Over the Rainbow Lesson Plan

Content & Achievement Standards

Singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

o Sing music representing diverse genres and cultures, with
expression appropriate for the work being performed.
Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied
repertoire of music.
o Perform on at least one instrument accurately and
independently, alone and in small and large ensembles,
with good posture, good playing position, and good breath,
bow, or stick control.
o Perform music representing diverse genres and cultures,
with expression appropriate for the work being performed.
Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
o Describe specific music events in a given aural example,
using appropriate terminology.
o Analyze the uses of elements of music in aural examples
representing diverse genres and cultures.
Evaluating music and music performances.
o Develop criteria for evaluating the quality and
effectiveness of music performances and compositions and
apply the criteria in their personal listening and
performing.
Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
o Describe distinguishing characteristics of representative
music genres and styles from a variety of cultures.

Class Goals and Objectives

Enable students to be able to play basic block chords on ukulele.

Enable students to identify Hawaiian-styled music.

Materials

Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'oles recording of Over the Rainbow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k
Judy Garlands recording of Over the Rainbow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U016JWYUDdQ

Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'oles version of Over the Rainbow Lyric

Dictation Sheets
Exit Ticket sheets

Procedures
1. Students and instructor will discuss what rainbows symbolize.
QUESTION: What do you all think that rainbows symbolize?
QUESTION: What do you think going over a rainbow would
symbolize?
PROMPT: I have a song that I want us to listen to, and it talks
about rainbows. Lets listen.
2. Students will listen to Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'oles version of Over
the Rainbow.
QUESTION: Where do you think that the singer is from?
ANSWER: Hawaii
QUESTION: Lets listen again, and I want you to come up with
a few different things that you hear that make you think that
hes from Hawaii.
3. Students and instructor will discuss aspects of the song that sound
Hawaiian.
ANSWER: the ukulele, his voice sounds Hawaiian, the way the
song jumps between notes, etc.
4. Students will listen to recording again and fill out a lyric dictation
sheet.
PROMPT: Lets listen to this again, and go ahead and flip over
your lyric dictation sheets. Fill in the words as you go.
5. Students will sing along with the recording.
PROMPT: Lets try singing along with the recording now that
you know all of the words.
6. Students will sing a cappella, without the recording.
PROMPT: Now lets try singing without the recording.
7. Students will sing along without the recording, but with the
instructor playing chords on the piano.
QUESTION: What did I do that time while you were singing?
ANSWER: I played certain notes together, called chords.
8. Instructor will model the chords on ukulele.
PROMPT: Now were going to learn to sing and play in Israel
"Iz" Kamakawiwo'oles native style. Go ahead and pick up the
ukulele sitting underneath your desk.
9. Students and instructor will review strumming techniques on
ukulele.

QUESTION: Who can demonstrate a proper strumming

technique?
PROMPT: Lets all do that together (walk around and check).
10. Students will learn C Major, E Minor, F Major, A Minor, and G
Major on ukulele.
PROMPT: Lets learn C Major (demonstrate and go around and
check).
o Ring finger on the 4th string, 3rd fret.
PROMPT: Lets learn F Major (demonstrate and go around and
check).
o Index finger on the 3rd string, 1st fret
o Middle finger on the 1st string, 2nd fret.
PROPMT: Lets learn G major (demonstrate and go around and
check).
o Index finger on the 2nd string, 2nd fret.
o Middle finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret.
o Ring finger on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.
PROMPT: Lets learn E minor (demonstrate and go around and
check).
o Index finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret.
o Middle finger on the 3rd string, 3rd fret.
o Ring finger on the 2nd string, 4th fret.
PROMPT: Lets learn A minor (demonstrate and go around and
check).
o Middle finger on the 1st string, 2nd fret.
11. Students will play the chords in succession.
PROMPT: Lets play those chords in a pattern now.
o CM
o em
o FM
o CM
o FM
o CM
o GM
o am
o FM
o Repeat this pattern as needed until students are
comfortable and can play on their own.
12. Students and instructor will play the chords while singing.
PROMPT: Lets play it while singing this time.
SUGGESTION: If you cant do both, just focus on the chords,
and sing on the sections that you know how to do.
13. Students and instructor will discuss harmony.

QUESTION: Does anybody know the term for what weve been
doing?
SUGGESTION: Weve been singing the melody of Over the
Rainbow so what do you think the chords would be called?
ANSWER: Harmony.
DEFINITION: Harmony is simultaneously sounded notes that
create chords and chord progressions that sound musically
good together.
14. Students and instructor will perform the harmony on ukulele
while singing the melody.
PROMPT: Lets sing the melody and play the harmony all
together.
15. Students will listen to the Judy Garland version of Over the
Rainbow and evaluate the music to identify what part has the
harmony.
QUESTION: Do the instruments or the singer have the
melody?
o ANSWER: the singer.
QUESTION: Can anyone identify what kinds of instruments are
playing the harmony?
o ANSWER: harp, strings, bells
16. Students will review harmony.
PROMPT: Go ahead and work on your exit ticket to drop off to
me before you leave today.

Assessment of Goals & Objectives

Assessment will informal during the lesson, done through question and
answer activities by having students pertaining to melody and
harmony, as well as while the instructor walks around and monitors
activities. Assessment will also be formal at the end of the lesson
through the form of an Exit Ticket.

Follow Up Lessons
Future lessons will go more in depth on Hawaiian cultural music as well
as other cultures instruments. Using those new instruments, students
will explore different uses of harmonies in other cultures of music.