Curated OER
Getting to Know You
Third graders explore different types of poetry and illustrate their own experiences through creating their own poem. In this getting to know you activity, 3rd graders create and recite their poems with a self-portrait.
Curated OER
Ocean Pollution
Middle schoolers study their role in eliminating ocean pollution and helping keep the oceans clean. In this environmental issues lesson, students define pollution and brainstorm examples of ocean pollution. Middle schoolers define...
Curated OER
Could You Be a Star?
In this personality quiz worksheet, students complete 5 multiple choice questions. Students add their score and find out what kind of "star" they are: sports, movie, rock, or super star. The questions are best suited for UK students.
Curated OER
Appreciating The World By Learning About Landforms
Children can learn about the Earth's landforms and develop a greater appreciation of our world.
PBS
Pbs: The Blues Classroom
Access the educational resources developed by a Seattle-based museum to supplement the PBS documentary series "The Blues." Includes background essays on the blues; biographies, video clips, and sound clips from the series; a blues...
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Gullah Net: Got the Blues
Learn about music called the Blues, and then write, play, and sing an original blues song.
Other
History in Motion: Boll Weevil Blues
This scenario shows the spread of the weevil and a few of the songs that singers such as Charley Patton, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and others created in the wake of its devastation. Click on the events to see the details of the...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Women and the Blues
This collection uses primary sources to explore the impact of women blues performers.
PBS
Pbs: Blues Road Trip
Come and trace the migration of the blues through the United States. This site features an in-depth look at the origins of the Blues throughout its development across the Deep South of the US and beyond.
PBS
Pbs: Sweet Old Song (The Music of Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong)
Learn about and listen to jazz, blues, folk, and country musician Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong and his roots in America's musical past. "Sweet Old Song" tells the story of the music and art partnership between Armstrong and his...
Extreme Science
Extreme Science: Largest Mammal: Blue Whale
Read all about the blue whale, the largest living mammal. A two-minute video is presented, as well as the sound of a blue whale singing.
Other
Saudi Aramco World: Muslim Roots, u.s. Blues
This site explores the link between Muslim traditions and American blues music. Using audio content, pictures, text, and the song ?Levee Camp Holler,? this site examines African Muslim history tied to the history of U.S. Blues.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Bobby "Blue" Bland
Provides brief biographical details on soul-blues artist Bobby Bland, a 1992 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: How to Blues
This site has ten lessons to teach about the blues in which students learn the geography, historical events and performers associated with the blues. The unit has been recognized by the American Music Education Initiative as one of the...
PBS
Pbs: Identity, Oppression, and Protest
This lesson plan supplements a study of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The lesson is designed to help learners understand the impact of Jim Crow Laws and their impact of oppression on African Americans. Blues music is shared to help...
Songs for Teaching
Songs for Teaching: Scientific Method Blues
This lesson introduces the scientific method to your students through song. Students will learn the steps of the scientific method through this great song written by Kathleen Carroll. Click on the link and play it for your whole class.
Other
Popular Songs During the Civil War
This website outlines the popular forms of music during the Civil War, which included the songs of the minstrel shows like "Dixie," "Blue Tailed Fly," and "Old Dan Tucker."
Library of Congress
Loc: Patriotic Melodies
The Library of Congress site profiles 26 American patriotic songs with commentary, supporting visual material, and recordings of "America the Beautiful," "Fanfare for the Common Man" and the like.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey
Known as the Mother of Blues, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey performed in a traveling minstrel show for over twenty years before recording over 100 songs for Paramount records. Because of her legacy as a blues singer, she has been inducted into...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Little Walter
Provides biographical details on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2008 inductee "Little Walter". Known for his sound of blues harmonica, he was a key contributor to the music of Muddy Waters. Includes timeline and song list.
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon Blue Book: State Symbols
Learn all about Oregon's state symbols. Find out the Latin names of the animals, when the symbols were adopted, and why each was chosen to be a state symbol. Click on "next" on the bottom of the page to see more symbols.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Color My World Grey and Blue
After listening to the song "Grey Street" by the Dave Matthews Band, and the song "Blu is a Mood" by Blu Cantrell, students will explore the lyrics and discover what role color can play when combined with a particular setting. Students...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: An I Pod Inspired Writing Lesson: The Dust Bowl Blues
The 1930's Dust Bowl era was about the grueling times of people suffering in the drought-stricken region of the Oklahoma pan handle. This instructional activity will help students to gain an understanding of the plights of the people....
University of Wisconsin
State of Wisconsin Blue Book: Wisconsin State Symbols
A listing of the symbols of the state of Wisconsin.