"My Life in Vinyl" Project Examples...

2007-01-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

These are some examples of front, inside, and back covers on the art portion of the project. Pictures printed with permission of students at CHS.

Our School Website

2007-01-31T12:27:00.001-08:00

http://www.chspanthers.com/

Students' Writing...

2007-01-31T12:21:00.000-08:00

Students in Mrs. Connie's classes who participated in the "My Life in Vinyl Project" share some of the written portions of their projects...

2007-01-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Connie's classes who participated in the project.

The "My Life in Vinyl" Project

2007-01-31T11:47:00.000-08:00

MY LIFE IN VINYL unit summary

This four-week unit focused on narrative writing. The product of the unit was to be a 1200 word personal and reflective narrative about the students and their personal growth.
The content of the narrative centered on music that the students found important in their lives, or songs that reflected their personal stages in life.

The unit began with journal writing. Students created lists of songs they loved, songs they could not live without, or those that evoked important memories. Any version of a song was acceptable. The list was narrowed to 12 songs, only. The students found this process fun, but frustrating. Most lists began with 30 or more songs and the students claimed it could be no short. That narrowing process was incredible to watch since students reflected seriously about what a song means to them, how it evoked memories, or how it represented their personal styles. The final lists were surprising to me. One student remarked out loud “How can I write about my life without including a Raschall Flatts song?”

The lists completed, the process continued. In their journals, students wrote a reflection about each song selection. That writing was open to any direction. Some student penned testimonies about break-ups, memories of dancing with their parents to that old music, or treatises about Panic! At the Disco being the next great band of all time! Anything was possible.

The next step for students was submitted each song’s lyrics. Students provided only lyrics with the lyricist’s name and information on their favorite recorded version. These copies submitted were in a Word Format. The amazing element of this stage was watching the students search for just the right version. Students are savvy with technology and went many routes to locate the lyrics.

The journal entries became the text of the “My Life in Vinyl” narrative. For two weeks students wrote, edited, and rewrote the narrative. The narratives were shared three times in writing groups. Some students censored parts of the narrative from revision. They felt some information made them too vulnerable. That was acceptable to me.

After the two weeks of revision the narrative was complete and students prepared a typed submission. Most narratives exceeded the 1200 minimum by 1000 words. The requirements for the submission were as follows: MLA heading, 1200 words, double-spaced. The order of the narrative aligned with the order of the lyrics pages that followed the narrative.

The project had an art component as well. Students created their own “vinyl” covers. Covers were designed by a theme consistent with the narrative. Students folded poster boards lengthwise and taped the bottom edges. The sides were folded in half and trimmed for a 24” x 24” cover. The opening at each side held the narrative and the lyrics sheets. The front cover of the vinyl was titled. The back cover listed the 12 songs, a production company logo, and an acknowledgment. The inside of the vinyl opened and revealed art work, quotations from songs, photographs, collages, or any number of artistic designs the students wanted to express.

The vinyl covers were displayed and photographed.

My Life in Vinyl

"My Life in Vinyl" Project Examples...

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Our School Website

Students' Writing...

The "My Life in Vinyl" Project