The Kennedy Center
Fairy Tale Variations
Here are two great lessons that work together and are inspired by the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. Young writers and actors will retell the story of "The Frog Prince" through games, improvisational script writing, and song....
Curated OER
Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations
Students observe that there are myriad combinations of rhythms to choose from when improvising jazz and blues music, and recognize that while the variations seem infinite, they are in fact finite. They notate a 12 bar blues progression...
Curated OER
Yes But Dialogue Game (3+)
Young scholars work cooperatively to explore and practice dialogue improvisation.
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Games and Toys Reflect Resources
Learners will demonstrate their understanding that different games reflect local resources by creating a type of ball.
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Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations
Learners explore the various rhythmic combinations in jazz and blues music. They watch a video segment, apply a mathematical formula to calculate the number of possible rhythmic combinations, and perform a combination of notes and...
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"Resourceful" Games and Toys
Learners create a type of ball demonstrating how games reflect local resources. They observe photos of African children playing games with various items such as sand, shells or rocks. Then, working in teams, students make a ball from...
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Musical Freeze Improvisions
Young scholars are introduced to the process of creating story from movement through improvisation and invention. When the music is playing, they move. When the music stops, the students freeze. A discussion on the role that music plays...
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Olympic Athletes and Moments in Time
Students examine the history of the Olympics and their athletes. In this interviewing skills lesson, students role play the parts of reporters and athletes as they conduct interviews based on research of the Olympic games and athletes.
Smithsonian Institution
The Sounds of an Island: Jamaican Music for the Classroom
Introduce young explorers to the music and history of Jamaican culture through game songs and dances. As a bonus, class members get to play simple songs transcribed for the recorder.
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
“Just a Minute” Focus: Adapting Speech
A little bit complicated, but a whole lot of fun. Show your class an episode of the British television game show Just a Minute. After an explanation of the rules (no repetition, hesitation, or deviation) groups develop topics, based on...
Curated OER
Theatre: Exploratory Techniques
Using various exploratory techniques, young actors work as an ensemble company to devise, perform and evaluate a piece of theatre for assessment. This outline provides an objective and a list of games and activities that stimulate skills...
Curated OER
Yes But Dialogue Game
Students work cooperatively to explore and practice dialogue improvisation.
Curated OER
Echo Me! - A Melodic Dictation and Tonal Memory Game
Students demonstrate five-finger hand positions (C, G, D, etc.) by playing short melodic phrases using only those notes in the given position and creating short melodies. Requires a networked keyboard lab.
Curated OER
Singing: Mi, So, La
Little ones learn the tones mi, so, and la by singing an answer to a sung question. They play a name game to identify beat, then discuss songs with no beat. If there is time during this musical instruction lesson, they dance about the...
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Theatre Lesson Plan
Second graders complete pantomime and improvisational theatre activities. For this theatre lesson, 2nd graders play a 'sound ball' game and recreate sounds as they toss the ball. Students discuss projection for an actor and practice the...
Curated OER
William Grant Still: "Afro-American Symphony"
Students learn basic improvisation of a four beat measure through a game using a four quarter note pattern. NOTE: The idea in this instructional activity is to teach the student to create something on the spot.
Curated OER
To Travel or Not to Travel: Locomotor andNonLocomotor Movement
Students develop dances. In this movement lesson, students play action and stillness games and learn motif writing symbols that communicate dance moves. Students use locomotor and non-locomotor movement to create their own movement phrases.
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Winter Olympics Stations
Students experience various Winter Olympic sports in Physical Education class. In this Winter Olympics lesson, students participate in stations which represent the Olympic games. These representative stations include a biathlon, cross...
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Japanese Noh Masks
Learners examine Japanese theatre and create their own face masks which display certain emotions, props, costumes and perform in improvisational theatrical games.
Special needs in Music
Music Work Sheet (Special Ed)
Music is beneficial for all learners. Help your learners with special needs learn about different styles of music, as well as the ways that music is represented on paper, with 30 different worksheets.
Curated OER
Drama: Three Words
Seventh graders practice dramatic acting skills, using three words - why, oh, and sorry in different contexts. Working in groups of two or three, they create scenes in which the three words are the only ones spoken and are used to convey...
Curated OER
Wax Museum
Student role play as statues in a wax museum while the teacher takes the role of the curator. They stand in a static position until the curator leaves the room. They interact until the curator returns at which point they freeze. Now they...
Curated OER
Valentine Heart Game
First graders clap a rhythm pattern notated on a board, and then make up their own patterns on percussion instruments. They answer addition and subtraction problems.
Curated OER
Status Games
Tenth graders, in groups, participate in a simulation activity in which they are assigned a certain "status" role to play in a given situation. After the simulation, they reveal their status roles and discuss what they observed. They...