Lesson Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Bridging World History: Global Popular Culture

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit embraces the development of popular culture, more widespread than ever, due to globalization.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: Popular Culture and Mass Media in the 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
In the 1950s, financial prosperity allowed young Americans to participate in a shared culture of rock and roll music, movies, and television.
Website
PBS

The Sixties: Pop Culture: The Way We Were

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource on pop culture of the 1960s. Part of a companion piece from PBS offers students an overview of the music, books, people, and events that helped shape the popular culture of the era. long with links to other multi-media sources.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Music for the Nation: Music Published, America, 1870 1885

For Students 9th - 10th
A wonderful collection of sheet music from the Library of Congress. Search this site to find the primary source documents of music published in America from 1870 through 1885. The site is separated into many different topics with an...
Graphic
Library of Congress

Loc: American Variety Stage: Bijou Theater

For Students 9th - 10th
Musical theater and vaudeville were popular in the Gilded Age. Here is a theater program from the Bijou Theater in Boston. Leaafing through the pages gives a great slice of life at the time, not only because of the playbills, but also...
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Present at the Creation

For Students 9th - 10th
A compilation of stories from National Public Radio about the creation of new and extraordinary objects, films, and artwork that have shaped and continue to shape American popular culture. Explore everything from the hamburger, to...
Website
Other

Smithsonian Institution: Musica Del Pueblo

For Students 9th - 10th
Musica del Pueblo is a full-featured resource that explores the traditions of Latino music. Using a colorful mural titled "Song of Unity" as a navigation tool, visitors can watch videos of performances, listen to different varieties of...
Handout
Other

American Film Institute: 100 Years . . . 100 Songs

For Students 9th - 10th
With this list, the American Film Institute presents its choices for the 100 greatest songs in film. The list includes choices from popular films such as The Sound of Music, Cabaret and The Producers.
Interactive
Other

National Geographic Channel: Rule the 90s

For Students 9th - 10th
Expand your trivia knowledge, and explore the news, culture, music, television and film of the 1990s.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music: Lesson Two: Desegregating the Airwaves: Blues on the Radio

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This instructional activity deals with the emergence of the blues as a form of popular music on the radio, beginning in Helena, Arkansas in 1940. Students will understand and discuss the relationship between technological and social...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: America Rocks and Rolls

For Students 5th - 8th
Read a brief history of rock and roll and its roots. See why this form of music shook the establishment and shattered the idea of conformity.
Unit Plan
Colby College

Spanish Language & Culture: Ojala Que Llueva Cafe

For Students 9th - 10th
An exploration of the Dominican Republic based on the popular song "Ojala que Llueve" by Dominican artist Juan Luis Guerra. With an image gallery and Spanish grammar exercises along with music, this is a great place to learn about the...
Article
Other

Afro Disc: Africa Music Reviews

For Students 9th - 10th
A radio host talks about new music from West Africa. While profiling four popular artists, the substance in this site describes the flavor of the popular music.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Flower Power

For Students 5th - 8th
An interesting look at the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s and what influence it had on popular culture.
Website
Other

The Sam Shepard Website

For Students 9th - 10th
Shepard website put together by Bucknell University professor. Provides valuable links to Shepard & pop culture, music, biographies, films & published works.
Graphic
Curated OER

Adolph Rickenbacker With Original Frying Pan Guitar

For Students 9th - 10th
National Public Radio offers an interesting look at the history of the invention that "Changed modern music and popular culture as well -- the electric guitar."
Graphic
Curated OER

Charlie Christian

For Students 9th - 10th
National Public Radio offers an interesting look at the history of the invention that "Changed modern music and popular culture as well -- the electric guitar."
Graphic
Curated OER

The Original Les Paul

For Students 9th - 10th
National Public Radio offers an interesting look at the history of the invention that "Changed modern music and popular culture as well -- the electric guitar."