Article
PBS

Pbs: Black and Blue: Jazz in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Ralph Ellison was a musician who later became a writer. His book Invisible Man is written like a jazz composition. In this lesson, students will interpret key themes and concepts in Invisible Man that are also found in jazz music.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: The Blues as Poetry

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Discover what the relationship is between poetry and the blues. This site features lesson plans and online resources.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: I've Got the Literacy Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Contains plans for two lessons that teach about the theme of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" using blues music, creative writing, and media study. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Learning the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan introduces students to the blues. The origin and development of the blues is explored as well as its distinctive structure.
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 27: The Faust Theme

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Faust theme, that of risking eternal damnation by selling one's soul to the devil in exchange for magical powers, can be found in virtually every genre of music as well as in literature and the visual arts. Examples utilizing this...
Website
Other

Harmonica Info and Tips

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives basic information about the harmonica in addition to tips for purchasing and playing one
Article
Love To Know Media

Your Dictionary: Adjective Lesson Plans

For Teachers 1st - 9th Standards
This article discusses spicing up your lesson plans for teaching adjectives with adjective worksheets, games, and adjective lists all of which can be located online. It suggests the use of Art and Music in your classroom to provide...
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music: Lesson Two: Desegregating the Airwaves: Blues on the Radio

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson deals with the emergence of the blues as a form of popular music on the radio, beginning in Helena, Arkansas in 1940. Students will understand and discuss the relationship between technological and social change, discuss how...
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: How to Blues

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This site has ten lessons to teach about the blues in which students learn the geography, historical events and performers associated with the blues. The unit has been recognized by the American Music Education Initiative as one of the...
Handout
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Web Museum: Vermeer, Jan

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers brief biographical information about Vermeer but emphasizes his works. Over 20 paintings are featured as enlargeable images so you can get a close look at each one. Several works have in depth description and analysis...
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Influence of Folk

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site, which explores the influence of musical folk traditions in the poetry of Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen, provides lesson plans, a biography, examples of Hughes' poetry, and details about his meeting with Nicolas Guillen.
Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Realizing the Power of Your Own Creativity [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
In this lesson, students interpret a poem called 'The Little Blue Engine' by adding music, movement, visual art, and drama. After performing their creation, they will discuss any mathematical and/or scientific connections that have a...