Library of Congress
Understanding Immigration Through Popular Culture
Class members are introduced to a project-based learning unit on US immigration with an activity that asks them to analyze sheet music and other primary source materials to uncover issues raised by immigration.
Center for Civic Education
Constitution Day Rap
Engage your class while learning about the US Constitution with this fun primary grade social studies lesson. After viewing a picture of the US Constitution, young learners piece together a US flag using stars and...
Catherine Schmidt-Jones
Two Traditional Korean Songs
"Arirang," the most popular Koeran folk song, and "Doraji" are featured in a resource that includes suggestions for how to incorporate these hauntingly beautiful songs into your curriculum.
Curated OER
Musical Change
Young learners record observations about different coin denominations and create a song about coins to the traditional song, "The Wheels on the Bus." This instructional activity is based on the Tennessee Quarter Reverse, and has all...
Center for Civic Education
The Power of Nonviolence: Music Can Change the World
Here is a fantastic activity through which class members discover how music has the ability to influence others in a meaningful way. After reviewing selected pieces and modern-day protest songs, learners will research other songs that...
Curated OER
Integrated Social Studies and Music Lesson
Fourth graders study the Civil War. They listen to and study the songs, 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' and 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home.' They play 'Yankee Doodle' on their recorders and write in their reflection journals about their...
Curated OER
The blues highway: An integration of music with geography
High schoolers analyze the movement of the blues from rural Mississippi to urban Chicago and how place and the environment affected the development of the blues. They define the blues, where it originated and how and why it moved to...
Curated OER
Stand Up And Sing
Students examine pieces of sheet music and identify context, purpose, and perspective with regard to the political, social, and economic conditions existing at that time. They create a cover illustrating a topic of the Progressive Era.
Curated OER
Protest Songs
Students analyze and perform an American social protest song. They describe its historical setting, consider the effectiveness of the music and recognize that popular music is a reflection of American culture.
Curated OER
Bands Reunited: The English Beat and Berlin
Young scholars listen to and discuss popular music that addresses political and social issues of oppression, but in a joyful way. They role play as artistic teams and plan a music video that may be used for a specific song.
Curated OER
Voice of History
Way before the digital age radio was the medium of popular culture. After listening to excerpts from radio programs (easily available on the Internet), participants return to the radio age by creating a two-minute sketch based on a...
Curated OER
Views on Downloading: Developing Persuasive Writing Techniques
Learners write persuasively by convincing others of their point of view about music downloading.
Curated OER
Songs of America
Combine your lesson on patriotism with a lesson on comparing and contrasting. Focusing on The Star Spangled Banner, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and The Old Folks at Home, this lesson prompts learners to compare and contrast each song...
Curated OER
And You Don't Stop - 30 Years of Hip-Hop, Episode 2, Lesson 1
Students discuss Public Enemy's lyrics and compare and contrast them with songs popular during the Civil Rights Movement. They write their own rap song that expresses feelings of oppression or freedom from oppression.
Curated OER
25 Greatest Protest Songs - Lesson 3
Students analyze the lyrics of protest songs as a catalyst for social change. They discuss the influence of music on behavior and explain the use of music as a means of self-expression.
Curated OER
Making Paper
Students explore paper making. In this cross curriculum multicultural ecology and art instructional activity, students follow written and oral instructions to make paper using common household items. Students predict the amount of paper...
Curated OER
Brief Encounters (Looking at Ourselves and Others)
Students participate in a simulation in which they examine how different cultures interact with one another. In groups, they follow the behaviors for their specific group while a group of observers records their interactions. To end the...
Curated OER
What is Culture?
Students discuss "culture." In groups, they discuss and share things about their culture, recording everything they discuss on butcher paper to be hung around the room. They choose a way to share something about their own family...
Curated OER
Opposites
Young scholars choose a category to discuss and write down the name of an activity that represents the various characteristics. They record their responses on a class sheet and discuss how it feels when someone disagrees with them. They...
Curated OER
Chick Corea and Nicolas Economou: "Songs for Children"
Students study the career of Chick Corea, whose work has spanned myriad styles in the past thirty years. They explore the double meaning of "Children's Music" and are introduced to the piano
Curated OER
Africa, A Look Through the Eyes of A Child
Second graders read literature about Africa, examine physical characteristics of the continent, explore animals native to Africa, and discuss distance between Africa and locations in the United States.
Curated OER
Labor Unions and Working Conditions:United We Stand
Students examine primary documents about the establishment of labor unions. In this organized labor lesson, students research the working conditions that contributed to the growth of the labor union movement. Students make classroom...
Curated OER
Brief Encounter (Looking at Ourselves and Others)
Students participate in a simulation game in which they realize what it is like to be from another culture. They observe and describe different behaviors. They also examine values from other cultures.
Peace Corps
Brief Encounters
How are Pandyas different than Chispas? Explore cultural norms and societal behaviors with an engaging role-play activity. Split into groups of two hypothetical cultural groups, the formal Pandyas and the sociable Chispas, and another...