An Activity Based 8TH Grade
General Music Curriculum

An Activity Based 8TH Grade
General Music Curriculum

This document will outline an updated curriculum for the 8th grade general music class that
focuses on an activity based curriculum. It is updated to reflect the 2014 National Coalition for
Core Arts Standards. With the introduction of the 2014 standards, NAfME structured them to be
reflective of the artistic process. This can be seen in the use of the verbs, Creating; Performing;
Responding, that give structure to the standards. The use of these verbs implies the need for
students to be active in the art of making music. In addition to the focus of the artistic process,
these standards include essential questions and understandings. This updated curriculum will
include active music making and integrating contemporary materials and processes. In addition
to these musical elements, this curriculum will include project based learning. This project based
learning encourages active involvement and ownership of student learning.
It will be organized using the Understanding by Design model developed by Grants
Wiggins and Jay McTighe. This model encourages backwards design, beginning with the end in
mind. UbD is designed to encourage transfer of learning which then has results organized into
understandings and essential questions, similar to the NAfME standards.

South, Matthew E.

Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Music Education Department

December 2022

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English

Capstone