2nd Grade: English
Lesson Plan Outline

Blind Willie McTell

Internationally Known Blues Song-Writer and Performer

Prepared by: Ale Kennedy Title: Associate Director of Human

Representing: Georgia Southern University

Date: June 3, 2011

Content Area: English for 2nd graders

Background Info: According to the Blind Willie biography, he could tell the color of his suit by feel. He could determine the color (adjectives) by the feel of the fabric. How good will we be at describing items (using adjectives) by feeling it? Could you identify the color of an item by feel? Why not? How did he know blue from red anyway? (Answer: He was born with some sight in one eye but later lost it.)

Instructional Objective/Learning Outcome:

The students will broaden their knowledge about adjectives through using them to describe both objects and music. Adjectives can be used to describe many objects and can also be used to describe music. Even though the objects or the music are not seen, students can come up with many descriptive words to help others understand what their senses are telling them.

The student will:

1. With their eyes blind folded share with the class the adjectives they used to describe the objects in the bag.
2. Take the blind fold off and write down the adjectives that describe the music they listen to.
3. Share their adjectives with the class.

Assessment Outcome:

Five mystery bags will be distributed around the room. Each student is asked to place one hand in the bag and feel the object. They can touch the object, shake the bag, etc., but they cannot look at the object. The student should then write down as many adjectives as they can to describe the unknown object. After each child has written adjectives for all five bags, the adjectives will be shared with the class. The teacher will ask the students if they can name the object. Next, the teacher will play a sample of Blind Willie McTell music and the students will write down adjectives that describe the music such as how it makes them feel and what it makes them think about. The students will then share their adjectives with the class. The song ‘Searching for the Desert for Blues’ uses many different adjectives in the song that can help students’ better grasp this concept.

Materials:
Bandannas for each students to be used as blind folds
5 paper bags
5 different objects to place in each bag (use music items—guitar string, harmonica, baton, etc—or other common items such as puzzle piece, tweezers, rubber duck, string, etc.)
Blind Willie McTell song, “Searching the Desert for the Blues”