6th Grade General Music Completes "Scary Movies" Integrated Unit

6th grade students from Mr. Greene's 3rd period general music class completed their 'Scary Movies' project last month. The projects are the culminating works from an integrated unit involving language arts and communication skills, technology, visual arts, and music composition and performance. Watch the three films below, then read the unit overview at the bottom of this post.

TALENT SHOW TERROR

This text will be replaced

I'M BACK!

This text will be replaced

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

This text will be replaced

Scary Movies UNIT OVERVIEW
Working in small groups, students will create short scary films following a specific sequence of activities:

1. Write a short story with a scary theme
2. Record (read) the stories with a digital audio recorder creating a wav file that will be used as a narration
 track in the finished product - read stories with expression appropriate for the theme
3. Compose and record an original musical score for the film using keyboards, drums, percussion, and
 non-traditional sound sources - experiment with specific musical elements: ostinato, form, dissonance, tonality,
 polyrhythm, dynamics, texture
4. Film the movie in the classroom experimenting with lighting and perspective - considering editing
 possibilities throughout the filming process
5. Photograph images for use in the film - characters, scenes, etc.
6. Edit the film on the computer using video editing software - add all components: narration, music, and footage

EXTENSION: Create a movie poster to promote the film (connection to visual arts) - Students will analyze vintage horror movie posters (e.g. Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein) and develop ideas for their own film posters.

Students will make creative decisions regarding film style, musical score, and the overall look and feel of the film (visual and audio effects); Students will work cooperatively with each other and have opportunities to contribute their personal strengths - writing, speaking, designing, acting, filming, working with computers/software.