This unit is ©Copyright 2004 by Cindy Downes. All rights reserved. Permission is given to homeschooling parents to use these units free of charge in their own homeschool only. These units may not be reprinted in any other form, for any other purpose (commercial or otherwise) without permission from Cindy Downes. Contact her at cindy@oklahomahomeschool.com.

The Christmas season is a great time to learn about Georg Frideric Handel and his Oratorio, "Messiah." Here's a short unit on Handel that that I created using The Checklist as a planning guide. The items in bold are taken from The Checklist.

1. Composers and Musicians of the World - Georg Frideric Handel, Germany, 1685-1759 (page 172).

Websites:

Picture of Handel: http://gfhandel.org/images/gfhpictures/1747%20enhanced.jpg

Arts Alive biography of Handel: http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/greatcomposers/handel.html

Wikipedia - biography of Handel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel

Classics for Kids - Handel: http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/bio.asp?ID=23

Handel's last will: http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/handel_1.jpg

Timeline of historical events at the time of King George II (page 62 - write in) and Handel's Messiah: http://royalhistory.com/england/monarchs/georgeii.htm

Activities:

Reading: George Handel (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers) by Mike Venezia. An easy-to-read biography of George Frideric Handel. ISBN: 0516445391. Gr. 1-5

Reading: Handel and the Court of Kings and by Opal Wheeler. A wonderful children's book about Handel written in the 1940s. It is currently out of print. If you can find a copy, you'll want to get it for your library!

Composition - write a report or biography of Handel. Use Famous Person Report, if desired.

Complete the Classics for Kids activity sheets: http://www.classicsforkids.com/activitysheets/June2005.pdf

Just for Fun: The Handel's Messiah Family Advent Reader by Donna W. Payne. The 'Handel's Messiah Family Advent Reader' provides daily readings that are biblically-based and culturally rich. With intriguing stories explaining well-known Christmas customs, each reading features a different portion of the libretto from Handel's Messiah and offers a spiritual insight that links the story to an important principle. Includes a CD with portions of Handel's Messiah. ISBN 0802455743.

2. History of Music - Baroque Period (page 171)

Websites:

Baroque Period: http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/genre_Baroque.asp

Baroque Architecture: http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/orion/eng/hst/baroque.html

Baroque Art: http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/baroque.html

Activities: Listens to Music of All Types (Music Appreciation), page 170

Listen to Baroque music samples: http://www.baroquecds.com/musamples.html

3. Culture Study: Modern England (pg. 57)

Websites:

England: http://www.countryreports.org and Fact File on England.

History of London (page 60): http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/london/history.htm

Activities:

Country Report: England. Create a country report on Modern England using The Checklist (page 57) as a guideline as to what to include in the report.

Jigsaw Puzzle of London: http://www.jigsawland.com/images/london/new-london-i.htm

Print out maps for Germany, Italy, and England. Label the capital, major mountains ranges, waterways, & cities. Include a compass rose and map key.

England Outline Map: http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/outline/england.htm

Italy Outline Map: http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/outline/it.htm

Germany Outline Map: http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/outline/de.htm

4. Map Skills - Countries of the World & Major Religions (pg. 75): Germany and Italy

Websites:

Germany: http://www.countryreports.org

Italy: http://www.countryreports.org

Activities:

Print map of Europe. Label Germany, Italy, and England. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/continents/Europe/label/label.shtml

Germany Quiz: http://www.quia.com/jg/361198.html

Label Me Printout, Germany: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/germany/labelmap/

Label Me Printout, Italy (must subscribe $20/yr): http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/italy/label/

Draw and color the flag of England: http://worldatlas.com/webimage/flags/countrys/europe/england.htm

Draw and color the flay of Italy: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/italy/flag/

Draw and color the German flag: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/germany/flag/

Play Geo Spy. Select Countries Game and then move Crossbar over the area of Europe: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/

Create a "Global Pumpkin." Paint the countries of England, Germany and Italy, red. http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/geography/globalpumpkin.htm

4. Musical Instruments and Their Families, Keyboard Instruments: Piano, Accordian, Organ (page 170, write in "clavichord" and "harpsichord")

Websites:

Harpsichord: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpsichord

Clavichord: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavicord

Organ:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_%28music%29

Piano: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano

Accordian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accordian

Activities:

Listen to a Harpsichord: http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=246

Listen to an Organ: http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=259

Listen to a Piano: http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=258

Answer the question: Which one do you like best? Why?

Field Trip: Go to a live concert featuring one of these instruments.

5: Music Forms - Oratorio (write in)

Oratorios are basically operas without costumes and scenery. In them, a chorus of singers tells a story by singing it to the audience. Usually the story is taken from the Bible. Messiah is Handel's best known oratorio):

Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oratorio

Messiah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Messiah

Audio of Handel's Messiah: http://www.botproductions.com/music/messiah.html

Hallelujah Chorus: http://www.botproductions.com/music/messiah/mess_44.mid

Hallelujah Handel by Douglas Cowling.Thomas, 48 pages. A read aloud picture story of a street child with a beautiful voice and Handel's Messiah. ISBN 0439058503. Gr. 1-5.

6. God's Purpose for Music.

Look up the terms "music, song, sing" in a topical Bible.

Answer the question, why did God create music?

How does Handel's "Messiah" achieve God's purpose?

 

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