Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Braiding Rhythms: The Role of Bell Patterns in West African and Afro-Caribbean Music

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Africans transported to the Caribbean as part of the transatlantic slave trade brought with them a rich tradition of music and dance. Four lessons teach young musicians the rumba clave rhythm, cascara rhythm, and the 6/8 bell patterns...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dance: African Drumming

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students evaluate the messages in music. In this communication through music lesson, students listen to various musical selections and determine the message being conveyed in the song. Then, students create their own message as they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1920s Variety Show

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
To better understand the cultural achievements of the Harlem Renaissance and become familiar with its major figures, class members examine a painting by Aaron Douglas and a poem by Langston Hughes and compare how the artists develop...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hispanic Arts: Visual Arts, Dance and Music

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students observe global cultures by listening to music and watching videos. In this Latin American dance lesson, students define merengue, salsa and other dances from the Hispanic culture while listening to Latin rhythm music. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing Hands, Abstract Drawings

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover African musical rhythms by performing Ancestral Spirit Dances.  In this musical lesson, students research Willis "Bing" Davis and the abstract work he created.  Students listen to Yoruba drum music and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Roots of Modern Dance in America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hispanic Arts and Culture Unit: Visual Arts, Dance, and Music

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students learn about Latin American dance and rhythm in different forms and participate in dancing. For this Latin American lesson plan, students also analyze Latin American paintings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Origins and American Cultural Pluralism

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore, analyze and discuss family origins, special legacies, and racial/cultural groups in literature and art that exposes them to positive examples in African-American history and culture. They encounter examples from dance,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sundiata, Mali’s Lion King

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the history of Mali. In this African cultures lesson, students research the impact of Sundiata Keita as king of Mali, recognize the significance of historical Malian festivals, and create character masks to be worn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders learn about this history of jazz music. In this musical influences lesson, 5th graders read God Bless the Childand listen to a recording of it. Students create a KWL chart on jazz and early 1900s music and dance. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Habari Gani: What is the News?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Display creative works of art after learning about Kwanzaa. Kindergartners hear stories about the history of Kwanzaa and its celebrations. They then create artwork, practice African dances and listen to African music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Art is Alive: Drum, Dance, Storytelling....

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate and experience African culture through various art forms. Students explore the physical and political geographies of Africa through mapping activities. Young scholars, in groups, prepare presentations about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural and Historical Meaning: Little Johnny Brown

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Young scholars perform a folk dance and discuss its cultural and historical meanings. They review the dance and perform it, beginning with four individuals who dance with confidence right from the start.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Migration

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore how migration to Harlem created a new life for African Americans. In this cross curricular lesson, students illustrate maps showing the migration, paint murals representing African American life in the South and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Humanities in Colonial and Revolutionary America

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students demonstrate dances of colonial America. In this colonial American lesson, students learn forms of colonial social dancing including the Juba and Virginia Reel. Students examine the history of the 2 dances as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Masks

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create three-dimensional paper African masks. They analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Africa. they discover that masks were worn for various ceremonies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the Patterns and Symbols of Mali Mud Cloth to Convey Identity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in relating the role of the arts in defining identity. They examine the community in West African society and how members of that community define their role. They view how artifacts, music and performance can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harlem Renaissance and Toni Morrison's Jazz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the historical time of the Harlem Renaissance, including key events and figures. They read literature that weaves fiction and history and survey some of the references to the Harlem Renaissance in the novel, Jazz, by Toni...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food and Languages of the World

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students engage in creative bead making while discussing Africa. In this diversity and arts lesson, students create African necklaces while being introduced to the African culture.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Boombox Classroom: Native American

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In this music instructional activity, learners circle names of Native American tribes or nations. They answer three true/false questions. Students answer 3 multiple choice question about the history of Native America. They name 8 music...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Artistic Influence - Lesson 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how musicians' messages can influence society. They think of examples of artistic expression in music, the visual arts, dance, and theater that can lead to a society's self-examination.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

The Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The Harlem Renaissance inspired a group of writers, musicians, and artists whose influence is still seen today.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Music and Art of the Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The music of the Harlem Renaissance can provide a way for students to learn about musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sew, You Want To Quilt?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students become familiar with the achievements of the artist Faith Ringgold. They take notice of the patterns in their environment. They connect the mathematical concept of patterns to create a class quilt.

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