Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical Form and Sibelius Groovy Music Shapes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a song using the form ABACADAEA. Students listen to a musical piece created by Vivaldi that is an example of this musical form. Then students use software to create their own musical forms representing this pattern.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interactive Timeline

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the development of ragtime music and its relation to jazz. They participate in an online Interactive timeline and read about the history of ragtime music, listen to examples of music, and in small groups create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Feelin' Swing, Part 2

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music to Your Ears

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore how the sounds made by everyday objects can be transformed into musical experiences, composing and performing musical pieces using non-traditional instruments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composing Music on Computers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students compose pandiatonic works using computers as a compositional tool. Following the anticipatory set, they work individually to create their own pieces. The lesson concludes with a "concert" of the created student compositions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baroque Presentation

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students use Microsoft Publisher to create a concert program of music featuring a Baroque composer of their choice. They research their chosen composer using the provided internet links. They then create a computerized presentation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning From Lyrics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze a song to determine the composer's point of view regarding the subject addressed in the song. They design and create an original visual aid that illustrates the theme of the song. Students identify any social studies...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Technology Programs

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners are introduced to the music technology programs for the next school year. They practice reading notes and playing piano. They use the internet to research careers in music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rhythmic Travel Around the World

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical Rhythms

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students listen to music and bounce a tennis ball to the eat. Students close their eyes and listen to the rhythm. They switch hands on beats where they hear a new percussion sound. Students compose their own pieces using Oranga's band...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classical Music

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the history of music written during the classical era. They compare the melodic contours of specific thematic music, identifying the trills, slurs and articulations. As a class, students discus the characteristics of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composing with Non-Chord Tones to Ornament a Melody

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop melodies based on a simple chord progression. They develop the tools need to begin to compose their own music. Students explore the qualities of each NCT and identify them in a composition. They develop listening skills...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Technology

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students practice using keyboard and sequencing software to expand their compositions. They use the notes in the C Major Scale and playback their song written in an ABA song form. They complete pages in a basic piano workbook and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You Hear a Story?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music. They explain relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baroque Composer Presentations

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students create an understanding of contemporary artistic styles and genres through an overview of the connection of the arts throughout modern history. Students discussed visual, written and aural artistic mediums, as well as their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poets Got Them Blues

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Contemplate what music learners listen to and why they listen. Can they find poetry within music lyrics? Specifically hone in on blues lyrics and ruminate upon the social issues prevalent in the themes. Particular song lyrics coincide...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching the Instruments of the Orchestra to Young Students using the San Francisco Symphony Kids’ Website

For Teachers 1st
Using the San Francisco Children's Orchestra web site, first graders build listening and instrument identification skills. Each child wears head phones, listens to ID, and finds various instruments on the included worksheet. 
Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

Biographical Slideshow

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Biographies can be a fun topic for any history project. Learners choose one famous person that lived between 1865 and 1930 to research. They gather information, work on reading comprehension, and use what they find to create slide shows...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ragtime: 1880-1920

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Build an understanding of the social, economic, and cultural changes that were incited by the American Industrial Revolution. Learners will research the historical context of the Ragtime Era, and compose an oral presentation in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Body Riddle

For Teachers 5th
The human body can be a mystery, or at least a riddle. Fifth graders pair up and use Photostory to create a riddle relating to a human body part and how it functions in the body system. They will compose a riddle, use a story board, take...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Misterioso: Thelonius Monk

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the musical style of Thelonius Monk, particularly Misterioso. They write in their journals how the song sounds and fits with the way Monk dresses. They journal about how their own music might sound if they wrote jazz music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Six: Discovering the Power (Point) of Presentation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students prepare multimedia presentations.  For this computer technology lesson, students use PowerPoint and other multimedia sources to compose individual presentations.  Students complete an interactive tutorial on how to use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Till You Drop!

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students study rhythmic patterns and phrases on percussion instruments. They form a drum circle and take turns playing the beat. After listening to styles of rhythms, students compare styles of music. They compose a short piece of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical & Linguistic Lesson Plan

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study songs and music of the US Civil War period. They use technology to compose a song that highlights an event or concept from the war.