Lesson Plan
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Slices of American Pie: The 1960s Through Music

For Teachers 11th
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....
Lesson Plan
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American Music Styles: European Roots and African Influences - Lesson 3

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Roots And Styles Of Black Music - Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Folk Music

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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

For Teachers 6th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Reading Basic Music Notes

For Teachers 1st
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.
Lesson Plan
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Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Lesson 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Identifying Musical Instruments

For Teachers 1st
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...
Lesson Plan
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Getting Inside The Outsiders Through Music

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Arts of the Gilded Age

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the art forms of the Gilded Age. In this integrated arts lesson, students research the art, music, dance, and drama of the historical era and then create their own personal projects that exemplify the time period.
Lesson Plan
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Using Poetry As Inspiration for Composition

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
A reading of Robert Frost’s "The Road Not Taken" launches an interdisciplinary study of the connection between the meters of a poem and a melody. After identifying the number of beats in each line of the poem, young musicians use...
Lesson Plan
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Consonance and Dissonance Activities

For Teachers K - 12th
Hone those musical ears to identify consonance and dissonance in music being played live or on a recording. Learners will work through four activities where they will listen to consonant and dissonant notes being played first by the...
Lesson Plan
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Atomic Musical Chairs

For Teachers 5th - 8th
An engaging activity enlightens young chemists in this lesson on atomic structure. They play musical chairs through a series of concentric circles that represent electon orbitals. A laundry basket in the middle holds the protons and...
Lesson Plan
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Syncopated Duet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars work in pairs to compose a duet (with percussion instruments) that contains syncopated rhythm sequences. Each student will research a piece of music that they feel uses syncopation and will give a persuasive speech to the...
Lesson Plan6:21
TED-Ed

From Aaliyah to Jay-Z: Captured Moments in Hip-hop History

For Teachers 4th - 8th
To take "the definitive portrait of that person in that moment" is the quest of photographer and hip-hop historian Jonathan Mannion. In this short video, Mannion details his dedication to his art and the process he goes through to catch...
Lesson Plan
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Lucha Music

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers listen to four styles of Mexican music, and create percussion instruments which they use to play each style. Additionally, learners create Lucha Libre masks which are also a part of the colorful culture of Mexico. These...
Lesson Plan
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Music of My Heart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view and discuss the movie, Music of the Heart. They compare/contrast two versions of the song, Music of My Heart, identify characteristics of heroes, and sing the song, Music of My Heart.
Lesson Plan
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Click and Drag Music Composition

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work in small groups using SMART Board Technology to write a 4 measure music composition. studying the basic structure and vocabulary of written music is the goal of this experience.
Lesson Plan
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What Is Legal With Music On The Web?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research what is legal now as far as downloading music from the Internet. They also gather information now that some citizens have been charged with crimes. The research allows students to form informed opinions that are educated.
Lesson Plan
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Learning AB Form: Music

For Teachers 3rd
Third grade musicians play Orff instruments while they learn about the AB Form. First they learn part A of a song, then they listen to when the song changes. After they understand the concept of AB form, they learn to play part B. Note:...
Lesson Plan
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Arranging Patriotic Music for Instruments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students arrange a short piano composition for a group of four to six instruments of their choice. The musical arrangements should be then demonstrated and analyzed by the class as a unit study.
Lesson Plan
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Modernism in Poetry, Painting, and Music

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Are you teaching Modernism to your class? Connect different areas of artistic expression in the Modernist Era. Learners read T.S. Eliot, view art by Pablo Picasso, and listen to a Modernist musical composition. This final assignment is...
Lesson Plan
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Individuality: India Arie Music Video

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine individuality.  In this music video lesson, students listen to music by India Arie to determine how music shapes our ideas of what normal is as well as how music is a form of poetry.  Activities are related to...
Lesson Plan
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Rhythm and Art: Painting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students make connections between music and visual art. In this integrated arts lesson plan, students design paintings that challenge them to examine the relationship between art elements and principles.