Music and Celebrations Lesson Plans

Students analyze characteristics of child prodigies and compare and contrast different views of numerous child prodigies.  In this reading instructional activity, students read all articles in the September 2009 issue of "Appleseeds" and complete various activities such as creating a poster about child prodigy Midori Goto, hold a mock interview for a sports radio program where they role-play golfing whizzes, and compare and contrast musical celebrities to Mozart. 

High schoolers will learn to appreciate the civil rights movement with a focus on Little Rock, Arkansas. They will also acknowledge Louis Armstrong's unparalleled contributions to American music.

Fourth graders observe music by researching U.S. history. In this music culture lesson, 4th graders identify the era of the American Frontier and discuss the instruments, rhythms and compositions of music from the time. Students perform the songs "Trail to Mexico" and "Old Joe Clark" before completing a Venn diagram comparing the two.

Learners experience Mariachi music. In this music appreciation lesson, students study the instruments used to make this type of music. Learners listen to Mariachi music and practice pronouncing the Spanish lyrics. Students work in groups to discuss the cultural information given out. Learners are given an aural quiz.

Students listen to a person who celebrates Kwanzaa speak about the celebration and show the class the seven symbols of Kwanzaa. Students share their own experiences. They make a mkeka (mat for Kwanzaa symbols). Students listen to a story about Kwanzaa, and discuss the seven principles of Kwanzaa. They study one principle of Kwanzaa each day.

Students are introduced to Mexico's culture, people, language and celebration of traditions. They develop their own Cultural Report Slide Show and are encouraged to do several activities on this topic.

Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history lesson based on a news article, students participate in a think-pair-share reading discussion and, while learning about Lincoln's life, think of appropriate nicknames for him. Lesson includes interdisciplinary follow-up activities.

Students research the history, art, music, and architecture of Vienna and make an oral presentation based on their findings. They listen to segments of the Vienna Philharmonic New Year's celebration and design a musical extravaganza in the same style.

What ultimately influences a musician's creations? Is it the time in which he/she lives, his/her personal experiences, the music of the time and previous times, or the image the artist hopes to convey? This lesson explores these questions by looking at th

Young scholars celebrate finishing Kindergarten and demonstrate skills they have learned.  In this language arts lesson, students sing songs and read poems to celebrate the end of another school year.  Young scholars create graduation gifts for themselves and show classmates their baby pictures.