Here are a few lessons that I have used with a high school Psychology class. Hopefully the lessons are clear and useful to some teachers. Introduction to High School Psychology Lessons (4)
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There are many high school students & teachers who are Kenny Chesney fans. This video is a great introduction to a unique activity that highlights long-term memory. Step #1: Watch the video. Before introducing the lesson, the class will watch the following video. The lyrics can be handed out to discuss the song. I have included some notes with the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdeSLxz5TTE
After watching the video, discuss some of Chesney’s memories: 1. “Jack and Diane” painted a picture of my life and my dreams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI&noredirect=1 Memories from the 1st verse (high school years) “Jack and Diane” painted a picture of my life and my dreams.
Suddenly this crazy world made more sense to me
Well I heard it today and I couldn’t help but sing along
Cause everytime I hear that song…
I go back to a two toned short bed Chevy (the car he had in high school)
Drivin my first love out to the levvy (high school relationships and hangouts)
Livin life with no sense of time
And I go back to the feel of a fifty yard line (high school athletics)
A blanket, a girl, some raspberry wine (special personal times)
Wishin time would stop right in its tracks
Everytime I hear that song, I go back (The song stirs up so many memories) 2. I used to rock all night long to “Keep On Rockin Me Baby”
Memories from the 2nd verse (College years)
I used to rock all night long to “Keep On Rockin Me Baby”
Frat parties, college bars, just tryin to impress the ladies
I heard it today and I couldn’t help but sing along
Cause everytime I hear that song…. Memories from the 3rd verse (town memories and memories with friends)
I go back to the smell of an old gym floor (senses provoke memories)
The taste of salt on the Carolina shore
After graduation and drinkin goodbye to friends
And I go back to watchin summer fade to fall
Growin up too fast and I do recall
Wishin time would stop right in its tracks
Everytime I hear that song, I go back, I go back (songs and lyrics can bring back memories)
Memories from the 4th verse (The connections we have with songs)
We all have a song that somehow stamped our lives
Takes us to another place and time (What are the songs that take you back? Where do these songs take you?)
3. Now “Only The Good Die Young” stops me in my tracks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJBoHa3GArA
Memories from the 5th verse (family and family traditions)
So I go back to a pew, preacher, and a choir (church and family traditions)
Singin bout God, brimstone, and fire
And the smell of Sunday chicken after church (family cook-outs and traditions)
And I go back to the loss of a real good friend (sad memories – memories stir emotions)
And the sixteen summers I shared with him
Now “Only The Good Die Young” stops me in my tracks
Everytime I hear that song,
I go back….
To the feel of a fifty yard line
A blanket, a girl, some raspberry wine
I go back….
To watchin summer fade to fall
Growin up too fast and I do recall…
I go back….
To the loss of a real good friend
And the sixteen summers I shared with him…
I go back… I go back… I go back
Step #2: Reflect on the videos and the songs that stamp each student’s life.
After watching the video, students will answer the following:
Kenny Chesney has listed 3 songs that have “somehow stamped his life.” For each song he lists the memories associated with that song. Take 10 minutes to write down songs that you associate with memories of friends, family, sports, high school, middle school, significant others, relatives, vacations, etc.
On a blank piece of paper, list songs that you take you back. List where it takes you back. After students complete the list, have a class discussion. Encourage students to continue to write additional songs down during the discussion if any come to mind. Step #3: Preview the upcoming class activity.
After watching and discussing the video, I share the requirements and expectations of the class activity that we will complete in a few classes.
My Memories Playlist
PRE-Class activity: Create a playlist of songs that create memories. The playlist needs to be a minimum of 40 – 50 minutes long (a class period). The only requirement is that these songs are connected to a memory. For example, whenever I hear “Oh Danny Boy” I think of my Grandfather Daniel Grant Sr. I think of his smile, his pleasant personality, working in his yard with him, going to the Boston Common on the Swan boats. I think of cigars and just an amazing man.
Class activity: Pen, Paper, and Music. During class, title the paper “Memory Playlist.” At the start of the activity, plug in your ipod and listen to your playlist. As a song is being played, write about the memories the song creates. You can include the people, event, or group that you associate with the song. You also can write about the emotions it brings out.
Students in the past have enjoyed this activity and have had little difficulty writing for the entire length of the song (stay away from FREE BIRD or Stairway to Heaven). Once one song is complete, repeat the process for the next song.
* If you have participated in the Nutcracker, perhaps you would like to listen the soundtrack for this activity. It might be a fascinating experience. If you danced in the nutcracker, I am sure this would not be a problem.
Assessment:
Work Quietly and from bell to bell.
Hand-written writing assignment that will be collected at the end of the period.
Guest Blog by Alisa Abecassis is a travel blogger at www.ExploreAll50.com, and is a nationally sought-after expert in family travel across the United States. Alisa can also be found on twitter – @ExploreAll50.
Teaching can take place in many different ways, but one that most people don’t think about and yet can have the biggest impact is travel. Road trips across the US can be adventurous and fun, but they can also be one of the most effective ways to teach a variety of concepts from History and Geography to Culture, Science and everything in between.
As a single mom, I took on a project to see all 50 states with my children over a course of numerous annual road trips (after 14 trips we are currently up to 42). Very quickly I realized I had become an “accidental teacher” and saw how much my kids were learning – not only supplementing what they were learning in school but important life lessons as well. I’d like to share 4 important reasons to get out on the road with your family and take teaching and learning to a whole new level.
1. History is not just a story in a book – We all remember our history lessons, reading from our textbooks, and often times history seems like just a good story. It’s hard to imagine real people and real events taking place. When you travel and see historic places and actual artifacts, it makes history come alive. Seeing the landscape and gear that Lewis and Clark traveled with is to know the hardship of their mission. Looking out the window of the 6th floor depository in Dallas Texas where Lee Harvey Oswald aimed to kill President Kennedy is to see that historic moment captured in time – it’s real – and no textbook can ever bring to life that experience the same way. Travel is an incredible way to create real life connections to our history through memories.
2. Appreciating what we eat and use everyday – Most folks are completely oblivious about where their food comes from or how things they use everyday are made. Farm and factory tours are an incredible way to understand and appreciate the time, energy, engineering and science that go into things we take for granted. From potato chips, cheese, ice cream to guitars, furniture, baseball bats-there are tons of places all across America to learn-by seeing, smelling, tasting and touching. I cannot think of a more exciting way to learn than engaging all of the senses.
3. Experiencing diversity – From landscape to accents to foods, one of life’s most important lessons is to recognize and respect diversity. It’s important for kids (and adults) to know that places outside their communities are unique and different and the best way to do this is through travel. There are a million questions that can be asked – How is architecture different and why? How do economics affect communities? What foods are popular in different areas and why? There are so many important lessons but most important of all is the accepting and understanding of differences and realizing that diversity is the richness in the fabric of who we are as a nation.
4. Create treasure trove of memories – Too often our time is spent at a computer or in front of the television instead of spending quality family time. Travel allows us spend time away from those things and focus on real life experiences. There is no price you can put on a shared road trip memory that will inspire a laugh in your family for the rest of your life. These trips become your family history, they bond you together through shared experiences in ways nothing else can. In short, they make us happy, and when we are happier we approach life differently, we learn differently.
Travel does require planning and effort but I have found over and over again, that the rewards are endless. I cannot imagine a more effective way to learn than by being there, engaging the senses and spending time together talking, laughing and making shared memories. I challenge anyone and everyone to pack their bags and take on the project I call Explore All 50.
