Songwriting Lesson Plan Your Song Starts Here!
Lesson Plan: Music Production Basics
Target Audience
7th Grade
Time & Approach
Duration: 90 Minutes
Approach: Hands-on & Guided
Preparation
Review the Songwriting Slide Deck and Teacher Script.
Print Lyric Writing Worksheets for each student.
Setup whiteboard or projector for slides.
Gather pens/pencils and notebooks.
Test audio equipment for music examples.
Objective
Students will be able to identify key components of a song, brainstorm lyrical themes, and understand basic rhyme schemes and song structures to begin writing their own lyrics.
Instructional Flow
10 min
Introduction & Warm-Up
Engage students with the Rhyme Time Warm-Up .
"Today, we're going to unlock the secrets of songwriting! We'll explore how to turn our thoughts and feelings into powerful lyrics."
15 min
What Makes a Song?
Use the Slide Deck to discuss melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics.
Facilitate a class discussion about favorite songs and what makes them memorable.
20 min
Brainstorming Ideas
Guide students through lyrical themes: personal experiences, emotions, or observations.
Students begin the 'Theme and Ideas' section of the Lyric Writing Worksheet .
20 min
Rhyme Schemes & Devices
Introduce AABB, ABAB, alliteration, metaphor, and simile.
Practice via the 'Rhyme and Devices' section of the worksheet.
15 min
Basic Song Structure
Explain Verse, Chorus, and Bridge.
Activity: Song Structure Activity (Shuffled slips).
10 min
Wrap-Up & Cool-Down
Students share one developed idea or lyric.
Conclude with the One Word Song Cool Down .
Resource Checklist
Projector
Slide Deck
Script
Warm-Up Sheet
Worksheet
Activity Slips
Cool Down Sheet
Audio Setup
Songwriting Slide Deck Music Production Workshop
YOUR SONG
STARTS HERE
Ever wondered how your favorite songs come to life? Today, we're becoming songwriters!
Creative Warm-Up: Rhyme Time!
Let's get our brains rhyming! Think of as many words as you can that rhyme with these words:
Word 1
STAR
Word 2
DREAM
We'll shout them out together!
What Makes a Song a Song?
Songs are like delicious recipes! They have different ingredients that work together:
Melody
The main tune you hum along to.
Harmony
Supporting sounds that fill the space.
Rhythm
The beat that makes you want to move.
Lyrics
The words that tell the story.
Where Do Ideas Come From?
Feelings
Happy, sad, excited, bored, or lonely.
Experiences
A great day, a challenge, or a memory.
Stories
Real or imagined ones, books, or movies.
Observations
What do you notice around you right now?
Brainstorming Your Theme
Let's find your song's big idea!
What is a topic you actually care about?
What message do you want to share with others?
Start broad, then narrow it down to one focus.
We'll use our Lyric Writing Worksheet for this!
The Art of Rhyme
AABB Scheme
Lines that rhyme in pairs.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
ABAB Scheme
Alternating rhyming lines.
Roses are red,
Making Words Pop!
Alliteration
Repeating beginning sounds.
"Sally sells seashells."
Metaphor
Saying something IS something else.
"Life is a highway."
Simile
Comparing using "like" or "as".
"Strong as an ox."
Imagery
Creating pictures in the mind.
Vivid, sensory descriptions.
Song Structure: Building Blocks
Verse
Tells the story. New details each time.
Chorus
The main message. Catchy and repeated.
Bridge
A change of pace. New perspective or build-up.
Coming Up: Song Structure Shuffle Activity!
KEEP CREATING!
Listen
Keep an
Practice
Final Thought:
What is one thing you learned or created today?
Songwriting Teacher Script Songwriting Teacher Script
Lesson: Your Song Starts Here! | Duration: 90 Minutes
10 MIN
Introduction & Warm-Up
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're diving into the exciting world of music production, specifically focusing on how to write songs and lyrics. Has anyone ever tried to write a song before, or even just a poem?"
(Pause for responses. Acknowledge and encourage any sharing.)
Teacher: "That's awesome! Whether you have or haven't, today is about unlocking that creative potential. We're going to learn how to turn our thoughts, feelings, and stories into powerful lyrics. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to identify key parts of a song, brainstorm lyrical ideas, and understand how to use rhymes and structure."
Teacher: "To get our creative brains warmed up, let's do a quick 'Rhyme Time' activity. Look at the word on the slide: 'STAR'. What are some words that rhyme with 'star'? Just shout them out!"
