Smithsonian Institution
Latino Expression
How much of your daily life is influenced by Latin American music? Take a listen—the answer may surprise you! High schoolers keep a journal to note any instances they see Latino culture represented, including the media, their school, and...
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Exploring Pulse & Rhythm
When we play music, we count beats both high and low. This introductory music activity explores tempo and rhythm. Learners will follow along as they clap to the beat, they clap high in the air and low. A very good introductory lesson.
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Birch Bark Biting
Fifth graders create birch bark biting art pieces. In this aboriginal art lesson, 5th graders produce art using birch bark. Students present their art pieces and explain their designs.
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Singing a round
Kids use their hands, bodies, and voices to explore the musical concept of a round. They say vegetable words while stomping and clapping out a rhythm in unison and then in a round. They then sing a round while maintaining a steady beat....
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Adapting a Musical
Students transform literature into musical productions. In this integrated arts instructional activity, students discuss how musicals are written and produced. Students then select literature they are familiar with to adapt into musical...
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Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: Exploration of Folk Music
Students use the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to examine Folk music.
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Classical Music Connection-Popular Music - Connecting Pachelbel, Beethoven, and Mussorgsky to Disco and Rap
Young scholars examine classical music and the "Art Rock" of 1967. They review classical themes in their original genre and discuss/analyze how pop musicians incorporate theses themes into a variety of pop music genres.
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Global Music Patterns- Islamic Art
Students compose music using Islamic patterns. In this cultural arts lesson plan, students examine Islamic art and analyze the patterns. Students incorporate various Islamic patterns into a musical composition.
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Jazz Dance and Music
Fourth graders write a poem. In this jazz music lesson, 4th graders learn about the basics of jazz dance and practice basic movements. Students learn common terminology and listen to several recordings of jazz music. Students create a...
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Slices of American Pie: The 1960s Through Music
Eleventh graders examine political, cultural, and social movements through music. For this 1960s American history lesson, 11th graders explore the music of the decade in order to better understand the complexity of the time period....
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American Music Styles: European Roots and African Influences - Lesson 3
Students describe some of the characteristics of country and blues music. They see how country music rose to a nationally known music style. They write a two-paragraph essay on what they think country music be like in the next 100 years.
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Not Your Grandma's Music: A Lesson in Music History
Students experience and discuss the different musical periods such as Baroque, Classical and Romantic. In this music lesson, students discover musical theory and apply it to the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. Students will...
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Roots And Styles Of Black Music - Lesson 1
Students identify many genres of Black music. They identify Black music as a reflection of the culture. They study many historically influential Black music artists, producers, and other contributors.
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Indian Music Test
In this music worksheet, learners answer 15 questions about Indian music. For example, "Which religion is important to Indian music?"
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Folk Music
Learners explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life.
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Identifying the Beat
Sixth graders listen to various songs. In this musical properties lesson, 6th graders work in groups to identify musical selections, practice tapping the beat, review time signatures, and identify the meter of different songs.
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Folk Music Flowchart and Questions
In this music worksheet, students read about the origins of folk music by following a flow chart. They answer 10 short answer question and participate in an extension task that entails writing an article that discusses folk music.
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Reading Basic Music Notes
First graders develop skills in reading music notes. In this reading music lesson plan, 1st graders clap and chant rhythm patterns and learn music vocabulary. Students also match patterns by listening to the teacher perform the pattern.
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Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Lesson 2
High schoolers identify general business terms such as entrepreneur, corporation, marketing, demographic, promotion and distribution. They identify many Black music industry leaders and their contributions.
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Instruments Used in Folk Music
In this music instructional activity, learners read short excerpts about the instruments that accompany folk music songs. They write 5-10 paragraphs about the use of the banjo and mandolin in folk music and about their differences. They...
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Identifying Musical Instruments
First graders identify different musical instruments. In this music appreciation instructional activity, 1st graders discover the different groups and sounds of instruments while learning their names as well. Students write...
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Music From China
In this music learning exercise, students learn how Chinese people use music in their festivals. Students read a paragraph explaining why Chinese music uses the pentatonic scale. Students locate 16 words pertaining to Chinese music in a...
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Getting Inside The Outsiders Through Music
Students listen to popular music of the 50's and 60's to make literature connections to The Outsiders. In this popular culture lesson plan, students evaluate and analyze various songs and connect them with the themes in the literature...
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Indian Music
In this music worksheet, students complete 10 sentences about Indian music. Students also research different Indian instruments and write an explanation for each.