Curated OER
Dragons In Chinese Folktales And Art
Students investigate and discuss the use of the dragon in Chinese folktales and art in this middle school lesson introducing Chinese art and culture. Lesson extensions are included for additional activities.
Curated OER
Ukiyo-e
Students investigate and examine ukiyo-e, or Japanese woodblock prints, from the Edo period (1615-1868) in Japan and use this gained knowledge to compare Japanese culture to American societal trends.
Curated OER
LA CENERENTOLA (Cinderella)
Students formulate how to make puppets and realize that puppetry, like opera, is another kind of theater. They gain deeper knowledge of the characters in Rossini's La Referentially. Students use this concept to make decisions about...
Other
Abbey Lincoln: Spirited and Spiritual
Information on the life the work of Abbey Lincoln. This article discusses her philosophy on jazz and the spirituality of music.
Other
Negro Spirituals: History
Resource offers a wealth of information on the development and various uses of the negro spiritual songs.
Other
African Genesis: Black Gospel Music
This Black Gospel Music site provides information on the history, artists, and spirituality of black gospel music.
PBS
Pbs: Music, Slavery and the Civil War
This lesson plan could serve as the basis of a curriculum unit on slavery and/or the Civil War. Spirituals are analyzed, especially their cultural implications.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Harriet Tubman: Secret Messages Through Song
This ArtsEdge instructional activity, part of a larger unit about Harriet Tubman, not only teaches students about spirituals but effectively illustrates the struggle for freedom from slavery.
PBS
Pbs: This Far by Faith: The Spread of Gospel Music
An explanation of the origins and spread of gospel music from the producers of "This Far by Faith," a series on African-American spiritual journeys, which premiered on PBS stations in June 2003.
Library of Congress
Loc: America Singing: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets
Song sheets, which containedonly lyrics, were a popular form of printed music. The Library of Congress holds over 4,000 of these from the 1800s that can be viewed online.
PBS
Classics for Kids: William Grant Still
A short biography of William Grant Still (1895-1978 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Slavery and Freedom: Sorrow Songs
Sorrow Songs are examined as the music the African American slaves of the antebellum South to express both sadness and despair as well as well as hope for better. See "Sorrow Songs Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
PBS
Pbs: This Far by Faith: Thomas Dorsey
A biography of Thomas Dorsey, the man known as "the father of gospel music," from the producers of "This Far by Faith," a series on African-American spiritual journeys. (The series premiered on PBS stations in June 2003.) The site...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Singing, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
An analysis of the role music played in the civil rights movement. The well known spiritual, "We Shall Overcome," is referenced as playing a key role in supporting this movement.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: How to Blues
This site has ten lessons to teach about the blues in which students learn the geography, historical events and performers associated with the blues. The unit has been recognized by the American Music Education Initiative as one of the...
Digital History
Digital History: Slave Culture
Find out about the contributions African slaves and African American slaves made to not only their culture, but American culture in general. See what words have African roots, how African culture influenced food and music, and how there...
Library of Congress
Loc: Lyrical Legacy: 400 Years of American Song and Poetry
Explore eighteen American songs and poems each represented by an original primary source document, along with historical background information and, in many cases, sound recordings and alternate versions.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Charles Ives
This resource provides information on Charles Ives (1874-1954 CE). This American composer's job, and source of income, was actually running an insurance agency. He would compose and play music at night, after work. Use this site to learn...
Other
Danielle's Place: Bible Theme Crafts for Kids
If you teach religion to elementary students, then you have to see this site! It is overflowing with creative ideas to use in your classroom and will get your students excited about the Bible. Many of these lessons also integrate math,...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Al Green
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Al Green, an American singer-songwriter who was the most popular performer of soul music in the 1970s. By further transforming the essential relationship in soul music between the sacred...