5th Graders Find Connections Between Gershwin and Fractions

On February 4, the fifth graders attended the Opera Carolina preview of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. The students learned about George Gershwin's life and why he was inspired to turn Dubose Heyward¹s book, Porgy, into an opera. Students listened for syncopation and instrumentation in contrasting works such as "Summertime" and "It Ain't Necessarily So." The fifth graders took the trip to gain a better understanding of jazz music and to supplement a portfolio project they have been working on. In their portfolio project, they have been studying how notes can be written as fractions and each musical measure has the same sum. Then each student composed their own rhythm piece.