Lesson Plan: Billy Joel’s Modern Version of We Didn’t Start the Fire

“Big Idea” this lesson plan supports:  Music is a direct relation to events of the time to include history, pop culture and events of the time.

Lesson Plan Component	Criteria
Title	Relates to Instructional Goals and Objectives
GSE’s/GLE’s/Frameworks	NH.M.9. Music: Understand music in relation to history and culture.
Objective(s)	Students will need to evaluate, analyze and apply the knowledge of music history and pup culture
Materials	A computer that can play music Access to the internet
Anticipatory Set	When Billy Joel turn 40 during the summer of 1989 he composed the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” to Commemorate Forty Years of World History.  The quest that each student learning group will have is to find 40 events from 1989 until 2014 that would work in the song.
Procedures	The teacher will need to do an extensive amount of researching to assist the students in finding school appropriate people places and events.  This should be considered an ongoing song where material may be added and dropped based on the needs and the interest of each class. Day 1 Student must be given access to a printout of the original song so they can count the syllables line for line to get a sense of the pulse.  Students need to be given the chance to hear the song a minimum of three times each class.  This is tougher for some and that is why they are encouraged to work in groups. Before the end of the first class, students should be counting the syllables line for line so they understand the form and the pulse of the song Day 2, 3, 4 Students will then be given the chance to do some research for pictures.  Each group of 2-3 students will need to put together a video and include the new events that they found.  Clipart and anything they need can be used. They should be able to select 40 important people, places and events from the years 1989-2014 to research pictures and clip art for their project. The music will be set to a karaoke version supplied by the instructor.
Closure	Students should not be putting any person place or event into this 3 class assignment if they cannot describe what it was or is.  Billy Joel strove to be historically accurate in the original version.  The students will need to do the same.
Assessment	Each group will show their final product to the classes with what they found to create a video and what they selected for their events.  This falls under the realm of tying history and culture to music.  Students need to apply their knowledge of rhythm and beat to allow for every event to line up with the song.
Modifications/Accommodations	Some Modifications will be needed for three students in this class.  15-20 events will work just fine.  They will also need to be paired up with students who understand the technology demand.