Teach Physiology, Physics, & Perseverance with Beethoven
This week I played Beethoven to our co-op and they were riveted - captured by the drama and the beauty. Then I told them, Beethoven composed most of his music deaf. In this week’s newsletter, we’ll teach kids about Physiology and Physics but perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from Beethoven is Perseverance.
Beethoven → The Best Music Ever Written?
OK, I won’t argue whether or not Beethoven’s music is the best ever written but it’s hard not to agree it’s some of the best. It’s 200 years old but still manages to enchant 21st century children. Further, the story of Beethoven is as captivating as it gets. Beethoven started composing at 11 and started going deaf at 26. The final 10 years of his life, when he wrote arguably his best work, he was completely deaf. So how did he do that? We will discuss this and much more. This lesson was a true delight.Masterpiece Lesson Plans are a Paid Members Exclusive. Paid members, read on below.
Explore the music → Play Beethoven’s music. Ask the kids how many of the songs they recognize. If you want a curated list THIS 10 minute compilation highlights his work from age 11-56. Ask Do you notice any changes in his music style as he starts to go deaf (26) or is completely deaf (46)? Is it happy, sad, more intense? Does it make use of different musical ranges? Beethoven went deaf in the higher register first (high notes). Many scholars believe this is why his compositions move to the lower register before opening back up in his later years.
How did Beethoven compose deaf? → Watch THIS video with you kids to learn about how we can use math to predict what sounds are harmonious and THIS video to explore what Beethoven’s music would have sounded to him as he went deaf. The latter video uses filters so if you have aspiring Engineers it’s a great time to discuss what a digital filter is and how it impacts high and low frequency signals.
Perseverance → Take some time to discuss how it would have been easier for Beethoven to find another profession. But he didn’t. He adapted. We know from his letters that hearing loss was excruciating for him but he didn’t stop. He persevered. A great education isn’t only about knowledge, it’s about ensuring our children have character role models. That they know that sometimes the impossible is possible.
Learn Sign Language → My children have been learning American Sign Language (ASL) for about 6 months. My initial intention was to put them in someone else’s shoes. However, I will tell you that it’s surprisingly useful! Communicating across a room without speaking or communicating quickly while others are talking. I highly encourage you to consider teaching your kids as well.
We use THIS free program. The instructor is a professor and uses high quality pedagogy with spiral methodology and a focus on high use words. There are quizzes/exams and instructions for how to turn it into school credits for homeschoolers (if desired). NOTE: This is American Sign language program. There are hundreds of sign languages and just like spoken language they are localized. If you want to be able to speak to people who are deaf in your region, finding a local program is advised.
Physiology & Physics → AKA Sound & Hearing
I’ve taught physiology for nearly 2 decades and hearing remains one of my favorite topics. It is fascinating how the body takes something invisible (movement of air) and turns it into a signal that allows our brain to “hear”.
What even IS sound? → Sound is vibration of air molecules. If you need a refresher THIS and THIS video are good places to start. It’s worth asking kids what they think sound is before diving into the lesson. It’s rather abstract and helps train the mind to describe things in their world.
Visualizing sound → The idea of sand being air molecule vibration is abstract and hard to grasp. That’s why I love sound exemplified on vibrating sand tables! This allows you to see the impact of sound frequencies on the sand as they form beautiful patterns. THIS and THIS are excellent videos and THIS is just outstandingly beautiful demonstration of sound on matter - includes other things besides sound which is why I include it last.
How do we hear? → HERE is a great video from NIH describing how we hear. Below are 2 activities to help integrate this information for your kids.
Color the Ear → Before the game, have kids color and talk through the parts of the ear. HERE is the free coloring sheet we used. See my oldest’s below. I particularly love the yay ears written on top - which is so her! It’s also worth talking about why ears are shaped the way they are and how ear shape, sizes, and location differ between predators and prey animals.
Hearing telephone → This is a twist on telephone, the game where kids take turns whispering a word or phrase to each other while in a circle. Usually ends with hysterical laughter as the word or phrase is mangled. This time pass a word or phrase through the “ear”. Each kid can be a part of the cycle SOUND → AURICLE → EAR CANAL → EAR DRUM → 3 BONES (malleus, incus, stapes) → COCHLEA → NERVE → BRAIN. Have the “sound” whisper the word or phrase and the “brain” tell the answer. Have all other parts act out their role - always good to get a drum for the … you guessed it… ear drum and I always have everyone vibrate and wiggle to pretend to be sound waves. We had sooo much fun doing this!
At the end of this lesson, kids should have a stronger appreciation for the invisible thing we call sound. Moreover, my kids asked me to play Beethoven for days afterwords. Learning about Beethoven’s history makes his music all that much sweeter.
Happy Learning friends! ~Dr. Claire Honeycutt
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