Third graders analyze the importance of characters in fiction writing and performances.  In this theatre instructional activity, 3rd graders identify the important characteristics of a fictional character and how to portray a...

Can school children change the world? With a social or environmental issue in mind, 5th graders use what they know about advertising media to make t-shirts that have something to say. They research the issue they'd like to focus on,...

American music is the result of the influence of many cultures, including the traditions brought by the African slaves. Young scholars study the polyrhythms, the call-and-response format, and the vocal improvisations of the Gullah...

Students listen to Isaac Stern lead a musician through steps to self-evaluating a performance. They compare their instrumental performance with a live vocal performance.

Learners investigate the concept of social ettiquette. They complete exercises that are targeted at finding the right kind of behavior to display while performing in a concert setting. They make a list of the most desirable behaviors for...

Students engage in a activity that is about searching the attributes of characterization. They practice some of the basic moves involved in acting out a certain character while focusing upon basic skits like "the freeze". The exercise...

Students discuss how to critique a musical piece properly. After listening to different types of music, they identify the strengths and weaknesses of the piece. They also develop solutions to the problems in the music for further...

Young scholars probe the musical style of scat singing with imitation instruments. While listening to the musical pieces, they identify when one singer finishes and another begins. The singing groups' styles are contrasted in this lesson...

Students analyze the lyrics, instruments, sounds and technology from the song "Vertigo" by U2. They view a video presenting interviews with the band and complete a stage design for the live playing of the song.

Tenth graders demonstrate methods of relaxation by participating and assisting each other in meditation. They demonstrate their ability to experiment with the elements of dramatic presentation by relying on group co-ordination of voice,...

Learners examine culture and music of specified areas. They conduct research and design a booth for a chosen culture. With researched information, students decorate a poster, create an informational packet, and locate examples of music.

What is the difference between formal and informal letter writing? Who gets a formal letter? What about an informal letter? This reference page presents different introductions and phrases you might see in each type of letter, and then...

Learners engage in a debate about equality between men and women as a way to work on their conversational skills. The format of the debate is imbedded in this plan.

Bring a little excitement to your next poetry analysis instructional activity. Using the highly energetic poem "Walking With My Iguana," learners consider poem structure and rhyme. They listen to the poem, discuss the rhythm and tone...

Music composition can be easy with a little software assistance. The class uses Garageband to listen to, write, sing, and record a blues song. They listen to the song provided through the software, write their own lyrics to the song,...

You needn't beware using Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in your classroom. You, too, can be valiant and let loose your young actor's creativity, guided by the suggestions in a curriculum guide so filled with a delightful mix of elements...

Students improve speaking confidence when using difficult question forms. This lesson focuses on helping students explain how to engage in this kind of social conversation. A worksheet imbedded in this plan provides practice.

Pupils practice identifying the comparative and superlative forms of language. The second phase of the lesson focuses on using the comparative and superlative forms actively in small group conversation.

Students solidify their knowledge of countable and uncountable nouns and their quantifiers. The instructional activity includes a number of overlooked or idiomatic expressions to help higher level students expand their knowledge.

Students engage in a lesson which is a straight forward, teacher centered, grammar lesson focusing on written and oral production of the target structure. After a lecture/demo, students work individually on an exercise imbedded in this...

Middle schoolers name their favorite actors and actresses, and then use adjectives to describe them. They go through a list of actors and actresses and discuss the adjectives they used to decribe them. As an extension, they can write...

Students practice conversation skills while also focusing on improving their command of refined character description. They use a worksheet imbedded in this plan that has them select adjectives that describe their best friend.

Students complete a unit of 9 lessons to learn about realism in music during the time of the Underground Railroad. In this music realism lesson, students learn about coded lyrics in the slave songs. Students complete 9 lessons using...

Upper elementary schoolers listen to and reproduce the rythm of Mary Lou William's musical piece, "Scratchin' in the Gravel." The swing song was written at a time that women did not play jazz. She broke the rules by playing and writing...