National Endowment for the Humanities
The Music of African American History
High schoolers examine role spirituals have played in African American history and religion, examine Harriet Tubman's use of spirituals in her work, explore power of spirituals in Civil Rights Movement, and work with oral tradition,...
Curated OER
Dance: Personal Soundtracks
Students create a musical autobiography. In this fine arts lesson, students explore the emotions that music can express by listening to and discussing a variety of music. Students construct a personal timeline and a collection of music...
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The Princess and the Frog
Students study the sounds of New Orleans jazz, its origins, and its influences. In this jazz music lesson, students listen to various jazz songs and discuss the songs. Students use the worksheet 'Jazz: the Universal Language' to study...
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Music in West Africa
Learners explore power and the symbols of power in West African music. They discuss the music of West Africa and compare it to African American music of today. In addition, they investigate musical instruments of Africa, identify the...
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Character Traits in Fables
Combining art, music, dance, and reading comprehension, this lesson is geared to reach all ability levels. After reading a variety of fables and discussing story elements and character traits, class members select a moral to use as the...
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The Role of Protest Songs
tudents will illustrate the role, significance, and history of protest songs from the African American Civil Rights Movement. They will verbally answer the question: "What is the link between the Civil Rights Movement and Hip Hop music...
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Representation: Elections
Students study and examine how elections are conducted in Australia. In this representation lesson plan, students make comparisons regarding systems of voting. Students explore the three levels of government and discuss federal...
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Banding Together
Students explore the effect that a particular culture can have on popular music. They develop their own music groups, each representing a style of music and a historical culture and perform their group's concert for the class.
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Red, White, and Blue Notes
Students explore the history of major American music genres. Then, through mock radio shows, students examine the distinguishing features of each genre and how each has changed throughout the years.
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Elections
Students examine why and how elections are conducted in Australia. They compare first-past-the-post, preferential and proportional systems of voting. Students brainstorm the names of elected representatives in the current federal...
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Combing Through the News
Students use the Sean 'Puffy' Combs trial to compare how and why various media cover a news story differently.
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Create a Popstar
Young scholars develop an awareness of one's media and consumer habits. They recognize advertising techniques, such as the use of celebrity spokespersons and music.
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A Guide Through the Culture of the Blues
Pupils examine the history of blues music and discover how it relates to the music of today. As a class, they listen to the drum songs of Africa and compare it to the use of drums in pop music today. Using the internet, they research...
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Rhythm And Sound 2
High schoolers review the concept of rhythm and this lesson plan looks at some specific sound devices in the study of music. They focus on assonance, consonance, and alliteration. Students define the concept of rhythm and give poetry as...
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Keeping Time
Students compose lyrics to songs for a music festival to promote issues in their community. They write artists' statements explaining the issues they chose to write about.
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#2902. 21st Century: Make Literature Relevant!
J-Peezy to hang? Would John Proctor by any other name be as brave? High school scholars update scenes from Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and perform them before the class. After viewing and enjoying the modern trappings of their scenes,...
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Puttin' On the Hits
Students explore "summer songs." They compose a list of songs that they would put on a summer CD and write an essay that explains the images they would choose for the cover for this CD. They also create collages that represent their...
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Performance Poetry as Social Commentary
Learners explore poetry that examines social concerns. In this poetry lesson, students research poems and poets. Learners present their findings to their classmates.
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he Media and Social Justice Around the World
Students will activate literacy skills in internet medium, and will use reading, critical thinking and writing skills as they work with their groups to collect and organize information. The follow up activity will allow them to augment...
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Street Language
Students consider the impact of language. In this literacy lesson, students read an article about literary classics being rewritten in "youth speak" (the article is not included). Students read and discuss the article.