SOYL

Reflective Writing:

Soundtrack of Your Life Project

As we begin to wrap up the end of the school year, it is important to note that you have changed and grown. You have developed and grown in ways that you may not even realize. Reflecting on your life and how far you have come is an big part of this writing. You will be creating a soundtrack of your life to connect and explain how the themes of your current life stage intersect with text (in the form of lyrics).

Multiple Choice

You have changed and grown this school year.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

You have developed and grown in ways that you may not even realize.

• True

• False

SO! For your project, each song that you select to be on your soundtrack must connect to one of the following nine themes.

 

Physical/Mental Changes

Such as body development & maturity of behavior.

Ethics and Self-Direction

Such as law abidance, motivation, and goal setting.

Relationships

Such as self, familial, platonic, romantic, and spiritual.

Future Interests

Such as a career or hobbies.

Cognitive Development

Your long-term education/learning.

Movement toward Independence

Things like financial stability, jobs/skill sets, autonomy, and self-care.

Realizations about the World

Wisdom gained from experiences (ex. the TwM Interview Project).

Citizenship & Community

Your role/responsibility within group membership & larger community.

Mental Health

Awareness of self & your needs.

Multiple Choice

How many themes will you have as options to work within?

• 6

• 8

• 7

• 9

Your soundtrack needs at least six (6) songs.

Your goal is to have a song for six (6) different themes from the nine previously stated.

After you have decided which theme/events you are working with for each song, start researching songs’ lyrics that you can connect to those themes/events.

Then, identify the lyrics of the song and use those lyrics to explain thoughtfully how this song specifically represents the themes/events of your life. 

 

Researching your songs can be difficult, especially if you do not have a place to start in your thinking. Follow these four steps to help you reach the success criteria for this project…

Multiple Choice

How many steps will help you become successful with this project?

• 2

• 4

• 3

• 6

​Step One: use your concept notes to refresh what you have gone through and experienced. If you skip this part, it will be challenging to stay focused.

 

Step Two: decide to research based on what’s happening using keywords. For example, you could search “songs about struggling with emotions”, or “songs about losing a best friend”, or “songs about the best day ever”. Read over the lyrics of songs you may know/don’t know and note how you can connect them. 

 

Step Three: select a song that connects on the themes of your selected section. Read the lyrics and listen to the song. Does the mood of the song seem to match what is happening for your life event/experience? Identify all connections you can between song and your life.

 

Step Four: complete your soundtrack for each theme by completing the templates provided for you. Make sure to review your rubric for assessment before beginning your song selections/lyrics and writing practice. 

 

Quick reminder: select school-appropriate lyrics (language AND content). Unsure? Ask your teacher. If it is not school-appropriate, you will not earn credit for your output. 

Multiple Choice

How many songs does the Soundtrack of Your Life need?

• 4

• 8

• 6

• 9

Let's go to Schoology now and look at the
Concept Map to start
Step One