Unit Plan
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Open Stax: Anatomy & Physiology: The Peripheral Nervous System

For Students 9th - 10th
Describe the structures found in the peripheral nervous system and the functions of those parts in the human body.
Unit Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: New Century, Old Disputes

For Students 9th - 10th
As the United States entered the twenty-first century, old disputes continued to rear their heads. Some revolved around what it meant to be American and the rights to full citizenship. Others arose from religious conservatism and the...
Handout
OpenStax

Open Stax: Japanese Music: Some Songs for Children

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Teach your students four Japanese songs. They will enjoy learning to sing these songs. It also includes suggestions on how to use these songs for interdisciplinary units.
Unit Plan
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Open Stax: Hope and Change

For Students 9th - 10th
In 2008, American voters, tired of war and dispirited by the economic downturn, elected a relative newcomer to the political scene who inspired them and made them believe that the United States could rise above political partisanship....
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Listen to Balinese Gamelan: Beginner's Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A music-theory-type introduction to the gamelan music of Bali, Indonesia.
Website
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: A Guide to Great Home Music Practice

For Students 9th - 10th
Offering good tips on practicing, this site goes into some detail on how to best use your practice time.
Article
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Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Triads

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about triads in this well explained lesson. This site explains the root, first inversion and second inversion of the chords. Test your knowledge with several self checking problems.
Activity
OpenStax

Open Stax: Anthony Brandt: Musical Forms

For Students 9th - 10th
Presented in this web page is a great lesson on determining musical form. Comparing musical form to a city and its neighborhoods, this site provides insightful information. Also included are several self checking problems to see if you...
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Naming Triads

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the various types of triads. This lesson focuses on the chords in root position. Included in this site are a few self checking tests.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Message Drums

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
How did various cultures communicate before the invention of the telephone, email or telegraph? Discover the use of message drums in this lesson plan.
Article
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Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Tempo

For Students 3rd - 8th
Here is a basic introduction to the meaning of tempo. Included are various terms for tempo with a self checking quiz.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Modes and Ragas: More Than Just a Scale

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussed on this web page are examples of several modes and ragas. You will learn modes ranging from the classical Greek modes to the Indian ragas.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Scoring Music: Write for Specific Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
If you are interested in arranging your own music, you should check out the tips offered at this website. Including a history of how music was arranged, this site also gives several good ideas of how to make your arrangements interesting.
Article
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Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: The French Horn

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a web page introducing the French horn. Included is a brief history of the instrument as well as audio clips and pictures.
Lesson Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: C. M. Sunday: Music/math/literacy Unit

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This lesson plan encourages students to actively participate while learning about music and math similarities. This site has many ideas and resources to help aid you in planning your lesson plan.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Sound and Music

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Introduce some activities that introduce students to the physics of sound. They will also learn how various instruments produce sound. Included are downloadable pdf worksheets and answer sheets to use.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Tuning Systems

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a good introduction to the various tuning systems. Topics covered are Tuning Based on the Harmonic Series, Pythagorean Intonation, Mean-tone System, Just Intonation and more. This is also available as a printable pdf file.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Melody

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about one of the basic elements in music, melody. Discover the ideas of melodic shapes and phrases as well as motifs and themes, and how to present these topics to children.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Listening to Ragtime

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent resource explaining the details that characterize ragtime music. From the rhythms to the typical form, this site gives a great overview of this early style of jazz.
Activity
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Mexican Music: A Christmas Tradition

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Learn about the Mexican Christmas tradition La Posada in this activity. Provided is the music and lyrics to a traditional posada song. The lyrics are available in both Spanish and English.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Half Steps and Whole Steps

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a look at the two intervals of the half step and whole step and how they make up the chromatic and whole tone scales. This page includes a couple of self checking problems to test your knowledge.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Form in Music

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This is a great resource for understanding and teaching musical forms to students. It thoroughly explains the various forms and provides activities to do with your students.
Activity
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Simple Chordal Harmony

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This is an activity that teaches students how to add simple chords to a melody. Included are several activies and procedures to help with implementation.
Handout
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Pitch Sharp, Flat and Natural Notes

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the meanings and uses of pitch and accidentals. Including sharp, flat, natural and double sharps and flats, this lesson explains why they are necessary.