Week 7: Face to Face Reading Collaborative (Lesson 2)

 

Title: Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews
Grade Level: 3rd - 5th
Duration: 45-60 minutes

Lesson Summary:

This week, students continued the Face-to-Face Reading Collaborative Unit with Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews. They started by watching a pre-recorded reading of the book and then discussed key comprehension questions about Trombone Shorty’s journey, his love for music, and his perseverance in becoming a famous musician.

After the discussion, students moved through two hands-on stations. In the first station, they built their own trombones using paper bowls, paper, and glue sticks, helping them understand how sound is created through vibration. At the second station, students worked in small groups to create music using the Suno app, inputting key words inspired by the lesson to generate original songs.

To wrap up, the class came together for a music showcase. Each group shared their song on the interactive board, explaining how their creation reflected what they learned. The highlight of the lesson was watching Trombone Shorty’s 2025 Super Bowl performance of "America the Beautiful," which helped students connect their learning to the real world and see his lasting impact on music today.

Reflection:

This was an engaging and impactful lesson, especially since Trombone Shorty is younger than most historical figures students typically learn about. Seeing him perform in the present day made the lesson feel even more relevant and exciting.

Building trombones and creating music helped reinforce key concepts in a meaningful way. Students were especially excited to hear their own songs played on the interactive board, making the lesson fun and immersive.

One of the biggest highlights was watching Trombone Shorty’s Super Bowl performance, which helped students connect their learning to the real world. They were able to see that history isn't just about the past...it's still being made today!