beat Motif Simulation
-Students will create their own 4 beat motif using the 4 beat motif simulation, and turn their final product in to the teacher.
(All stations serve as formative assessment)
Wrap-Up:
Review objectives, 3 fun facts, preview objectives for tomorrow.
Exit Slip: What are 3 composer facts you remember from today? How did you learn best today?
(form. ast.)

Composers Website: www.musicinthemovies.weebly.com

Sample Page from Website

Sample Motif Simulation

Motif Simulation Samples

Step Options

Examples for each Option

Positive Feedback:
Without me having to do it!

Day 3:
Introduction
Harry Potter Theme plays along with Harry Potter slideshow (1. Gain attention)
Review of Objectives and Expectations (2. Inform students of objectives)
Core Activities (3. Stimulate recall, 4. Present the content, 5. Provide learning guidance, 6. Elicit performance,
7. Provide feedback)
Individual: Students work in groups of 2-3 and respond to blog posts/ facebook pages created by other students.
Pair/Share: Students work in pairs to fill in Google doc Venn diagram with similarities and differences from
listening activity. Students must respond with possible reasons of any differences.
Practice: Students will practice playing their 4-beat motif on 3 instruments of their choice.
Wrap-Up
Perform: Students will choose one instrument and present their 4-beat motif to a peer. (8. Assess performance)
Review: Students will review concepts learned, movie elements, and components of scoring a motif. (9.
Enhance retention)
Exit Slip: Which activity was your favorite? Why? Where do you envision your 4-beat motif fitting in a movie?
Why?

Blog Comments:
-easy
-low stress
-multiple choices
-can respond to
others
Located on the
composers website.

Day 4:
Introduction:
Jaws Theme Playing Upon Entering (1. Gain Attention)
Review objectives for the day (2. Inform students of objectives)
Core Activities:
Music in the Movies Quiz (3. Stimulate Recall, 4. Present the Content, 5. Provide Learning Guidance)
Wrap-Up:
Perform: Students will choose a second instrument and present their 4-beat motif to a peer.
Together, the pair will combine the two 4-beat motifs to create an 8- bear motif on two instruments.
(5. Provide Learning Guidance, 6. Elicit Performance, 7. Provide Feedback, 8. Assess performance)
Review: Students will practice the 8 beat motif, test instruments, and determine the element in
which their motif fits. (9. Enhance retention)
Exit Slip: Which instruments works best with your motif? Why? Where do you envision your 8-beat
motif fitting in a movie? Why?

Day 5:
Introduction:
20th Century Fox Theme Playing Upon Entering (1. Gain Attention)
Review objectives for the day (2. Inform students of objectives)
Core Activities/Wrap-Up:
Perform: Student pairs will present their 8-beat motif to the class. (8. Assess
performance)
Review: Students will review concepts learned, movie elements, and components of
scoring a motif. (9. Enhance retention)
Exit Slip: Which activity was your favorite? Why? How did you learn best in this
unit? Why?

OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS

Differentiation
Multiple versions of every handout
Stations use multiple learning styles
Students can go through process in their
own way

SAMR
Substitution:
Smartboard (read as a class, fill in worksheets online, post online)

Augmentation:
Interactive Stations (follow own speed, access everything online, follow simulations)

Modification:
Same tasks- partially online
Receive same feedback in different ways

Formative Assessment
Daily assessments through:
Exit Slips
Stations
Music Quiz
Partner Work

Exit slips:
Students check-in
Last slip:
How did you learn best?
Favorite part?

Summative Assessment
Final Performance
Aligns with NAfME Anchor Standards
Perform and Connect
Categories

THE END!