Note to Teachers: The programs viewed in conjunction with these lesson plans may include references, consistent with the eras portrayed, to substance abuse, violent acts, and topics of a sexual and/or political nature. Because this may be considered inappropriate for classroom use in some communities, you are encouraged to review the programs before presenting them to your students, and if necessary, choose those sections that enhance your lesson and are acceptable for use in your classroom. VH1 Heavy: The Story of Metal (Part 2) VH1 Music Studio Cable in the Classroom Lesson for Music Classes, Grades 7-12 Lesson 3 Objectives: * Students will learn to sing the chorus of the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister. * Students will compose an alternate version of the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister. * Students will perform their own version of "We're Not Gonna Take It." * Students will practice proper audience behavior. National Standards: 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. Materials: * VHS VCR Player * Television * Audio playback equipment * VH1 Heavy: The Story of Metal (Part 2) * An audio recording of "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister (from album Stay Hungry, 1984) * Student copies of the Lyrics of "We're Not Gonna Take It" (provided below) * An audio recording of the karaoke version of "We're Not Gonna Take It" (can be found at several online stores; for example, at www.walmart.com you can download it for less than $1. If this is not a possibility, the teacher can accompany the students on a guitar or piano, or have the students come up with their own accompaniment). * Chalkboard/ dry-erase board Prior Knowledge: * Students have viewed Heavy: The Story of Metal (Part 2) in its entirety and/or completed Lesson 1 and/or Lesson 2. Procedures: 1. Ask students to name some of the wrongs in today's society that they wish were not there (for example: murder, child abuse, theft, gang violence, etc.) and write each one on the board. Ask students if they have heard of any of these wrongs in the news lately. 2. Give each student a copy of the lyrics of the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister (below). 3. Have the students listen to "We're Not Gonna Take It." 4. After listening to the song, explain to the students that Dee Snider, the lead vocalist of Twisted Sister, wrote this song to express his feelings about certain issues in society at that time. This song was very popular in its day, and even today it is still used very often (for example, it was the anthem in Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2003 gubernatorial campaign, and it is used in wrestling, in commercials, protests, political rallies, sports events, etc.). 5. Cue the tape to 16:09 ending at 17:26 and have students watch this section that deals with the song. 6. Have the students listen to the song again. Encourage them to sing along with the parts they know, especially the chorus. 7. Explain to the students that they will compose a verse for the song. It will be with the same original melody but with their self-composed lyrics. They must choose a topic from the board that they would like to write their verse about. They can work together in their choice of a group or individually. They will perform their song for the rest of the class when it is their turn. 8. Allow students adequate time to complete their lyrics. Explains to the students when they hear other students' performances they must applaud for each composition. "Boo-ing" or any negative reaction to any student's composition is not allowed, as the composition is the expression of the individual and must be respected. Depending on the time limit and the number of students the teacher is working with, the teacher may want to leave the performance part of this lesson for the next class. 9. The song will be performed as follows: Chorus - Student's verse - Chorus. 10. Students present their song with the karaoke (or other) accompaniment when it is their turn (the teacher turns the karaoke accompaniment down after the second time the chorus is sung). National Standards for Music Education 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture. These standards-based materials are provided through a partnership with MENC: The National Association for Music Education. This lesson plan was created by MENC member Maureen Goeldjar Brown, Dove Science Academy, Tulsa, OK. WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT by Twisted Sister (Album: Stay Hungry, 1984) Chorus: oh we're not gonna take it no, we ain't gonna take it oh we're not gonna take it anymore we've got the right to choose and there ain't no way we'll lose it this is our life, this is our song we'll fight the powers that be just don't pick our destiny 'cause you don't know us, you don't belong Chorus ... oh you're so condescending your gall is never ending we don't want nothin', not a thing from you your life is trite and jaded boring and confiscated if that's your best, your best won't do oh..................... oh..................... we're right/yeah we're free/yeah we'll fight/yeah you'll see/yeah Chorus ... oh we're not gonna take it no, we ain't gonna take it oh we're not gonna take it anymore no way! oh..................... oh..................... we're right/yeah we're free/yeah we'll fight/yeah you'll see/yeah we're not gonna take it no, we ain't gonna take it we're not gonna take it anymore we're not gonna take it, no! no, we ain't gonna take it we're not gonna take it anymore just you try and make us we're not gonna take it come on no, we ain't gonna take it you're all worthless and weak we're not gonna take it anymore now drop and give me twenty we're not gonna take it a pledge pin no, we ain't gonna take it oh you on your uniform we're not gonna take it anymore