Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

8 minutes

Listening and responding to the song ‘The Second Law: Unsustainable’ by Muse (some words may need defining)

2 minutes

Forming groups

40-50 minutes

Group preparation of dance or mime (the teacher will need to play and repeat sections of the song for the benefit of the whole class).

10 minutes (optional)

Group performances (or these may be left for a future lesson)

1. Begin by playing students the Muse song 'The Second Law: Unsustainable' (consider downloading the song from iTunes). Ask students to read the lyrics from the Student Worksheet as the song is played and respond to the related question on the student worksheet.

2. Break the class into groups. Using some or all of the song ‘Unsustainable’ as a backing track, each group should create a group dance or mime to perform in class that explores the ideas and messages in the song. Students can depict a story or use symbolism. If they wish they can include costumes, props or masks; however, these will need to be prepared beforehand.

Students should think about how to make the most of the song’s different features: e.g. jargon, scientific facts, machine-like sounds, broken words and voiceovers, strong rhythms, repetition and dramatic orchestral and vocal sections. Performances should run for 2 to 3 minutes.

Students can use the performance planning table on the Student Worksheet to help them plan their dance or mime.

3. Ask groups to perform their dance or mime to the class. Once complete engage students in a brief discussion about the performances and experiences in creating them. Consider the following points:

Do you like this song and how do you feel about its message?
Did you find it easy or hard to translate the lyrics into movement? Why or why not?
If you had an endless supply of resources, what sort of performance would you create for this song?
Can you think of any other songs with an environmental message that would lend themselves well to a dance or mime performance?

Differentiated Learning

Provisions for Learning Support: This activity is appropriate for students with special needs, however, should these students not wish to participate in a group performance, they may instead draw a picture or make a collage or poster exploring the ideas in the song.

Extension: Students research the band Muse, their album The Second Law and the reasons behind the creation of this album. They write up their findings in a series of dot points or paragraphs in their own words.

Take It Further

Students use the internet to locate a steampunk laptop computer and 2 other images of items created by steampunk artists. They will also need to do some brief research about the steampunk genre in order to respond to the following questions in their books:

1. What is the purpose of each of the objects?

2. These objects have been created in a style called steampunk.

What is steampunk?
Why might this style be appropriate to use in creating an advertisement about recycling?

3. In your book, sketch a design for an advertisement that promotes National Recycling Week, in which one or more of the 3 objects appear. Consider the following points:

What is the main goal of your advertisement? (For example, to encourage people to take action during National Recycling Week).
How do the objects and the design of the advertisement help send that message?

4. Label or list the re-used items that appear in the images you used in the advertisement (e.g. typewriter keys, light bulbs).

Teacher Reflection

Take this opportunity to reflect on your own teaching

What did you learn about your teaching today?
What worked well?
What didn't work so well?
What would you share?
Where to next?
How are you going to get there?

National Recycling Week - Recycling Rhythms

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