Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

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3-5 Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan (Grades 3-5): Code-Your-Own Coordinate Art - An In-Depth Grades 3–5 STEM & Math Unit

Code-Your-Own Coordinate Art for grades 3–5 blends coordinate plotting and coding by creating pixel art with ordered-pair “scripts,” decoding peers’ designs, debugging errors, and showcasing a final gallery.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 13 (Grade 5 Music): Melodic Improvisation

Grade 5 music: improvise melodies that express a chosen mood or scene using limited pitch sets and rhythms, then explain how your musical choices fit the purpose and context.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 12 (Grade 5 Music): Chords & Simple Harmony

Grade 5 music: create simple chord accompaniments for familiar melodies, choosing I/IV/V patterns and textures that fit a purpose or context, then explain your harmony choices.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 11 (Grade 5 Music): Major & Minor Tonality

Grade 5 music: create major/minor melodies, use dynamics/tempo/articulation, and explain how tonality shapes mood and meaning.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 10 (Grade 5 Music): Melodic Direction & Contour

Grade 5 melodic contour unit: students analyze and perform melodies by tracking pitch direction, contour, and phrase shape, then explain—using musical evidence—how melodic structure influences meaning, expression, and listener response.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 9 (Grade 5 Music): Rhythm Performance & Etiquette

Grade 5 rhythm performance unit: play rhythm pieces with steady accuracy, expressive interpretation, and proper performer decorum plus respectful audience etiquette for any venue.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 8 (Grade 5 Music): Rhythm Ensemble Rehearsal

Refine Grade 5 rhythmic ensemble skills with criteria-based rehearsal, peer/teacher feedback, and progress tracking to improve accuracy, coordination, and expressive performance over time.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 7 (Grade 5 Music): Expressive Rhythm

Explore how Grade 5 students use dynamics, tempo, and articulation to transform the same rhythm into different moods, justify interpretive choices, and explain how expression shapes listener response.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 6 (Grade 5 Music): Notating Rhythm & Harmony

Document Grade 5 rhythm + simple harmony ideas using notation/recording so students can share, replay, and perform patterns accurately with clear directions and chord/drone support.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 5 (Grade 5 Music): Rhythm Improvisation

Create Grade 5 rhythm improvisations for real events, then refine the best ideas into clear 1–2 measure patterns that match purpose, audience, and context using musical evidence.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 4 (Grade 5 Music): Rhythm in Context

Explore how Grade 5 rhythm and tempo reveal a song’s style and purpose, using cultural/historical context to guide performance choices and explain listener responses with evidence.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 3 (Grade 5 Music): Reading Rhythm Patterns

Read and perform Grade 5 rhythm patterns from standard notation using counting/syllables and chunking, building confident, accurate clapping, speaking, and playing in common meters.

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Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 2 (Grade 5 Music): Steady Beat & Complex Meter

Grade 5 students review steady beat and explore simple vs. compound meter through movement, clapping, instruments, and listening—using musical evidence to explain how beat groupings shape feelings, responses, and performance choices.

Grade 5 Music Units

Unit Plan 1 (Grade 5 Music): Music Routines & Listening

Grade 5 students build music routines, listening focus, and performance habits while connecting personal interests and experiences to music they hear and perform.

The Admin Angle

The Admin Angle: Why Principals Should Stop Chasing Perfect Fidelity and Start Measuring Impact

Principals should shift from checklist fidelity to outcome-based leadership—measuring student learning, honoring teacher judgment, and leading for impact.

Blog

Culturally Responsive Math Talks: Bridging Achievement Gaps Through Story Problems

Use culturally responsive Math Talks to embed familiar contexts in story problems, boost discourse, support language development, and close math gaps.

Parent Tips

Parent Tips: Solving Transitions—Lining Up, Switching Tasks, and Pack-Up Pain

End transition meltdowns with a shared school-home system using visual schedules, first–then boards, countdowns, micro-steps, and quick rehearsals.

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6-8 Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan (Grades 6-8): Math Mystery Escape Room

Grade 6–8 students solve coordinate, ratio, and volume puzzles in a collaborative math escape room that builds problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 36 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Vocal Performance Day

Grade 6 singers present a final performance showing growth in pitch, rhythm, diction, and expression while demonstrating strong ensemble and audience etiquette.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 35 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Preparing to Perform

Grade 6 singers refine a final performance piece by using teacher feedback to improve pitch, rhythm, diction, and expression with confidence.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 34 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Vocal Choice & Reflection

Explain how tone, dynamics, and lyrics shape a song’s meaning, then justify which vocal pieces fit specific purposes by connecting choices to personal experiences.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 33 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Evaluating Our Singing

Grade 6 students evaluate personal and ensemble performances using clear criteria, give specific feedback, and set goals to improve future vocal performances.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 32 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Expressive Performance

Grade 6 singers perform with confidence and expressive intent, using clear diction, posture, breath, and dynamics to communicate meaning in ensemble music.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 31 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Independent Rehearsal Skills

Grade 6 singers build independence by using rehearsal strategies to improve pitch, rhythm, and blend, practicing effectively without constant teacher guidance.

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Grade 6 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 30 (Grade 6 Vocal Music): Improving Vocal Technique

Grade 6 singers refine posture, breathing, tone, and diction for healthy changing voices, using feedback to adjust technique and perform with stronger, clearer sound.