Mapping a piece of music visually and/or through movement can be an effective way to help children understand its formal structure.
Lyrics as Text
Song lyrics can function just like any other printed and/or poetic text. Some lyrics, like rock, can contain imagery and metaphor while others, like country, tend to be more straight-forward. One advantage of using lyrics as text is that popular music is highly motivational for students and, at the very least, is an interesting change of pace. Careful lyric analysis will also reinforce listening skills as children are taught to pay closer attention to what they are hearing. Songs are readily available on Youtube and lyrics can usually be found with a simple web search. Here is a preliminary list of song lyrics for analysis with indications of curricular connections. As you find additional songs, please share them on the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/948587708564065/).
Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell)—Alliteration and Assonance, Environmental Sustainability, Story