Johnny Mercer Foundation
Project-Based Songwriting
Project-based learning in a music theory class? Take note. Young songwriters compose, record, copyright, and promote their original songs. They even design their own CD cover.
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Caribbean Music
For this music worksheet, students identify and describe various famous dances and music of the Caribbean. They respond to questions about each of the three types described in the activity.
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American Culture in a Musical Setting
Learners discover the significance of similarities and contrasts of three separate cultures of the United States through music. They take out maps and trace the expedition of the Spanish along the coasts of Mexico and North and South...
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Feel the Beat of the Drums
These percussion instruments have a rich history and a variety of uses.
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Caribbean Beats and Blends: A Global Sound Lesson
Students listen and respond to various forms of Caribbean music. In this music and culture lesson, students clap rhythms and respond to a sung call. Lyrics are analyzed for language blends and repetition. Music and culture from Puerto...
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Country: Jamaica
Students use the Internet to examine the land, customs and government of Jamaica. They also hear music from the island.
The New York Times
The Cold War: Crossword
This crossword puzzle focuses on clues related to The Cold War. It also has unrelated clues that would be a challenge to middle schoolers, but should be manageable to secondary students; particularly juniors taking US history. There are...
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The Cay
Fifth graders read The Cay as a shared literature experience. This lesson plan has many good activities across the curriculum to keep your students actively engaged in the story. They will do math, art, music, science and geography...
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Metallic Sounds
Young scholars differentiate between metallic and non-metallic sounds. In this music lesson plan, students listen to the audio clip of "March" and march in time with the music. Young scholars identify the metallic sounds in the music...
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Introduction to Caribbean Music
In this Caribbean music worksheet, 8th graders read about the cultural background of the Caribbean nations and about the characteristics of the music. They examine call and response, ostinato, and syncopated rhythms. They answer 8...
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Compas, The Popular Music of Haiti
In this Caribbean music worksheet, 8th graders read about the background of and musical instruments used in Compas music which is the popular music of Haiti. They answer 4 questions based on the reading. They complete an extension...
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Exploring the Roots of Modern Dance in America
Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.
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The Music in Us
Learners explore the origins of human music. Students watch a video and participate in a variety of activities. They examine evidence, conduct research on he various animals, and create a concept map.
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Boombox Classroom: Migration of Music
In this music worksheet, students complete two multiple choice questions about music moving from one culture to another. They write a sentence explaining why slavery is wrong. Students name types of music African-Americans brought with...
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What's your favourite film?
Students poll other students on their favorite films today and of all time. A rubric is devised to tally the results. The results are shared with the class. In the end, Students taking the poll vote themselves.
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To Be Or Not To Be a State? That Is the Question
Eighth graders research Puerto Rico's culture, religion, language, government, etc. and identify differences and similarities with the United States. They participate in a debate about whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state.
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Caribbean Food
In this music worksheet, learners answer the questions that cover three different songs that are based upon the Caribbean theme of music.
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Island Culture: Puerto Rico
Students explore the culture of Puerto Rico. They create maps of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. They work in small groups to research a decade in history and add drawings and pictures to a timeline of their decade. They practice...
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Homonyms Exercise
In this homonyms worksheet, learners fill in the blanks to sentences with either the fair, fit, kind, pretty, fit, last, still, however, or long. Students fill in 16 sentences and match 4 words to their 2 meanings.
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Island Maracas
Students listen to Caribbean folk music and discuss maracas and their role in music. They construct and design pairs of maracas using paper mache, then perform a Puerto Rican folk song using their maracas.
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Group Headdresses
Students create a headdress design. In this visual arts lesson, students work cooperatively in a group and create a headdress design. Students are encouraged to use the conceptual framework of philanthropy while working as a team to...
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Visual Arts, Literary Arts, and Performing Arts: Their Connection and Place in America's Minority Culture
Learners explore the rich, varied, and full artistic culture of each of these three minority groups, Native Americans, Chicanos, and African Americans. They explore art through dance, music, literature, and many other different mediums....
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Songs of Mass and Individual Protest: USA, Jamaica, and South Africa
Students study songs of mass and individual protest. They view a video clip and discuss the song and words the protesters sing. They study the song, "We Shall Overcome" and discuss the characteristics of the song and chant and sing it....
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Humming Bird
In this music instructional activity, students listen to the Humming Bird song from Trinidad. Students read about humming birds, answer questions about the song, and try to clap the rhythms.