This document describes a lesson plan that combines math and music for 6th-8th grade students. The lesson asks students to solve algebraic equations to decode the notes of a mystery song. Students will work in groups to solve the equations, notate the song on sheet music, and research the composer. The goal is for students to use math skills like solving equations and graphing to understand how music can be represented algebraically.

1. What is that Song? Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] A WebQuest for 6 th -8 th Graders Math and Music Designed by Joshua Shugg [email_address] Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

2. Introduction: Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] The relationship between Music and Math has been under research for many years, dating back to 5th century BC with Pythagoras. As many may say, there is a strong connection in the brain due to the same sort of spatial reasoning and problem solving found in both math and music. Now that you have a little background on the subject, lets see if we can put aside your fears of having to write yet another research paper. Today we are going to get down and dirty with music. We will be listening to music, creating music, and doing some math along the way.

3. The Task: Student Page Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] Title You are going to try and decode a song in which you are only given an algebraic representation of the notes. This song was written many years ago by a world renown musician, but when the song was transposed it was put into mathematical equations! WE NEED YOUR HELP to decode the song from mathematical numbers to musical notes. You will recreate the song, listen to your creation, and check to see if this was a correct match. Finding the song seems like a hard task at first, but you will soon find its not as challenging as you think. Basically you are about to become an expert in the algebraic area of music representation.

4. The Process: Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] You will be assigned groups of three. Each person will be required to do an equal amount of the required math work. This includes solving equations, notating the song, and doing the presentation on the composer. These are the equations for the mystery song: y = x +2 {x=1} The first note y = x +1 {x=2, 3, 4} The second, third, and fourth note y = - (x)+10 {x=5,6,7,8,9} Notes 5,6,7,8,9 y= x-9 {x=10,11,12} Notes 10,11, 12 y = - (x)+16 {x=13,14} Notes 13, 14 y = x-13 {x=15,16} Notes 15, 16 y = x-14 {x=17, 18, 19} Notes 17, 18, 19 Solve the equations for the given set of x's listed. (The set notation designates which values for "x" should be used with each equation. Split the work up evenly amongst the group. Use a T-Chart to show and organize work. This allows you to list the points as (x,y). These points are the first 19 notes of the mystery song. Hint: For the first equation, y=x+2 for the set x=1; y=3. The x values tell us where the note is in the song, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, . . . For x=19 this is the 19th note in the song. The y values tell us what eh actual note is: c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c, etc. Change the numbers for y into the letters for notes using the model that middle C is the number 1, and there are no flats or sharps. See below: Now you will find out about the song's rhythm. Notes have values so we know how many seconds long they are. These values are called whole, half, quarter, or eighth. The mystery song is in 4/4 time. The first 13 notes are quarter notes. The 14th note is an eighth note and the 15th is a half note. The remaining notes you need to solve are quarter notes. Since I have given you all the note values, your job is to write out this melody that you come up with on manuscript paper. But first, you will build a spreadsheet in excel. It should look something like this: After you have finished the chart, you are then going to hand write on manuscript paper what you have come up with. Submit that to the teacher. You will then copy what you wrote into finale. Once you know who the composer is of this song, you will then give a small 3-5 min. presentation in class about the composer using Power Point! Lets make music!! C B A G F E D C notes 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 y The second note is E and it is a quarter note. ¼ E 3 2 The first note is E and it is a quarter note. ¼ E 3 1 Meaning Note Value Note Y X

