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Under Joni Mitchell's Influence
Lesson Overview

Overview:
Fans have long admired Joni Mitchell’s wildly innovative and deeply personal music. Her music has evolved from folk into pop, jazz, and avant-garde. For decades, the fiercely independent songwriter and performer resisted the whims of mainstream audiences and the male-dominated recording industry, emerging as one of the most influential and inspirational singer-songwriters of our time. In this lesson plan, students will view the AMERICAN MASTERS entitled Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind, examine the concept of influence, and explore how Joni Mitchell and her work have influenced others. Students will have a chance to study, interpret, and enjoy her lyrics by using the Choral Reading method.

Grade Level:
High School (9th to 12th grade)

Time Allotment:
3 class sessions

Subject Matter:
English, Poetry, Music

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to:

  • Research information on the Internet.
  • Interpret poetry through the lyrics of the songwriter.
  • Write their own poems.
  • Work collaboratively.
  • Work on comprehension and understanding of text through repeated readings and interpretation.

    Standards:

    National Standards:

    MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 6
    http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=6
    Uses reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of literary passages and texts (e.g., fairy tales, folktales, fiction, nonfiction, myths, poems, fables, fantasies, historical fiction, biographies, autobiographies, chapter books)

    MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 5
    http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=5

    Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process

    MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 8
    http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=8
    Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes

    MCREL LANGUAGE ARTS, Level 4, Standard 9
    http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=7&StandardID=9
    Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

    MCREL TECHNOLOGY, Level 4, Standard 2
    http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/Benchmark.asp?SubjectID=19&StandardID=2
    Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs.

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