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Tupac Poem Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students brainstorm what they know about Tupac. In groups, they divide the statements into good and bad and read "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" about Tupac's life. To end the instructional activity, they answer questions about the...
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A Modest Proposal: Irony Made Understandable with Rock and Roll

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Who doesn't love music? Poems and songs will engage your high school class in a discussion about irony. Use songs like "Rockin' in the Free World" or "Born in the U.S.A." to illustrate the ironic point of view. Print the lyrics so...
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Up From the Streets: Hip Hop as a Recognized Art

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students discuss the historical roots of Hip-Hop to the present as an example of an art form that arose from the street into popular culture. Emphasis is placed on in-class discussion and written reflections in this introductory lesson.
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Connecting Poetry with Philanthropy

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students use their knowledge of philanthropy and poetic conventions to write original poetry about philanthropic giving. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students write poetry based on philanthropy using poetic conventions....
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Poetry through Jazz, Rap, and Hip Hop

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore poetry through jazz, rap, and hip hop music. They discover the common threads that run through the poetry and music. Students design their own lyrics to a jazz, rap, or hip hop selection and share their songs with the...
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The Catcher in the Rye: Chapters 21-23

For Teachers 11th - 12th
After answering comprehension questions (good for a homework reading check), class members analyze "Comin' Thro the Rye," and using the included guidance questions, discuss Holden's misreading of Robert Burns' poem. The URL to text of...
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What is Poetry and Where Can You Find It?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine different types of poetry in music, commercials and printed works. They identify themes of philanthropy in poetry as well. They finally share their findings with the class.
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I Hear Poetry

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students practice analysis of poetry by analyzing song lyrics using a worksheet to guide the analysis process. They work in small groups to assess the stylistic and literary devices used in the song lyrics then they find a published...
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Oh, Say, Can You See What the Star-Spangled Banner Means?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the historical inspiration for the lyrics of the "The Star Spangled Banner". They explore websites, read articles and analyze poetry in an examination of America's patriotic symbols and history.
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I Went to the Crossroads: The Faust Theme in Music, Film and Literature

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students analyze song lyrics and discuss Faust theme in musical history. In this thematic lesson, students view a film clip and create a song lyric, poem or short story developed around the Faust theme. Students perform or present their...
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Rhythm And Sound 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the concept of rhythm and this activity looks at some specific sound devices in the study of music. They focus on assonance, consonance, and alliteration. Students define the concept of rhythm and give poetry as an...
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Figurative Language

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What is figurative language, and why do we use it? Introduce your high schoolers to some examples and discuss the importance of including this element in your writing. After studying a text and searching for examples, writers will...
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Fisheries And Songs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars view examples of songs that have the ocean and its life as their themes. After hearing and reading them, students write their own, having done research on the social and political issues of the ocean's environment.
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Rap Music and Hip-Hop

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore rap and hip hop music. In this music and culture lesson, students experience the music of Will Smith in order to work on language and communication skills such as rhyming words, writing, and public speaking.
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Stand Up and Sing

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students journal and respond to the question," How does society respond to change?" They create original lyrics to their own song that reflects the context of the Progressive Era.
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Repetitive Song Form

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discover different concepts for identifying musical structure and song form.  In this Music History lesson, 8th graders compare and contrast a Red Hot Chili Peppers song to an Andrea Bocelli's song. 
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Hearts and Partners

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore, examine and study poetry within a variety of different strategies within this lesson. They review and discuss a diagram of the big picture of why it's importance to study, analyze and deconstruct poetry, so that...
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Jazz Talk

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze the origins of jazz music by examining work songs, spirituals, blues, and gospel songs as well as works of poetry from African American artists. They create their own poems from either the narrative, dramatic, or lyric...
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Langston Hughes and the Blues

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners explore the connections between Langson Hughes and blues music. For this African American culture lesson, students compare and contrast blues music with poetry and short stories by Langston Hughes.
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Tennessee Williams: Exploring the American Dream

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read and analyze selections of Tennessee Williams' work. They write journal responses, conduct Internet research, perform various scenes from one of Williams' dramas, and create a presentation.
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Silent Stories

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students create a pictorial narrative based upon John Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and the Japanese techniques of "lacquer jar" stories in this three-day Language Arts/Art lesson plan.
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Garage Band

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify a pop rock music form that includes a verse, a chorus, and a bridge in ABABCBB form. They demonstrate basic skills using the "Garage Band" application. Students crate a piece of music using the garage band...
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FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the rhythm instruments as part of a rhythm band to accompany the well-known poem, "Five Little Pumpkins." They study instrument names, playing techniques, and playing at the appropriate time. They study how to perform a...
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Geo Jammin' - Day 2, Lesson 6: Rhyme and Reason

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners listen to the poem "Shapes" by Shel Silverstein in order to accurately and specifically describe shapes' rules/traits in their journals. They illustrate the poem and take turns reading during a creative shared reading session.