5. Evaluation: Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] The work appears sloppy and unorganized. It is hard to know what information goes together. The work is presented in an organized fashion but may be hard to read at times. The work is presented in a neat and organized fashion that is usually easy to read. The work is presented in a neat, clear, organized fashion that is easy to read. Neatness and Organization It was hard to tell what the topic was. Stays on topic some (89%-75%) of the time. Stays on topic most (99-90%) of the time. Stays on topic all (100%) of the time. Stays on Topic Student is unable to accurately answer questions posed by classmates about the topic. Student is able to accurately answer a few questions posed by classmates about the topic. Student is able to accurately answer most questions posed by classmates about the topic. Student is able to accurately answer almost all questions posed by classmates about the topic. Comprehension Does not seem to understand the topic very well. Shows a good understanding of parts of the topic. Shows a good understanding of the topic. Shows a full understanding of the topic. Content Rarely speaks in complete sentences. Sometimes (70-80%) speaks in complete sentences. Mostly (80-98%) speaks in complete sentences. Always (99-100% of time) speaks in complete sentences. Uses Complete Sentences No group effort in presenting the information. Slides did not flow together and not on correct topic. Some group effort in presenting the information. Slides kind-of flow together and not on correct topic. Some group effort in presenting the information. Slides flow together and stay on correct topic. Group effort in presenting the information. Slides flow together and on correct topic. Power Point Presentation Table is less than 50% correct and matches some of your work. Table is 60-70% correct and matches your work. Table is 80-90% correct and matches your work. Table is 100% correct and matches your work. Excel Table Song is less than 50% correct and is nothing like the original song. Song is 50% correct and is close to the original song. Song is mostly correct and close to the original song. Song is correct and matches the original song. Copy of song in Finale Presentation is less than 1 minutes OR more than 5 minutes. Presentation is 1 minutes long. Presentation is 2 minutes long. Presentation is 3-5 minutes long. Time-Limit General attire not appropriate for audience (jeans, t-shirt, shorts). Casual business attire, but wore sneakers or seemed somewhat wrinkled. Casual business attire. Business attire, very professional look. Attire 0 1 3 5 CATEGORY

6. Conclusion: Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] You are now an expert in the algebraic representation of music. What exactly does this mean? Is it important to know how to code music into algebra? Maybe not, but its a lot more interesting to see algebra in a musical respect. Throughout this lesson you learned many very difficult mathematical objectives including: slope, y-intercept, ordered pairs, graphing, solving and creating equations!

7. Credits & References: Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] Images from Clip Art, Icon Depot, Rasputin, and Oxford Journals. Evaluation rubric created at http://rubistar.4teachers.org

8. What is that Song? [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page A WebQuest for 6th-8th Graders Math and Music Designed by: Joshua Shugg [email_address] Evaluation Conclusion Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

9. Introduction: [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page This webquest was created to fulfill my requirements for both my teaching degrees. I was trying to find a way to put both my music and math skills to work and try to find something that would put both of my degrees to work in one classroom. This was created to try to bring core class material into the music classroom to help reinforce what the students already are leaning in math class. This lesson is about taking a simple piano part to a song that students know and bring math into the classroom. The students will use the equations to find out what notes go where. Once they have that, the students will then place what they wrote out into finale and lay it back. If they know what the song is , then they will do a research project on the composer and do PowerPoint presentations over the composers. Evaluation Conclusion

10. Learners: [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page Evaluation Conclusion This lesson could be handed out in a 6 th – 8 th grade classroom depending on the materials that you have covered. It is built around algebra and music standards. It can easily be simplified to cover pre-algebra and or extended to incorporate trigonometry by using trig functions rather than linear functions. Prior to this lesson students will need to know how to solve equations for a designated variable, and have understanding of what substitution means. They also will learn about composers and some of the songs that they have composed. Throughout the lesson they will learn the rest of the material.

12. The Process: [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page This project could be taken out of the music classroom and even be used in a math classroom. If one of the teachers has all the equations laid out, then the students might be able to take time in math class to solve the equations and ask questions. You will need more than one day to do this. This should cove about 1 weeks worth of time. Students will take at least one class period to do the math, one class period to do the writing of the music. And several days in the library doing research for their presentations. Working in groups is always tough. You do not know if all the students understand what you are trying to teach them, and you do not know if one student is just doing all the work. This webquest is just written for one song. I would try to sit down and find a different song every group. This could take awhile, but it would be worth it to me. To have all the students doing something different so they are not cheating. As the teacher, this will take a long time to plan out. Once it is in motion, it will run fine. I do not suggest that first through 3 year teachers try to do this. You might be able to work on building up to this, but you need to have a lot of free time to put this all together. Evaluation Conclusion

14. Evaluation: [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page Evaluation Conclusion Student performance will be evaluated based upon how well they solve equations, how well they work with the technology, presentation, and their overall contributions to the group. They should show an understanding of composers, solving math equations and working with the giving technology.

15. Conclusion: [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page Evaluation Conclusion Now students can express music through math. They also have learned a lot about what technology they will be using in the future, ways to notate music, solve equations, and maybe learn how music is in some ways linked to math! You as the teach will have found a way to bring all three subjects together in one classroom. This will help students find some of the core class materials a lot more fun when they can use what they are learning in other classes.

16. Credits & References: [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page Images from Clip Art, Icon Depot, Rasputin, and Oxford Journals. Evaluation rubric created at http://rubistar.4teachers.org Evaluation Conclusion