Modernism and Rock-n-Roll 1945-1990 Teacher Resources

While music lyrics are often used to teach literary elements, the richness of this resource comes from the wealth of exercises, activities, and support materials provided in the packet.  Although designed for gifted learners, the...

Pupils will be tapping their toes to this upbeat, rock 'n' roll song that counts from one to twenty and provides a visual representation of each number!  

Seven major abstract art movements are analyzed by learners in groups. Each group analyzes various works by determining which work belongs to which movement. They then read Flatland, engage in an art and literary analysis discussion,...

Henry David Thoreau and Linda Ronstadt? Ann Tyler and Pete Townshend? Joyce Carol Oates and Pearl Jam? This richly detailed plan pairs classic literature with contemporary music and asks learners to analyze how the theme of conformity is...

Rock out with the ABCs! Listen to a new take on the alphabet song with this rock 'n' roll version that will surely make the class want to dance. 

An alphabet doo-wop group sings a tune all about the letter Z. Words appear alongside captivating graphics set to a rock 'n' roll beat. 

U is for up and upside down and many other unbelievably unique and useable words! Get up and rock out with a traditional rock 'n roll-themed music video featuring the letter U. 

A fun, rock n' roll beat and light-hearted example sentences make up this music video designed to support your instruction of perfect tense verbs, have and has.

Possessive pronouns have never sounded so good! Sing along and practice reading sentences using the possessive pronouns mine and yours with this rock n' roll music video.    

Add a little rock 'n' roll flare to the traditional alphabet song with this modern rendition that first sings a laid back, slow version, then speeds things up with a more upbeat tempo.   

For this music worksheet, students find the words that are used to name bands and the answers are found by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.

Kids explore Gullah music from Africa and then create original compositions based on what they've learned. They practice traditional melodies and rhythms then make some of their own, which they then perform for the class. 

In the effort to soothe the suffering of the Great Depression, New Deal programs funded a variety of approaches - including a theater project that proved controversial! Using documents such as oral histories, as well as photographs of...

Need a musical lesson for your drama or performing arts class? VH1 has put together a really neat lesson, in which learners use biographical information about Alicia Keys to write and perform a one-act musical related to her life. This...

Youth, fame, and beauty are marks of modern society. Artist Elizabeth Peyton has captured all three in her series of imagined rock star portraits. The class analyzes her use of technique, emotion, and imagination in each of six pieces,...

Get to know the four seasons with a rock n' roll ballad. Listen and sway as the singer details the four seasons, complete with hand-drawn animation and a fun beat.

Young explorers investigate Australian Aboriginal culture by listening to traditional Dreamtime stories and examining dot paintings created by Aboriginal artists. In addition, they locate the country on maps, discuss the geography of...

High schoolers view and discuss the movie, Music of the Heart. They compare/contrast two versions of the song, Music of My Heart, identify characteristics of heroes, and sing the song, Music of My Heart.

Music, art, and poetry coalesce in a single exhibition, and in a single lesson. Critical thinkers analyze the Fluxus art movement as it's seen in the work of Paul Chan's 7 Lights. They consider the use of poetry and music in his work,...

Elizabeth Peyton is an artist who creates images of people (often famous) that she doesn't personally know. These images become part of her imagined community. Learners analyze her work, her community of imagined friends, and then create...

Gagaku is music traditionally played in the Japanese imperial courts of long ago. Learners listen to this and other traditional Japanese music to gain an understanding of culture and music history. They work to identify Japanese...

Students make connection between music and art. In this integrated arts activity, students complete gesture drawing activities as they listen to Cuban, flamenco, classical, jazz, and contemporary music. 

Learners investigate how art and music define and unify a social movement. They decide how art and music can act as symbols of protest. They view both contemporary and historical examples of art as a tool for protest and design an art...

Students explore the music soldiers listen to before and after battle. They attempt to develop an understanding of the role music plays in this conflict. They create their own lyrics to attempt to construct a pro-war and anti-war song.