Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learn About Centers -- An Introductory Activity

For Teachers Pre-K
Students discover how to travel from one learning center to another by participating in a human train activity. They sing a song which highlights the center activity as they travel along from center to center.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Styles in Context: Is it Music?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students view the video, Behind the Music: 1992, and discuss the new genres of pop music that were emerging in that era. They discuss the content of the music and what it's like on the surface. They write an essay comparing it to other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mexico's Culture

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars compare and contrast the culture of Mexico to the United States. They brainstorm what makes up a culture and develop a model of their own culture. Students explore Mexican music and dance. Additional cross curriculum...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Compas-- Modern Popular Music of Haiti

For Students 5th - 6th
In this music learning exercise, students discover facts about the musical styles and rhythms of Haiti. Students learn about Compas and Voodoo music and answer 4 questions. Note: Punctuation is missing from one of the questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Factions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate factions in society. In this factions lesson, students learn the definition of factions before breaking into groups. They listen to a read aloud of The Butter Battle Book and describe what happens to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Songs from the Past

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students research songs from the past to learn about historical events. In this music history lesson, students conduct a survey on the Star-Spangled Banner, research the song and history on various websites, and research songs in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now's the Time, Charlie Parker Now's the Time, Eddie Jefferson

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students delve into the music of bebop style jazz and the life and talents of some of the great musicians. The styles of Charlie Parker and James Moody are compared and contrasted in this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Community Culture Trunk

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the similiarities and differences between the various cultures represented in their class. After being read a story about immigration, they identify things they would have to bring with them if they were moving to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Philanthropy in Song

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners discover the concept of philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students define the word philanthropist through song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Smiles Change the World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore their feelings when someone smiles at them. In 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
Young scholars 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. Young scholars also watch a video regarding Ellington and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cemetery Mapping Lesson

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore historical records. In this cemetery mapping lesson, 8th graders analyze local community data as they examine gravestones and read epitaphs. 
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

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 lesson 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 the...
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.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Realism in Music, The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 5th
Students complete a unit of 9 lessons to learn about realism in music during the time of the Underground Railroad. In this music realism lesson, students learn about coded lyrics in the slave songs. Students complete 9 lessons using...
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 instructional activity, students discuss lighting words and read a Mark Twain quote. Students then read...