Lesson Plan
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Slices of American Pie: The 1960s Through Music

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine political, cultural, and social movements through music. In this 1960s American history lesson, 11th graders explore the music of the decade in order to better understand the complexity of the time period....
Lesson Plan
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Music: A Nation's Voice

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the impact of popular music in 1960's America. In this music and history lesson, students listen to several identified songs from the decade and analyze their lyrics. Students discuss their impressions and then...
Lesson Plan
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Music Strikes a Soothing Chord

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore music therapy. In this health journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Music Strikes a Soothing Cord", respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an activity based on the...
Lesson Plan
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Sondheim: Voice of Cultural Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore Stephen Sondheim's contributions to musical theatre in the context of the dramatic cultural shift that occurred in American life in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Lesson Plan
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A Walk Through the 20th Century

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use primary and secondary sources to study the literature, historical events, people, technology, medicine, government, entertainment and culture of the decades of the twentieth century.
Lesson Plan
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The Life and Music of Celia Cruz

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a set and design a costume for a musical performance. In this Life of Celia Cruz lesson, students study biographical facts about Celia Cruz on the exhibition web site. Then students share their creations with the class.
Lesson Plan
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The Collaborative Works of Rodgers and Hammerstein: Show Business

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein in an historical context of the development of American musical theatre as an art form. Students explore "roots" of the genre as it evolves in last half of the 19th and first two decades...
Lesson Plan
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The Twentieth Century

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders summarize a decade in the twentieth century and compare it to another decade. They present facts in a Hyperstudio document that includes text, photos, and audio to describe the decade.
Lesson Plan
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Island Culture: Puerto Rico

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the culture of Puerto Rico. They create maps of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. They work in small groups to research a decade in history and add drawings and pictures to a timeline of their decade. They practice...
Lesson Plan
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Rock n' Rollin in the '50s

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the culture of the United States in the 1950's.  In this history lesson, students research culture in the 1950's, with a focus on fashion, music, television, automobiles, etc., then work in groups to create a...
Lesson Plan
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Describing Vocabulary for Cinema, Movies, and Stars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers name their favorite actors and actresses, and then use adjectives to describe them. They go through a list of actors and actresses and discuss the adjectives they used to decribe them. As an extension, they can write...
Lesson Plan
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The Aerial Age

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students infer America's attitude towards aviation in the early 1900s. In this The Aerial Age lesson, students analyze early 1900s literature, music, advertisements, and popular culture in reference to aviation. Students represent their...
Lesson Plan
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Fashion: 20th Century to the Present

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore fashion through the 20th Century. They create a poster about their assigned era. Students teach their classmates about the fashion of the assigned period. They describe the fashion trends, current events, popular music...
Lesson Plan
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Under Joni Mitchell's Influence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view the AMERICAN MASTERS entitled Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind, examine the concept of influence, and explore how Joni Mitchell and her work have influenced others. Students read, interpret, and analyze her lyrics by...