Opera Lesson Plans

In this creative music activity from Scientific American, students learn about musical notation and then design their own notations. Great web resource links are alsp provided

Music has been said to effect short term memory. Learners test out this hypothesis, graphing how knowledge retention in a Biology classroom changes when music is in the background. In the end, a better appreciation of the dynamics of music is tied to how the brain perceives sound.

Students react to a series of statements about Beethoven, then read a news article about the sale of a 179-year-old manuscript by the musical genius. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and participate in a class discussion. Lesson includes interdisciplinary follow-up activities.

Spellers use a word wall to improve spelling. The teacher is given a word wall routine to use daily to reinforce spelling words. They read, chant, and write words, then use rhyme or vocabulary activities for further practice.

Students become more savvy Web surfers by evaluating the various elements of a Web site to determine its credibility. They conduct a two-part investigation of a Web site, focusing on how one determines if a Web site is credible in authorship.

Students explore various tactics used in advertising by studying the advertising campaigns of well-known companies. They earn about methods of political advertising in China by reading and discussing Political Power Grows From the Point of His Pen.

Students investigate the ongoing peace process in Kosovo through thorough discussion of the underlying issues of the Kosovo conflict and the evolving resolution.

Students reach a consensus as to what makes a good reality-based TV show. They create their own scenarios for a new such show, and critique it, based on the criteria the class establishes.

Students develop arguments for and against campaign finance reform, examine federal and state laws that attempt to limit contributions to political candidates, evaluate various plans for campaign finance reform and formulate their own programs.

Looking for a way to learn more about Paris? Xpedition Hall's interactive feature, Paris Scope, is a wonderful way to research the history of Paris by visiting sites at Metro stops. They will practice map-reading skills by tracing the route to take on the Paris Metro to get from one site to another.