Ballad Lesson Plans

When slavery took Africans from their land, they were separated from the rich musical and oral traditions native to each country and region. While working as slaves, Africans found they had two places where they could use these musical traditions freely:

Students write epic poems, songs, or ballads to describe adventures of their own. They discover that storytellers often told stories as epic poems, songs, or ballads. They share and discuss some of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad.

Students assess the literary quality and elements of Jackson's journey to write a ballad about his automobile adventure.

Students discover how to improve their writing through the revision process. For this narrative writing lesson, students view examples of Langston Hughes' poem "Ballad of Booker T." and note the changes that were made to his original draft. Students discuss how to improve their own poems and work with a partner on revisions.

Students analyze early American literature and its figurative language. For this Revolution literature lesson, students read Yankee Doodle and answer the questions about the figurative language in the song. Students also read the broadside Revolutionary Tea and answer the other questions.

Learners explore the implications of the draft during the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam activity, students analyze the lyrics of songs that explore differents opinions of the Vietnam draft. Learners particpate in a role-play activity that requires them to consider the amnesty of the men who fled to Canada to dodge the draft and then write culminating essays.

Young scholars write a ballad from a farmer's point of view on trade. In this farmer's lesson plan, students listen to a farmer speak about fair trade, have a dialogue about it, and write a ballad to interpret their point of view.

Fifth graders answer "essential questions" to establish background and prior knowledge. In this language arts lesson plan, 5th graders complete a graphic organizer of vocabulary words and read and take notes at appropriate paces. Comprehension questions are answered throughout and suggestions for content integration are given.

Fifth graders examine the life and music of Stephen Foster. Via a Powerpoint presentation, they inspect a timeline of the composer's life. On a Website, 5th graders listen to different Foster songs including his parlor ballads, plantation melodies, and serenades.

Students assemble details about a pirate voyage and choose which details to include on a postcard that pirate might have written home. They discuss the Pirate Code and determine what should be done in certain "Sticky Situations."