(Guide students through the Rhyme Time Warm-Up activity, writing suggestions on the board. Repeat with 'DREAM'.)
15 MIN
What Makes a Song?
Refer to Slide: "What Makes a Song a Song?"
Teacher: "Now, let's think about what makes a song, well, a *song*. It's like a delicious recipe with different ingredients. We have the melody, which is the tune you hum. The harmony supports that melody. The rhythm is the beat that makes you want to dance. And then we have the lyrics – the words that give the song its meaning."
Teacher: "Turn to a partner and discuss for one minute: What's one song you love, and what about its lyrics stands out to you?"
20 MIN
Brainstorming Ideas
Refer to Slide: "Where Do Song Ideas Come From?"
Teacher: "Songwriters draw from everywhere: feelings, experiences, stories, or observations. Today, you're starting your own song. Take out your Lyric Writing Worksheet and look at 'Theme and Ideas'."
Teacher: "What's a topic you care about? Spend the next 10 minutes writing down as many ideas as you can. Don't worry about rhyming yet – just focus on the 'What' and 'Why'."
20 MIN
Rhyme Schemes & Poetic Devices
Refer to Slide: "The Art of Rhyme"
Teacher: "Rhyme schemes are patterns. AABB is pairs, like 'star/are'. ABAB is alternating, like 'red/blue/sweet/you'. We also use 'poetic devices' to make words pop. Alliteration (Sally sells seashells), Metaphor (Life is a highway), and Simile (Strong as an ox)."
Teacher: "On your worksheet, find the 'Rhyme and Devices Practice'. Try to write a few lines using a scheme and at least one poetic device."
15 MIN
Basic Song Structure
Refer to Slide: "Song Structure: Building Blocks"
Rhyme Time Warm-Up Worksheet Rhyme Time Warm-Up
Workshop Phase 01
Artist Name
__________________________________________
Production Date
____ / ____ / 20____
Instructions
With your teacher and classmates, brainstorm as many words as you can that rhyme with the target words below. Let's get those creative gears turning!
Word 01: STAR
List your rhyming words here...
Word 02: DREAM
List your rhyming words here...
Your Song Starts Here © Music Production Basics
Lyric Writing Worksheet Lyric Lab Worksheet
Theme & Wordplay Practice
Artist: ________________________
Date: ________________________
01
Theme & Ideas (Brainstorming)
Think about what you want your song to be about. What feelings, experiences, stories, or observations are important to you? Write down as many ideas as you can below.
My Top Song Idea/Theme
Narrow it down! Which idea from above do you feel strongest about?
02
Rhyme & Devices Practice
Rhyme Scheme Practice
Write 4 lines using an AABB or ABAB scheme. Circle your rhyming words.
Example (AABB)
I went to the store, and saw a big cat ,hat .chair ,air .
Poetic Devices Practice
Write 1-2 sentences using one of the devices below. Underline the device you used.
Alliteration
Metaphor
Simile
My sentence using a poetic device...
© Lyric Lab Studio Sessions
Phase 02: Wordplay
Song Structure Activity Structure Shuffle
Song Structure Activity
7th Grade Music Production
Teacher Section: Song Slips (Cut these out)
Slip A
The sun was bright on Monday morn,
A brand new week, a day just born.
My backpack heavy, full of dread,
Another math test in my head.
Slip B
Oh-oh-oh, the rhythm takes control!
Oh-oh-oh, it stirs my very soul!
With every beat, I feel so free,
Music is the key for me!
Slip C
Then in the hall, a sound I heard,
A catchy tune, each perfect word.
My shoulders started to sway and tap,
Forgot the test, forgot the trap.
Slip D
Sometimes life feels upside down,
A frown can take over any town.
But then a melody, a chord so strong,
Helps me sing my happy song.
Slip E
Yeah, music is the key...
For you and me...
(Fade out...)
The Challenge
Work with your group to arrange the slips into a logical song structure. Most songs follow a pattern like: Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Bridge → Chorus → Outro.
1. Your Group's Final Order
List the slips (A, B, C, D, E) in the order you arranged them.
1
2
3
4
5
2. Justification
Why did you choose this order? How did the lyrics help you decide which part was the Verse vs. the Chorus?
Studio Activity 03: Song Structure Mastery
One Word Cool Down Exit Ticket The One-Word
Song
Think about today's lesson. What's ONE word that comes to mind?
It could be a feeling, a concept, or a new idea.
My Word:
Artist Initials
____________________
Session Complete
