Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Smiles Change the World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars explore their feelings when someone smiles at them. For this smiles lesson, students practice listening skills while discussing what makes them smile with a partner.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First Amendment

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the First Amendment.  In this US Government lesson, 11th graders analyze the scope and meaning of the first amendment.  Students conduct a survey on First Amendment freedoms.  Student evaluate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Duke Ellington and the Rise of Jazz in New York

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students consider how Duke Ellington impacted the rise of jazz music. In this jazz music lesson, students listen to a lecture regarding the life and work of Ellington. Students also watch a video regarding Ellington and discuss music of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patriotic Songs

For Teachers 1st
First graders recognize patriotic songs of America. In this historical music lesson, 1st graders discuss the historical background of the song "Yankee Doodle" and repeat the lyrics after the instructor. Students read the lyrics to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating an Original Opera

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research the lyrical and dramatic structure of opera through Internet sources and audio examples, cooperatively discuss elements of opera stories vs. their own lives and create one-act opera based on their own life experiences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write a Song About American History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the historic background of the song, The Battle of New Orleans. Working in pairs, students research other historic events and write their own songs based on them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of Protest Songs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
tudents will illustrate the role, significance, and history of protest songs from the African American Civil Rights Movement. They will verbally answer the question: "What is the link between the Civil Rights Movement and Hip Hop music...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whose Land Is It Anyway?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders comprehend the interaction and conflict beween Native Americans and white settlers in the years following the Civil War. They listen to T"his Land is Your Land." Students are asked what their interpretation of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CDV, CDV, What's a CDV?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Introduce your class to the Core Democratic Values. The instructional activity focuses on defining the Core Democratic Values and related terms. Small groups look up terms and present a song based on the information they've found. After...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Music

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students experience the components of Japanese dance and music through the songs, "Soran-bushi nd Hanagasa Odon." The music is presented in relation to the country's history and culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Campaign Songs as Propaganda

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Student analyze campaign messages about tariffs in a nineteenth-century campaign song. They identify the intended audience of the message. They discuss strategies for courting the other political party's bloc.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Song for Today - Lesson 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze musical and topical elements in popular songs and compose song as a classroom effort. They write a short paragraph evaluating the effectiveness of the song in conveying the message of the lyrics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hip Hop and Political Activism

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars identify and employ non violent methods/tactics to bring about social change as exemplified in hip hop culture. They examine hip hop as a form of political activism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students identify lightning words from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to complete definition and synonym activities. In this word study lesson, students discuss lighting words and read a Mark Twain quote. Students then read specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Past and Present Labor Injustice through Music

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils explore early 19th century labor conditions through the use of period songs. In this tolerance lesson, students listen to period songs and respond. Pupils write their own song that protests unfair and dangerous working...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cajun Music: the Voice of the Cajun Family

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the Cajuns and their music to engage an interest in and study French. They examine the Cajuns, their customs, work, leisure time, food, and how their music unites them as an ethnic group, with emphasis on the family.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hank Williams: My Inspiration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research information about Hank Williams using the internet. Using the lyrics from his songs, they interpret the poetry used. They work together and individually to write their own poems and interpret them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"I" On Philanthropy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read children's literature and listen to song lyrics to identify acts of philanthropy. They discuss how one's identity can be shaped by helping others. They also focus on the non-profit sector.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching About Tolerance Through Music

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Explore the importance of tolerance with a music-themed lesson plan. Learners listen to the music of Peter, Paul, and Mary, and discern the underlying messages before discussing the painful effects of ridicule, disrespect,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Up From the Streets: Hip Hop as a Recognized Art

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students discuss the historical roots of Hip-Hop to the present as an example of an art form that arose from the street into popular culture. Emphasis is placed on in-class discussion and written reflections in this introductory lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prince Ibrahima

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders read and utilize the facts from the story "Abd al-Rahmen Ibrahima" by Walter Dean Myers to analyze the main character's life which is ruined by conflict, jealousy, and greed. Journal entries are created in response to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sounds of Change

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners recognize that music brings out feelings and emotions in people. In this music themes instructional activity, students explore the relationships between culture and music. Learners answer questions about favorite choices in music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shange's Novel Betsey Brown & Jazz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read a work of fiction and investigate literary values and structure of the work. They demonstrate understanding of the family values, cultural and historical context of the novel;
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Letter Aa

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students explore letter Aa. In this letter recognition lesson, students participate in country, state, food, literature, physical education, colors, careers, music, and game activities that are linked to the main lesson page....