Smithsonian Institution
African American Music: Let’s Sing and Play Clapping Games
Two lessons focus on making a beat. Using popular African American music of its time, scholars listen and analyze the rhythm then recreate it with hands drums, and cups.
Curated OER
Warm Up to Weaving With the Right Lesson Plans
Explore the process of creating the fabrics, cloths, blankets, and rugs that warm the chilly months of winter with weaving lesson plans.
PJ Library
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Teach children that just because something is old, doesn't mean you have to throw it away with a reading of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. Engaging children with an arts and crafts activity in which they patch the holes in...
Curated OER
Rhythmic Travel Around the World
Pupils explore and play rhythm sticks while listening to songs from around the world. They locate the countries of origin on a map, and tap their rhythm sticks to the beat of the music.
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Musical Sounds
Students investigate music appreciation by completing worksheets. In this musical arts lesson, students complete worksheets in which they identify different musical instruments, the sounds they make and the family of instruments they...
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MUSICAL ELEMENTS OF THE LITTLE PRINCE
Students demonstrate knowledge of musical instruments and the families of the orchestra. They acknowledge different voice types found in opera. Students interpret emotional expressions through listening. They compose sounds to express...
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Around the World in 180 Days
Where did I come from? How did I come to be in this classroom? Using curriculum from Kidspiration, class members research the homelands of their ancestors, as well as the journeys that began from many parts of the world and ended with...
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Cultural Music Festival
Students participate in planning a multi-cultural community event. In this cultural music lesson, parents, community members, and teachers provide time, music, advertisement, and refreshments to create a community multi-cultural music...
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Nutrition: A Thematic Unit
Young learners explore nutrition and the food groups in these two mini-lesson plan ideas. First, kindergarteners have a discussion about their health and how different foods contribute to it before making their own personal food pyramid....
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The Beat of Mexico
Students explore mariachi music and create their own rhythm instruments. They study the music of Mexico. They listen to a variety of music, then vote for the song they liked the best.
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Basket Making
Young scholars create a basket. In this basket making lesson plan, students explore the Ojibway culture and discover the history of basket making. Young scholars design and construct a basket.
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Monet's Magical Garden
Students study classic paintings by masters like Monet. In this art history lesson plan, students listen to the story Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert and sing flower songs with the rest of their class. Students examine the painting The...
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Lesson Plans for 2nd grade Japan Unit
Second graders explore the music and dance of Japan in this five lessons unit. Aspects of Janpanese and American culture are compared. The food, holidays, clothing, and the school day of the two countries are discussed.
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Music: The Experience of a Lifetime
Students use rhymes, songs and games to help them study music. They discover how music can be used with movement, speech and singing.
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Low Brass: Tibet, Switzerland and Haiti
Students identify sounds played on instruments from around the world. In this music lesson, students listen to music played on various low brass instruments from Tibet, Switzerland and Haiti to determine the differences in pitch...
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America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)
Students perform a song using correct rhythms, accurate pitches, and dynamic phrasing. They perform an accompaniment to "America" on Orff instruments.
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Ocean Life Mural
How many oceans can you name? First, have learners try to name as many oceans as they can, and then have them locate and identify the oceans on a world map. They create a recognizable ocean animal using poster board and tissue paper....
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Lullabies From Around the World
Students investigate lullabies from Ghana, Poland, and India. In this music lesson, students learn several lullabies from several countries and find the rhythm and pulse within each song.
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Metallic Sounds
Students differentiate between metallic and non-metallic sounds. In this music instructional activity, students listen to the audio clip of "March" and march in time with the music. Students identify the metallic sounds in the music...
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Folk Dancing Fun
First graders discuss different kinds of music they have heard. They listen to a short selection of folk music and discuss where they think it is from. Using a globe, the teacher shows students where the music is from. They spread out on...
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Archeologists For a Day
Students listen to a reading about fossils and go on a hunt for items with fossil characteristics. For this cross curricular fossil lesson, students will examine their fossil finds and create a graphic organizer. Students listen to...
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Japanese music
Pupils explain music in relation to history and culture. They explore "Tanko Bushi."
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Introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven
"Ode to la Tortilla" and "Ode to Joy"? Sure! Use Gary Soto's poem to introduce learners to the ode format. After examining the descriptive words Soto uses, class members study a poster of Ludwig van Beethoven, suggest words that describe...
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Silk Dragons - Activity 1
Students investigate and discuss Japanese art and culture through an online video and a KWL chart. This activity is an introduction to Japanese art with two supplemental lessons provided for further activities.