Need ideas for an elective class

My 5th class is driving me crazy because there is no real curriculum and I am super organized.

This is a 10 week class and I am beating my head agaisnt a wall. Basically the first 5 weeks is "Project citizen" the kids do a huge research problem and then presentations. It runs really smoothly because everyday of the first 5 weeks I pretty much give them a new "sheet" to complete for that day and then a week to do the project board and presentation...done.

The second 5 weeks is supposed to look at History through MUSIC. They gave me a bunch of BORING-want-to-stab-your-eyes-out DVD's on the roots of different types of music and not much else. I never show it to the kids.

I show Forrest Gump and they have to research the music and historical events.

I also have them do a "soundtrack of my life" project, which they love, the last week.

I need ideas! What is the best way to organize this? anyone teach a similar course?

Re: Need ideas for an elective class

Could you do something different like a mock trial? or mock gubernatorial election (pair up 2 candidates and have multiple debates? - moderators, etc)


For history of music, could you change it to music in history? I have a lesson on cold war music (all non american artists) and how the era affected songs. (Russians - Sting; 99 Red Balloons - Nena, etc)

I have also used Johnny Clegg for South Africa and there is also the SUn City song for SA.

Give Ireland Back to the Irish - P McCartney; Italian and German operas - nationalism; trubadours; waltzes. Sting also recently came out with an album of ~12-13th century songs

Re: Need ideas for an elective class

Project Citizen- maybe they can research issues in the U.S today? And take a stand on it? Or write a "mock" letter to a Congressman?
(I taught Civics but to older students so my ideas might be too old- sorry)

Re: Need ideas for an elective class

Why not take the Billy Joel Song "We Didn't Start the Fire", give groups part of the song to research as to what each event was and why it was an important piece of history from that time period.