Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Violin" by Nikki Wallschlaeger
Nikki Wallschlaeger's Violin is the featured poem in a instructional activity that uses music and multiple readings to delve deep into its analysis. After a writing warm-up, learners watch and listen to a video that showcases Regina...
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Meet the Instrument Families
Fourth graders listen to a recording of a string quartet and ask questions about what kinds of instrument they think they are listening to and describe what they think the instruments look like. Then they discuss musical ideas such as...
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Lesson Plan for "Oriental Festmarch" from Aladdin
Students investigate the song of the "Oriental Festmarch" while listening to the march. They conduct research about the genre of the march in music. They answer some key questions in order to create the context for the lesson plan.
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At Play
Ninth graders evaluate works of Robert Harris. They apply historical methodology to interpret and understand time, continuity, and change at an age appropriate level. They demonstrate awareness of the effect of context.
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Fiddling Around
Young scholars look at a piece of art to make connections between early Baroque art and Baroque music. In this art and music lesson, students focus on the painting The Boy Violinist, by Hendrick Terbrugghen. They listen to the music to...
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Tree-mendous Game
Learners play a game where they classify the different characteristics of trees. In this tress lesson plan, students also use tree vocabulary and describe benefits of trees.
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Designing Musical Instruments
Students examine musical instruments as main part of the study of sound energy. In this designing instruments lesson plan, students focus on the elements of an instrument that cause sound to be created and design a unique musical...
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Design an Instrument
Students design an instrument. In this sound, vibration and pitch lesson, students learn about the characteristics of sound, vibration and pitch. Students design a guitar using the assembled craft materials and demonstrate how they...
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Applied Science - Technology Post-Lab
Students explore inventions. In this Applied Science lesson, students discuss the history of everyday objects and the invention of them. Students illustrate and describe their own invention.
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Respecting the Differences of Others
Fifth graders discover the importance of respecting the differences of people around the world in different situations in order to avoid conflict and promote peace. Students compare the sounds of a symphony and the instruments creating...
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The Classical Orchestra
Students study the classical orchestra in this technology-based general music activity for the high school classroom. Emphasis is placed on the use of the "Microsoft Musical Instruments" software. This activity can be accomplished in...
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The Whole World in Our Hands
Students discover the concept of "tikkun olam," or "repairing the world." In this service learning lesson, students identify skills that they possess which may be used to help those in need.
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American Music Advocacy - Lesson 7
Students identify various uses of music in their daily experiences and describe characteristics that make certain music suitable for each use. They explore some of the ways that music study contributes to their lives.
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All That is Irish and More - Activity 1
Young scholars listen to examples of fiddle music and violin music to determine the similarities and differences between the two musical forms. A video link is included in this introductory instructional activity to fiddle music (Part...
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Musical Instruments - Strings
Students explore various string instruments in this multi-week music lesson for the upper-elementary grades. Emphasis is placed on group violin lessons, listening to and identifying string instruments, and researching non-European...
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Chapter 9: A Surprising Day and A Little Bit About China
Fifth graders complete activities with Chapter 9 of the book The Fastest Pig in the West by Randi Hacker. In this literature lesson, 5th graders discuss the concept of saving face and how it affects the main character's decisions....
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The Life and Times of Gioacchino Rossini
Students discuss Gioacchino Rossini's life and musical culture. In this music lesson, students are introduced to "biofacts" about Rossini and listen to excerpts of his music. Students identify characteristics of Rossini's musical...
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African Popular Music
Young scholars explore popular music of West Africa. In this musicians lesson, students complete listening tasks that challenge them to analyze the music of Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, and Baaba Maal.
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Experimenting with Sound
Students explore physical science by completing a worksheet. In this sound perception lesson, students collaborate in small groups to research sound properties on the Internet and in libraries. Students conduct a listening experiment by...
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Musical Instruments
Students identify a guitar, piano, trumpet, flute, drum, and a violin by sight and sound. They view pictures of each instrument as they are played on a recording, discuss how each instrument makes their particular sound, and listen to...
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Famous Figures in History
Students investigate famous people in U.S. history. In this American history lesson, students read about famous people such as Helen Keller and Einstein. Students think of ways they might become famous.
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Peter and the Wolf
First graders integrate music and fairy tales to improve their listening and analytical skills. In this music and fairy tales lesson, 1st graders view and listen to the musical fairy tale 'Peter and the Wolf' using a SmartBoard. Students...
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Grouping Musical Instruments
Students study about musical instruments and group them into these categories: percussion, strings, woodwinds, and brass. After discussing these instruments, they independently complete the worksheet.
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What Is My Family Name?
Students listen to selected solo instruments and place the instrument in its correct family of instruments; students also identify from listening to examples: orchestra, band, vocal solo, and choral performance.