San Francisco Symphony
Prehistoric Music
What was music like during the Stone Age? Learners listen to a CD entitled, Art of Primitive Sound as they consider the culture of people in the Stone Age. They use objects found in nature to create instruments, and then perform a...
San Francisco Symphony
Music Reflects History
Exploring the baroque era can be exciting and fun when it's done thorugh the arts. Middle schoolers examine the music and art history of the baroque era through research. They use their findings and class notes to create an expository...
Sargent Art
Kandinsky - Inspired by Music
Who is Wassily Kandinsky? Introduce your young artists to the wonders of abstract nonobjective art through music. They'll listen to music as they cut, paste, and paint emotional works of art. The activity suggests the use of soothing...
Curated OER
Romantic Period in Music, Art, and Literature
“Romanticism aims at enlarging experience by exploring the real.” This excerpt from Jacques Barzun’s From Dawn to Decadence introduces a PowerPoint that examines the characteristics of and the major figures in music, art, and literature...
Shakespeare in American Life
"Strike a Pose:" Music and Vogueing in The Winter's Tale
After class members have read and discussed Act III of The Winter’s Tale, groups select one line from Act III, scene i that they feel captures the essence of the entire scene. They then create a tableaux that best depicts the scene’s...
Explore Sound
Sound and Music
What causes sound? Groups of sound detectives use a variety of tools including ping pong balls, pasta noodles, raisins, rubber mallets, and a tuning fork to investigate what causes sound. The young Sherlocks conduct a series of...
Curated OER
Historical Comparison of Anti-War Music
Students explain that, how in this world of increasing awareness and interdependence, music can act as a magnet to draw people together. They research and compare anti-war songs from many different generations.
Curated OER
200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons
Learners discuss style and characteristics of musical time periods as well as the definition of "pop culture." They compare and contrast modern-day popular icons to music icons throughout history. This lesson requires a video, which is...
Curated OER
Once Upon a Time
Learners examine how music and sound affect their creation of artwork. They view art images online, create three hybrid collage creatures, develop a list of hero characteristics, and write an adventure story for a character they have...
Curated OER
"Turkish Rondo" From Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
In this music appreciation worksheet, learners listen to "Turkish Rondo" from Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Students read about the composer and the piece. Learners follow a "listening map" and complete a...
Curated OER
"Troika" From Lt. Kije Suite by Sergei Prokofiev
In this classical music appreciation worksheet, students listen to a recording of "Troika" from Lt. Kije Suiteby Sergei Prokofiev. Students read about the composer and the structure of the piece. Students answer 5 questions and then...
Curated OER
"Gnomes" From Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky
In this classical music appreciation worksheet, students listen to a recording of "Gnomes" from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky. Students read about the composer and the structure of the piece. Students answer 5 questions...
Curated OER
Classroom Builder
Students explore music theory by discussing a classic song. In this musical notation lesson, students listen to the song "My Favorite Things" and discuss and share their personal tastes with the class. Students practice writing notes on...
Curated OER
"Gigue" From Suite in D by Philipp Telemann
In this classical music appreciation worksheet, students listen to "Gigue" from Suite in D by Philipp Telemann. Students read about the composer and the piece and complete a 14 word crossword puzzle.
Curated OER
The Nutcracker by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
For this classical music appreciation worksheet, students listen to a recording of The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. Kids read about the composer and the structure of the piece. Students answer 5 questions and complete a word search...
Curated OER
Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein
In this music appreciation learning exercise, students listen to Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein. Students read about the composer and the history and structure of the piece. Students then answer 5 questions and unscramble the...
Curated OER
Music of the Great Depression
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the music of the Great Depression. In this 1930's America lesson, 11th graders read and analyze the provided lyrics of 6 songs from the era. Students then compose their own lyrics for songs that...
Curated OER
"The Stars and Stripes Forever"
In this classical music worksheet, students listen to "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa. Students read about the composer and the march. Students study the lyrics to this piece and answer 5 short essay questions.
Curated OER
The Classical Period
Sixth graders are introduced to the classical period in music history. After listening to examples, they identify and describe the characteristics of music during this time period and research the main composers. Using the internet,...
Curated OER
Musical Milfoil
Students play a game that is a version of musical chairs to introduce them to invasive aquatic plants. In this aquatic plants lesson plan, students play 4 rounds of this game.
Syracuse University
Harlem Renaissance
The music and literature of the Harlem Renaissance defined American culture, including its poetry. Using a poem from the period, individuals explore its musical qualities and how it is reflective of the period. Then, they use what they...
Canada's National Arts Center
Vivaldi and The Four Seasons: Teacher Resource Kit
Did you know that Vivaldi wrote "Winter," the final concerto of his The Four Seasons, in the key of F minor to echo the sleigh ride pieces popular at the time? A teacher resource kit, designed to support a study of the work, is packed...
Curated OER
The Vietnam War: A Popular Music Approach
Young scholars explore the Vietnam War in music. In this Vietnam instructional activity, students listen to and analyze popular music from the Vietnam era in order to understand the use of propaganda regarding the controversial war....
Curated OER
Cover the Music
Students explore U.S. history by listening to musical pieces in class. In this Civil War era instructional activity, students discuss the types of musical instruments that were available to soldiers during the war and the themes of their...