Embedded Files
"I want the things that I had before / Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten / Make everything be wonderful again" Everclear
."
Persepolis 7 - A Rock Opera of the Mind: Today's Lesson has students listening to songs and writing down connections from the novel to those songs in any way they see applicable. The first time I did this lesson, I polled my students and got their ideas for songs to play - and along with my own choices came up with 5. There is a worksheet with a place for the students to write down their ideas (connections), and the lyrics are printed on their handout as well. When the songs are over the students have the rest of the period to write down any other connections they see (after the fact). There are three major reasons for this lesson: 1) To get the students writing 2) By doing this in class - there is no new homework - which gives the students time to get their movie questions from the last lesson done. 3) There is a meta reason too - just as a Graphic Novel required the students to process a new kind of medium - and the movie we watched the last period added another - by giving them music, it adds a completely new medium to our journey for this book.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
Persepolis - A Rock Opera of the mind . The students are given a worksheet as they enter the classroom and given a few minutes to look it over. They will listen to five songs and write down any connections they see from the songs to the graphic novel they just read as well as Part 2 - which we saw in the movie (during our previous class). Here are the five songs: "Turn it Off" by Paramor; "Eye of the Tiger" by Chira Matroianni (cover); "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who; "Wonderful" by Everclear; "Goodbye Blue Sky" by Pink Floyd. Note the cover version of "Eye of the Tiger" from the Persepolis film is no longer available on Spotify - but you may find it elsewhere.
Here are the instructions from the handout (found below):
Here are the instructions from the handout (found below):
As you listen to the following songs – write down any and all connections that you can make between that song and the graphic novel Persepolis. You should have your books out as you do this. PLEASE NOTE: You should not start writing about any given song, until the actual music for that song begins (HOW the lyrics are sung may have as much meaning as WHAT is being sung). Feel free to go back and revisit songs that have already been played AND feel free to connect the songs to each other as well as connecting them to Persepolis. You may also connect them to other works we’ve studied – but ONLY in terms of how that work (and the song) relate to Persepolis.
If there is any time left (there should be) let them use it to find more connections using the lyrics that are found on their handout. There worksheets are collected at the end of the period - this lesson is designed to be done in one period with no homework.
The Playlist for the Rock Opera of the Mind
The Playlist for the Rock Opera of the Mind
See the description above in the Lesson Overview for the how and why of this. Four of these five songs were suggested by students and the fifth one was added by me. The five songs are "Turn it Off" by Paramor; "Eye of the Tiger" by Chira Matroianni (cover); "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who; "Wonderful" by Everclear; "Goodbye Blue Sky" by Pink Floyd. Note the cover version of "Eye of the Tiger" from the Persepolis film is no longer available on Spotify - but you may find it elsewhere.
Handout (Rock Opera of the Mind)
Handout (Rock Opera of the Mind)
Most Recent Handout
Most Recent Handout
This handout has the following directions for the students: As you listen to the following songs – write down any and all connections that you can make between that song and the graphic novel Persepolis. You should have your books out as you do this. PLEASE NOTE: You should not start writing about any given song, until the actual music for that song begins (HOW the lyrics are sung may have as much meaning as WHAT is being sung).
There are also lyrics (for the five songs) and a space to write all of their connections, ideas, and thoughts down.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
It is more than possible to do this remotely. The teacher can play the songs and the students can write as the songs are happening (and afterwards).
Dante, Neruda, & Metafora:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
As more and more time was stolen from the classroom - I was only able to do this lesson for two years. I regret that - it was a one of a kind thing we did and it really brought another level of understanding to the work we just completed.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse