Lesson Plan
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Baga Drum

For Teachers K - 12th
Students draw and design a musical instrument that incorporates a human figure or animal. In this musical lesson plan, students will discover the differences between African drums. This lesson plan is designed for elementary, middle,...
Lesson Plan
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Ceramic Rattles

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create ceramic rattles using the pinch method of building with clay. They view a slide show of different types of rattles, draw designs of their rattles, and create them using clay and the pinch method. They create the rattles...
Lesson Plan
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Rhythm Compositions

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders collaborate in small groups to create simple rhythmic patterns in different time signatures. Each group creates rhythms in a competitive "game" atmosphere and then constructs entire rhythmic groups for presentation to...
Lesson Plan
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Pysanky: Not Just a Pretty Egg

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine the art of Pysanky. Using the Internet, they identify the cultural similarities and differences between the United States and the Ukraine. Using Pysanky's art, they discover the symbolism he used in his artwork and...
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A Shape-Note Singing Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discover the shape-note method of singing. In this reading and notating music lesson, students learn the four shapes of the shape-note method and the tradition of Sacred Harp singers. Students sing the shapes of "Yankee Doodle"...
Lesson Plan
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Chance Dance Compositions

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create dances through a randomly generated process (such as throwing a dice) and perform their dances for the class. Class work is based on Merce Cunningham's "Chance Dance" and includes walking, skipping hopping, and...
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Halloween Songs

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students perform a dance (La Raspa) from a different culture while maintaining a steady beat, sing "Halloween Night" with accurate pitch and good breath support, and imitate a body percussion part for the song "Monster Mash" in this...
Lesson Plan
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Enjoying Puerto Rican Artistts

For Teachers K - 4th
Students examine artwork done by artists from Puerto Rico. As a class, they discuss each piece of work based on the elements used. They use the internet to research the lives of the artists and develop their own opinions on the art...
Lesson Plan
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The Mission of Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Students comprehend the various aspects of the Lewis and Clark expediton. They complete an idea web. Students work in small groups. They recall some important aspects of the Lewis and Clark expedition by performing the Corps of...
Lesson Plan
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Island Maracas

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students listen to Caribbean folk music and discuss maracas and their role in music. They construct and design pairs of maracas using paper mache, then perform a Puerto Rican folk song using their maracas.
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B is for Banana

For Teachers K - 6th
Students practice and perform the song "B is for Banana" using their knowledge of basic rhythms in 4/4 and student-created rhythm accompaniment based on speech. This excellent lesson is provided by the MENC (National Association for...
Lesson Plan
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Alligator

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate the musical concept of rhythm through the use of creating a beat. The beat must have a specific and purposeful rhythm. Student can then define the term of rhythm easier after performing the activity.
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Little Black Book

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students are introduced to simple folk dances, already having been introduced to dances with an 8-count beat. They perform various dance steps.
Lesson Plan
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Spark Line Dance - 5-6-7-8

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars learn a line dance. In this line dance lesson, students practice the indicated steps to perform a line dance to the SPARK CD. (not linked) They use the add on format while performing the dance.
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The Composer's Blueprint

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students recognize AB and ABA form in music and distinguish between these two forms. They explore meaning of tempo and how to perform accents in written music.
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La Marcha Dance

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are presented with a wedding song and dance of another culture. They also make a connection between the beat of a song with various dance movements.
Lesson Plan
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Pupils study the life and music of the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They practice listening for the downbeat of a musical selection. They participate in a physical exercise where they march around in a circle and clap to the...
Lesson Plan
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California Strut

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students perform the line dance California Strut. In this dance lesson, students listen to the music "Hot, Hot, Hot" and perform a line dance.
Lesson Plan
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Phytochemicals

For Teachers K - 6th
Young scholars create movement, improvise rhythmic accompaniment, practice, and perform the song "Phytochemicals" in this excellent elementary-level General Music lesson. The lesson includes lesson challenges for more advanced students.
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Fit Kid

For Teachers K - 6th
Students practice and perform the song "Fit Kid" while learning the basics of motion and music and dynamics in this elementary-level lesson for the General Music classroom. The lesson emphasizes proper exercise and diet for a healthy life.
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Puppet Frogs

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify the elements of line, shape, and color and expressive qualities of pictorial representation. Students create their own puppet frog using emotion and perform in a reader's theater. Students listen to various pieces of...
Lesson Plan
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Salad Sisters

For Teachers K - 6th
Students practice and perform 8 and 16 beat rhythmic patterns in 4/4 using the song "Salad Sisters" as a basis in this elementary-level General Music lesson plan. An amazing lesson plan for teaching cooperative music composition...
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No Title

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students, through musical improvisation and utilizing a video, demonstrate how music is used to advance a storyline. They are introduced to program music and as they enter the room they will see the opening scene from Jaws playing on the...
Lesson Plan
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Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students participate in a partner dance. In this dance instructional activity, students listen to the song "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" and repeat dance steps according to the music.