Activity Resource 3a: Introducing context

To see one way of approaching the process of introducing contextual learning, watch Video 1a to see how a teacher focuses on context throughout the course of the first lesson in an early Year 8 unit on understanding the conventions of samba music. You can also hear the end-of-unit performance from one group in the class by listening to Audio 1a  1mb, so that you can identify the impact on final outcomes.

It is important to recognise that this is only one way of bringing in the contextual learning to the unit (learning about the context first, and then experiencing how this informs the music through practical activity).

How might the teacher have used the other ways of introducing context for this unit? (Think about engaging with the music first, and then considering the impact of context; or perhaps a very fluid flow of learning between consideration of the context and a practical experience of the music.)

Now use Task 9 ('Articulating the context of the music') to apply this thinking to the development of your own unit, and to complete the next section of the planning template.