Hello everyone! This semester I teach 5th and 6th grade WITHOUT textbooks. Korean teachers teach textbooks, I was told to teach "Culture, and whatever you want". It's AWESOME!

Next week, I have prepared a ppt with four different types of music that I don't think they've ever heard: Reggae, Bachata, Andean traditional, and Bluegrass. I know it's totally random (sort of), but I wanted music that wasn't Lady Gaga or whatever. They hear too much of that kind of stuff.

Here's my problem: I can't think of a good activity! Any ideas would be appreciated!! Preferably for speaking. I also try to use activites that force them to make sentences 'from scratch', without just repeating stuff.

Thanks so much for any and all ideas!

Cool! Yeah, this stuff is great. This could be a whole different lesson!
Cheers

yeah for real. I just looked at the ppts again. They are amazing! mucho kamsamnida!

Yeah, the way Koreans handle music is generally like this.

1) Find only a few songs (no more than 5) that you like.
2) Listen to them a million times.
3) Get tired of those songs.
4) Go back to 1.

If you play them a song that is not in this loop, you will get one of two complaints

1) "It's old."
2) "It's not fun."

If you get any student interested in any song that is not in the above loop, then you have an above average student.

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Here's my problem: I can't think of a good activity! Any ideas would be appreciated!! Preferably for speaking. I also try to use activites that force them to make sentences 'from scratch', without just repeating stuff.

Thanks so much for any and all ideas!

Making sentences "from scratch" is going to be pretty much a lost cause with them.   Try it anyway.   It will be pretty enlightening to you as to why the Korean system of education is ineffective at teaching them English.

To the Music:
Yeah, I've defintely come up against that before. Most are completely okay with listening to the same thing over and over and over and over

To the rest:
Making stuff from scratch has defintely not been a lost cause so far. I've been doing this for the whole semester so far. Every week I have a different topic and we alternate between speaking one week and writing another week. They have a lot of fun working in groups and deciding what to write or say. Plus, since we've been doing it now for over a month, it's what they expect, which makes it even easier.
It just takes a little time! Try it if you have the opportunity!

I did this lesson for my winter camp as part of my American culture day.

Students view a powerpoint on different genres of American music (bluegrass, jazz, country, rock and hip hop).

While viewing the PPT and listening to the music clips (embedded in the slide) students will fill out a worksheet that matches the instrument with the genre of music.

After the presentation, there is a short section on speaking practice (repeat, ask and answer) then students play a "lucky chairs" game which is a survey activity with a chance for candy.

This was made for 3rd and 4th graders. I tried to introduce the word "genre" but my coteacher said it was too hard for them.

I really worked hard on these materials so I hope someone else can use them and while only a few of my students seem to be musically inclined, it is good to introduce them to different genres other than Kpop. :D