Needle Drops: Creating a Personal Soundtrack

How can music help us identify and express our emotions, and connect us to the feelings and experiences of others?

Mastery Objective:

• Students will be able to use music as a tool for identifying, managing, and embracing their emotions by listening to and discussing the favorite music of featured artists as well as sharing their own favorite music with the class.

Day 1 - Students will:

• Listen to “You’re On Your Own Kid” by Taylor Swift
• Consider how music can be a method of identifying and expressing emotions
• Reflect on music that speaks to their feelings or experiences

Day 2 - Students will:

• Listen to “Energy” by Beyoncé
• Consider how music can enhance or change how they are feeling
• Reflect on music that impacts their mood

Day 3 - Students will:

• Listen to “Yakety Yak” by The Coasters
• Consider the relationship between music and memory
• Reflect on music that evokes a special memory

Day 4 - Students will:

• Listen to “Yakety Yak” by The Coasters
• Consider the relationship between music and memory
• Reflect on music that evokes a special memory

Arts-Based Activity - Students will:

• Create album art for their personal soundtracks
• Share their personal soundtracks
• Evaluate music’s ability to help them express their emotions

In this lesson, students use music as a tool for identifying, managing, and embracing their emotions. They explore music’s ability to give voice to their feelings, influence their moods, and remind them of special memories. Through this process, students not only reflect on their own emotional experiences but also gain insight into the unique perspectives, experiences, and preferences of their peers.

Required for all lessons:

• Student Journals
• Art Supplies
• Access to Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube may be helpful, but is not required

Arts-Based Activity:

• Paper for album art project