1. Second Level Literacy Lesson 1 – Teacher Notes

Summary Learners will work in groups to explore the importance of a charity single, and look into some of the recent songs used for BBC Children in Need, thinking about what has made these singles successful. In groups learners write their own few lines for a rap on the theme of BBC Children in Need. Collate ideas together to create a class rap/song to be performed at the Celebration of Champions.

Learning Outcomes Learners will:

Learn to take on different roles in a group activity Investigate charity singles, thinking about the power of music and rap Consider poetic forms and their effects Choose form and content to suit a particular purpose Write their own lyrics

Related Resources:

Teacher – Literacy Lesson 1 PowerPoint (including video clips)

You can print copies of these resources from the Teacher PowerPoint - no need for extra downloads! Learners – Rap/song writing frame (slide 19) Introduction Run through the learning outcomes for this lesson (slide 2).

Next, allocate the class into small mixed-ability groups and introduce the three group roles; group facilitator, group reporter and group recorder (slide 3). Ask groups to decide who will be assigned to which position.

Then, begin by exploring some of the learners' existing ideas about charity singles.

Group Task 1 (slides 4 and 5): Ask each group to write down what they understand by the words ‘charity single’ on a large piece of paper or whiteboard and share their answers with the class. Examine some of the words or ideas that are repeated in their answers. Learners can add to their own ideas if they wish. Share the mind map headed ‘BBC Children in Need Charity Single’ (slide 6) to generate a discussion, and allow time for feedback.

Group Task 2 (slides 7 and 8): Next give learners a short time to list all the charity songs that they can think of; again working in their groups to write them on a large piece of paper or whiteboard before sharing them with the class. The learners will probably be familiar with some chart-topping songs.

Activities Talk about the success of the 2014 BBC Children in Need charity single by Gareth Malone’s All-Star Choir. Do the learners recall what song it was a cover of? (Avicii’s ‘Wake Me Up’). Why do they think it was so successful? It got to number one in the charts making lots of money to enable BBC Children in Need to help many children. Show slide 9. Gareth Malone’s All-Star Choir consisted of celebrities that weren’t singers and also children from various music projects that are funded by BBC Children in Need, why do they think this was? Play the music video (slide 10) to the class. You may wish to play the video twice in order to prompt discussion and to give learners an extra chance to listen to the lyrics.

Group Task 3 (slide 11): Ask the learners to jot down any lyrics that they think are important and to share these with the class. Did other groups pick up on similar song words? How does the song make us feel? What emotive language does it use?

Share a compilation of various BBC Children in Need charity singles (slide 12). Can learners identify song titles? Artists?

Explain that the class will be creating their own BBC Children in Need class rap/song to be performed at the Celebration of Champions. Each group will think of a few lines and then each group’s part will contribute to a whole class rap/song. (As a class song it can be edited and refined.)

Using slide 13, explore the features of raps with the learners. Clarify that rap lyrics are spoken or chanted; rather than sung. Focus on the effectiveness of rhyming couplets in a rap and lines of varying length. The rhyme gives the lyrics their musicality.

Share the example of rap (slide 14). The 2011 BBC Children in Need single ‘Teardrops’ featured a lot of rap.

Use slide 15 to explain to the learners that their rap idea can illustrate any of the four fundraising themes (Bake, Challenge, Entertain or Dress- Up) or be about BBC Children in Need in general. Explore some ideas for rhyming couplets; remind learners that the rhymes don’t have to be perfect in their rap – they can have some artistic licence!

Set your learners their challenge (slide 16). If learners feel more comfortable singing rather than rapping ask them to use the same rhyming principles as above. You could even ask your class to combine singing and rapping!

Slide 17 explains the format for rap and slide 18 presents an example. Learners can use the rap/song writing frame if they choose to (slide 19). Whole Class Plenary Ask each group to share their rap/song idea and perform it to the rest of the class. Learners can peer assess with constructive criticism. As a whole class, allow time to collaborate all the ideas together, creating a fantastic BBC Children in Need Class rap/song for the Celebration of Champions (slide 20).

Extension Activity Slide 22 provides ideas to develop the rap further.

You can find more tools, tips and resources at https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/championsofchange/scotland