Middle School General Music Sub Plan: Independent Work Packets Grades 6-8 Set #3

Middle school music sub plans for non-musical subs! This resource contains 3 independent work packets based off of the Ohio music standards for grades 6-8.

Packet #1: Famous Composers

Students will read about 6 composers (Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff). They will then answer questions to reveal the punchline of a joke. After that, they will fill in a timeline of events based on their reading. Finally, there is a "would you rather?" based on facts from the composers' lives.

• 2 page reading passage
• 10 questions about the composers that reveal the punchline of a joke
• 2 page timeline of events to fill in
• Would you rather?

Packet #2: Copyright Law

Students will read about what copyright is, how it is obtained, fair use, public domain, and copyright when it comes to music. They will answer reflection questions about why we have copyright laws then answer whether or not a scenario is an example of copyright infringement. Then they will create their own short work (poem, song lyrics, drawing, etc.) using a separate sheet of paper and walk through a scenario where someone steals their work and answer questions about how it feels. Finally, they will answer a "self-check" about their own habits as consumers in the digital age.

• 2 page reading passage and reflection questions
• Acceptable or unacceptable? scenarios
• 2 page create-your-own work/questions
• 1 page "self-check" about your own consumer habits

Packet #3: The Music of John Cage

Students will read about four compositional styles of John Cage (prepared piano, found objects, silence, chance music). They will then listen to the sounds around them for 4 minutes and 33 seconds, creating a list of what they hear. After that time, they will answer questions about whether or not this counts as music. Finally, they will compose a few measures of chance music using a template that walks them through the process. **A paper dice sheet is included if you want that for their chance composition, but they could use a coin/spinner/whatever else you may have in your classroom.

• 1.5 page reading passage
• 4'33 listening activity/reflection questions
• 3 page chance composition directions/templates
• Optional paper dice template for chance composition

Answer keys are included where applicable.

No prep--just print and go!

Check out Middle School Music Sub Plans Set #1 or Middle School Music Sub Plans Set #2 for more options!