Climate Change Chants

In this lesson, students created ‘Climate Change Chants’ including beats, voiceover and loops using GarageBand for iPad. 

Learning Objectives for this lesson: 

• Understand the rhythm of words in a short phrase.
• Create a ‘Climate Change Chant’ including beats, voiceover and loops.
• Notate the rhythm of a short phrase.

Rhythm is a foundational element of music making, but is often taught in isolation. But, this short learning experience encourages students to use GarageBand to focus on the rhythm of words to create a chant or song of protest about a key social and environmental issue.

Music can be a positive social force and can give voice. Learning about rhythm using the Beat Sequencer in GarageBand can be central to this.  

Students demonstrated their learning by creating and recording a ‘Climate Change Chant’ with GarageBand for iPad. 

First, they chose a short phrase and, after considering its rhythm, recorded the correct rhythm using the Beat Sequencer.

Then, they recorded their ‘chant’ on top of this.

Finally, they added drumbeats and loops to turn their chant into a song of peaceful protest.

This lesson formed part of my Apple Teacher Portfolio as an ‘Activate’ lesson, but could be easily adapted and used as an ‘Explore’ lesson depending on the age, skill level, positioning of the activity, and has lots of opportunities for extension activities.  

I used this lesson with my 1st Year Music class (12-13 years old), but it could easily be used in different contexts with other age groups too!