Microbits & Music

Lesson Overview

Duration: 50 minutes
Year Level: Year 5
Subject: Music
Curriculum Area: The Arts - Music
Technology Integration: Microbits

Objectives

• Introduce Year 5 students to Microbits.
• Teach students how to create simple music using Microbits.
• Enhance understanding of rhythms and melodies.
• Foster creativity and collaborative learning.

Australian Curriculum Links

The Arts - Music (Years 3-6):

• Exploring and responding to music by considering where and why people make music, starting with Australian music, including music of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (ACAMUR087).
• Developing aural skills by exploring, imitating and recognising elements of music including dynamics, pitch and rhythm patterns (ACAMUM084).

Materials Needed

• Microbits (1 per student)
• Computers or tablets (1 per student) for coding
• Speakers or headphones
• Whiteboard and markers

Lesson Sequence

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Welcome and Context Setting:

   • Greet the students and explain that today's lesson will combine music and technology using Microbits.
   • Briefly introduce Microbits and their relevance in learning both coding and music.

2. Interactive Discussion:

   • Ask students if they know what Microbits are and what they are used for.
   • Show a Microbit and highlight its main features (LED display, buttons, input/output pins).

3. Learning Objectives:

   • Explain the aims of today's lesson:
     • Learn basic coding with Microbits.
     • Create simple melodies and rhythms.
     • Collaborate and share musical creations.

Exploration (15 minutes)

1. Introduction to Microbits:

   • Demonstrate how to connect the Microbits to the computers/tablets.
   • Show students the MakeCode editor and explain the basics of block coding.

2. Hands-On Activity:

   • Guide students to write a simple code to play a note when a button is pressed.
   • Example Code:

     input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
         music.playTone(262, music.beat(BeatFraction.Whole))
     })
     

3. Experimentation:

   • Encourage students to try different notes and rhythms using the Microbits.
   • Walk around the classroom to provide individual support and answer questions.

Development (15 minutes)

1. Melody Creation:

   • Challenge students to create a short melody using their Microbits.
   • Demonstrate how to arrange a sequence of notes to form a melody.

2. Paired Activity:

   • Pair students and ask them to combine their melodies to create a more complex piece of music.
   • Each pair will code their Microbits to play their collaborative melody.

3. Integration:

   • Show students how to connect their Microbits to speakers or use headphones to hear their compositions clearly.

Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

1. Class Presentations:

   • Invite a few pairs to present their melodies to the class.
   • Use the speakers to ensure all students can hear the creations.

2. Feedback:

   • Allow peers to give positive feedback and suggestions.
   • Discuss what was challenging and what students enjoyed about the activity.

3. Reflection:

   • Ask students to write a short reflection on what they learned about music and coding with Microbits.
   • Collect reflections to assess student understanding and improvement areas.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Summarise Key Points:

   • Recap the main concepts learned today: basic Microbit coding, creating music, and collaboration.
   • Highlight the importance of integrating technology in learning and music appreciation.

2. Next Steps:

   • Briefly introduce what will be covered in the next lesson (e.g., enhancing melodies or creating accompaniments with Microbits).
   • Encourage students to explore more about coding and music outside of class if interested.

Assessment

• Observational notes during the lesson.
• Student reflections on their learning experience.
• Completed music codes and melodies on Microbits.

This lesson plan integrates music and technology, leveraging Microbits to offer an engaging and hands-on learning experience for Year 5 students. It aligns with the Australian Curriculum standards and aims to enhance students' understanding of both music and coding through interactive and collaborative activities.