ARTS EDUCATION TEACHER HANDBOOK

MUSIC :: ELEMENTARY ASSESSMENT ITEMS

ELEMENTARY ASSESSMENT ITEMS

Submitted by Lori Evans, Cumberland County Schools

Title:
Write Your Own Rap

Grade Level or Course:
Third Grade Music

Targeted Goals and Objectives from the 2000 North Carolina Arts Education Standard Course
of Study and Grade Level Competencies, K - 12:

COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

1.03 Sing simple songs with increased rhythmic accuracy.
1.04 Sing with proper vocal technique including head tones, clear diction, and correct posture.
1.08 Sing a variety of music representing diverse genres, styles, and cultures.
1.09 Show respect for the singing efforts of others.
(Note: While rap is not usually considered a method of singing, it is a method of vocalization that our students can understand. I define the term "sing" in the above objectives as a method of vocalizing. This unit is also helpful in teaching the students the difference between melody and no melody.)

COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.

4.02 Compose short pieces for voices or instruments using the pentatonic scale and varied rhythmic values.
4.03 Arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments.
4.05 Show respect for the composing and arranging efforts of others.

Link with other subjects:

N/A

Type of Assessment:
_ Diagnostic
_ Monitoring
xSummative

Type of Item:
_ Selected Response
_ Written Response
x Performance
_ Conversation
_ Observation

Assessment Item:

Students and teacher create a rubric for evaluating a rap and its performance.
Students are expected to meet level 3 on the rubric.
Teams of 3-5 Students work together to compose and perform and original rap.
Each team will perform their composition and be evaluated by each other, their classmates, and the teacher.

Scoring Information:

Rap rubric (see the end of this item)
*Students should be given a copy of the rubric to refer to during the creative process

Teacher notes:

This unit should be taught after the students have had experience with both singing and rap. They should have at least a basic understanding of how rap lyrics are conceived (using rhyme scheme). Students should also understand phrasing, verse, refrain, AB and ABA form.

Other related items:

Student performances can be video or audio-taped
Simple percussion parts can be added to accompany the piece
Groups could teach their composition to others
Students could choreograph their composition

RAP RUBRIC

	Level 4	Level 3	Level 2	Level 1
Team Work	Everyone helped write the rap	Most people helped write the rap	A couple of people did all the work	Only one person did the work
Form	Rap is in ABA, ABB, or ABC form	Rap is in AB form	Rap has only one section	Rap is unfinished
Performance	Team knows the rap from memory	Team knows rap fairly well	Team has to read the whole rap from the page	Team is unfamiliar with the rap

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