Lesson 1
Location: The Quinnipiack
Initiation: Students engage in working tasks aboard the Quinnipiack. As they pull rope, they yell with each pull.
Background: Once the students finish their task on the boat, I will provide them with background information on the origins of the shanty. Of course, there may be students that can explain the origins to the class themselves. In addition, I share with the students that they will be writing their own shanty at the conclusion of the lesson.
Guided Practice: I pass out a copy of "A Rovin'" to each of the students. We read the shanty aloud a couple of times. If the class is adventurous we can sing the song. As we read, we note the rhyming structure and rhythm of the song.
Individual Practice: Students are asked, "How does the sea speak to you?" As we sit on the boat students spend ten minutes silently listening to their environment. After the ten minutes, the students write down their responses to the question. They are not limited to the sounds they hear at that time, but it is up to them what they choose to write.
Closure: Students share their responses to the question and reiterate the elements of the shanty.
Homework: Students begin writing a draft of their own shanty.
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