John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Rhythm and Art
This curriculum unit from the Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge program presents an introduction to the concept of visual rhythm and explores the intersection of visual and auditory rhythm. The unit is divided into six lessons focusing on...
TES Global
Tes: Teaching Shakespeare: The Tudors Their Music
[Free Registration/Login Required] This resource focuses on the music of the Tudor era including harpsichords and drums. Students listen to various pieces of music and try to copy them.
Smithsonian Institution
Nm Af A: Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical Instruments
Five traditional African musical instruments are highlighted at this Smithsonian site: two types of drums, the thumb piano (mucapata), harp, and whistles. Includes historical facts about the instruments.
PBS
Pbs: Defining Jazz Music
In this lesson, students will develop a definition of jazz. Through biographies and interviews of jazz musicians, students will learn what jazz music is about.
National Arts Centre (Canada)
Arts Alive: Ludwig Van Beethoven
This site from the National Arts Centre of Canada explores the life of Beethoven (1770-1827 CE). Read about his education, musical contemporaries, loss of hearing, and his death. There are also discussions of many of his famous works,...
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Albright Knox Art Gallery: Personified Sculpture
After learning about Fernand Leger's sculpture, young scholars will learn basic concepts of modern dance, create their own movements, select sounds or music, and combine all of these in a modern dance performance.
wikiHow
Wiki How: How to Make Art From Guitar Strings
The perfect project idea for anyone who loves music. Gather your materials and create dozens of variations.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Tuneful Bugs and Birds
Arts Edge at the Kennedy Center provides this lesson plan for teachers of ESOL students that integrates music into language arts. Students create their own poetry while listening to music about bugs and birds.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum
By using music and various writings, students will explore the advantages and disadvantages of conforming to society's expectations at this site.
National Arts Centre (Canada)
Arts Alive: George Frideric Handel
This site from the National Arts Centre provides an exploration of the life of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759 CE). Content includes information on his childhood, his father's dislike of music, his entry into the music field, his work...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Colorful and Musical Feelings
In this lesson, students will communicate their emotions through drama, art, and poetry. Mouse Paint, by Ellen Stohl Walsh, Hailstones and Halibut Bones, by Mary O'Neill, and Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" will be used during this engaging...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Learning Musical Elements Through Listening
This is a site created for teaching children the art of listening to music. Includes sections on the elements of music, composers, and genres with more under construction.
National Arts Centre (Canada)
National Arts Centre: Arts Alive: Music Resources: Famous Composers
Visit this site to read about the life and works of great composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Igor Stravinsky, George Gershwin, plus many more!
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Duke Ellington
This resource features a brief biography about big band leader Duke Ellington. It includes some audio and video clips of his music.
National Arts Centre (Canada)
Arts Alive: Igor Stravinsky
This site from the National Arts Centre provides a nice detailed biography on the life of composer Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971 CE). There are interesting facts on both his personal life and his musical accomplishments are detailed.
Other
For King and Empire: Canada's Soldiers in the Great War
The For King and Empire website is a must for teachers of the First World War. Soldier day-by-by accounts of the battles at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele are provided along with authentic war art postcards and songs of the era available...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Pulaski, Wisconsin Polka Town, u.s.a.
The town of Pulaski, Wisconsin claims to have more musicians per capita than anywhere in the U.S. Learn about Pulaski, a town that thrives on polka music in this video segment from EGG: the arts show.
California State University
Island Maracas
A great multicultural art lesson that also connects visual art to music. Learners create a set of paper mache maracas emphasizing rhythm and expression in the painting details. Upon completion students will have the opportunity to try...
Other
Guide to Writing Lyrics
A complete guide to writing lyrics for songs and jingles. Provides good advice and insight in the art of writing lyrics.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Making Rain
Your students will enjoy making their own rainstick while learning about poetry and expressing their feelings about rain. This three-part lesson gives step-by-step instructions, as well as an assessment rubric.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Lesson Plan: Monsters
Following a reading of the epic poem Beowulf and the contemporary text inspired by it, Grendel, students create their own monster. Lesson plans provide assessment criteria, extension ideas, and a list of resources.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: What Was So Depressing About the Great Depression?
This instructional activity focuses on the effects of the Great Depression on American life in the period from 1929-1940. Students learn about changes in art, music and literature that symbolize life of the everyday man. Students also...
Other
Canadian Content: Famous Musicians
Featured is a list of well known Canadian musicians with brief biographies included.
Other
Aztec History: Aztec History
A detailed look at the great Aztec Empire! The menu bar links to all the major topics: religion, food, clothing, art, timeline, family life, languages, calendar, culture, music, games, government. Within each topic are related photos.