The following sample syllabi show you how the 15 lessons of Roots of Rhythm can be adapted and combined to meet your curriculum needs. In each case, the model of a typical six-week elementary or junior high school calendar block has been used. These plans are based on the core curriculums of New York and California.
A: Social Studies
Grade 5—US & Latin American History (New York/California)
| Week |
Country/Culture |
Drum |
RoR Lesson |
| 1 |
Portugal |
Adufe |
Lesson 1 |
| 2 |
Ghana |
Dondo |
Lesson 5 |
| 3 |
Cuba |
Bongo |
Lesson 2 |
| 4 |
Lakota Nation |
Lakota Drum |
Lesson 7 |
| 5 |
Trinidad |
Steel Drums |
Lesson 13 |
| 6 |
USA |
Turntable |
Lesson 15 |
| Alternates: Brazil (Pandeiro/Lesson 11), Guinea (Djembe/Lesson 4) |
Grade 6—The Eastern Hemisphere (New York)
| Week |
Country/Culture |
Drum |
RoR Lesson |
| 1 |
Romania |
Buhai |
Lesson 3 |
| 2 |
Turkey |
Naqqara |
Lesson 8 |
| 3 |
Egypt |
Sajat |
Lesson 10 |
| 4 |
Japan |
Kakko |
Lesson 6 |
| 5 |
Thailand |
Ranat Ek |
Lesson 9 |
| 6 |
India |
Tabla |
Lesson 15 |
Grade 6—Ancient Civilizations (California)
| Week |
Country/Culture |
Drum |
RoR Lesson |
| 1 |
Guinea |
Djembe |
Lesson 4 |
| 2 |
Egypt |
Sajat |
Lesson 10 |
| 3 |
Turkey |
Naqqara |
Lesson 8 |
| 4 |
Lakota Nation |
Lakota Drum |
Lesson 7 |
| 5 |
Japan |
Kakko |
Lesson 6 |
| 6 |
India |
Tabla |
Lesson 14 |
| Alternates: Ghana (Dondo/Lesson 5), Thailand (Ranat Ek/Lesson 9) |
B: MST/Math, Science, & Technology (New York)
Grade 5—MST Key Ideas: An Inter-Disciplinary Approach
| Week |
Subject |
Key Idea |
Drum |
RoR Lesson |
Activity |
| 1 |
Math |
Problem Solving |
Bongos |
Lesson 2 |
Group drumming with TUBS notation |
| 2 |
Math |
Math in Everyday Life |
Ranat Ek |
Lesson 9 |
Aristotle and the math behind music |
| 3 |
Science |
Scientific Inquiry/Method |
Turntable |
Lesson 15 |
The invention of recorded music |
| 4 |
Science |
Energy Production & Conservation |
Dondo |
Lesson 5 |
Materials science behind sound/pitch |
| 5 |
Technology |
Engineering Design |
Djembe |
Lesson 4 |
Build a djembe drum |
| 6 |
Technology |
Impact of Human Engineering |
Steel Drums |
Lesson 13 |
Commerce and war in the Caribbean |
C: Arts & Music (California)
Grade 6—Visual & Performing Arts Key Ideas: An Inter-Disciplinary Approach
| Week |
Subject |
Key Idea |
Drum |
RoR Lesson |
Activity |
| 1 |
Dance |
Development of Motor Skills |
Lakota Drum |
Lesson 7 |
Symbolic movements in Lakota dance |
| 2 |
Dance |
History & Function of Dance |
Pandeiro |
Lesson 11 |
Culture of Brazilian capoeira dancing |
| 3 |
Music |
Artistic Perception |
Bongos |
Lesson 2 |
Group drumming with TUBS notation |
| 4 |
Music |
Historical & Cultural Perspectives |
Buhai |
Lesson 3 |
The role of the buhai in Romanian culture |
| 5 |
Visual Arts |
Artistic Perception |
Adufe |
Lesson 1 |
The symbolic use of the adufe in Portugal |
| 6 |
Visual Arts |
Historical & Cultural Perspectives |
Turntable |
Lesson 15 |
Explore the hip-hop/break dancing/graffiti art of 1980s Brooklyn |
