Writers use details to infer meaning beyond the surface level of their stories. In this richly detailed plan, the lyrics of spirituals are used to show class members how to recognize these inferences and to recognize the messages...

Ask your class to think about how song lyrics can go with a video and more with a well-sequenced lesson plan that focuses on the song "Two Fingers" by Jake Bugg. Class members work together to make predictions about the content of the...

The second in a series of nine exercises designed to develop songwriting skills introduces the idea of elaboration. After a close reading and discussion of the elaborations in Vanessa Hudgens' "Sneakernight," young songwriters practice...

Bruce Springsteen’s “My Hometown” and Billy Joel’s “Allentown” motivate young lyricists to craft poems about their own home town. Groups compare the two songs, identifying details, symbols, and conflicts. Individuals then picture a place...

Tenth graders decide if the song lyrics that they listen to, could be considered a sonnet or a poem. They are invited to explore lyrics and their meaning. Students write a persuading argument on whatever they decide, but it must be...

Use this brainstorming organizer to help writers organize their song ideas. Starting with the name of the song, they will use bubbles to brainstorm various elements of a song from lyrics to meaning.

Kids love to make up new words that go with familiar melodies. For this lesson, the classic song "If You're Happy and You Know It," is used. Since this lesson goes along with the Arthur episode: "The Ballad of Buster Baxter," learners...

Students identify words that rhyme and realize that this literacy skill is engaging. Then they prepare their own language game props. Students also monitor each other in following rules, erasing duplicate words, and scorekeeping....

Students create a visual reminder of their goals and aspirations. Then they use recycled material as an armature for sculpting a useful container. Students also select symbols for their cups reflecting their dreams and follow directions...

Have your music lovers examine song lyrics and identify the poetry elements or tools used by a lyricist. They review the song individually before working in groups to discuss what they discovered about the song's narrator or character...

Students listen to and analyze the lyrics for Avril Lavigne's song, Sk8er Boi. They discuss and interpret the vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and various grammar structures used in the lyrics.

Sing to summarize the events in the story "Mrs. Word Bird." These lyrics tell the tale of the word bird and all the things she can eat and rhyme. The song is sung to the tune of, "It's a Small World."

Get your kids moving as they learn about the history of the United States National Anthem. Scholars examine the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, and the meaning behind The Star Spangled Banner as they listen to an 18-minute...

Upper graders listen to and watch a documentary about an all female group Antigone Rising. They discuss how females are portrayed in the rock world, the type of music they play, their song lyrics, and what they note in the documentary....

Students examine individuality.  In this music video lesson, students listen to music by India Arie to determine how music shapes our ideas of what normal is as well as how music is a form of poetry.  Activities are related to Stargirl. 

The students create a personal narrative on their experiences with immigration. In this lesson, students are asked to read and understand examples of narrative writing as well as evaluate lyrics from Ben Folds Five to determine elements...

Students identify examples of philanthropy in poetry or song. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine several poems such as Give by Carrie A. Thomas and identify concepts of philanthropy in the poem. Students construct their own...

Students compose songs about recycling. In this ecology lesson, students use vocabulary and concepts related to recycling to generate lyrics for an original song. Students construct musical instruments out of discarded materials.

In this musical theater activity, students will read summaries of Les Miserables, Oliver!, and the professional career of Andrew Lloyd Weber. After reading the summaries, students are asked to evaluate the plot and the characters of the...

Twelfth graders discuss their favorite songs and music groups, and why they like these specific arrangements. Students use the Attachment A "Understanding Literary Terms" to analyze their choice of songs.

Students watch selected film clips about Cole Porter and discover his uniqueness. In groups, they research associates of the Porter's and present reports on them. Then, they write position papers on prominent people of the Jazz Age. ...

Students create songs to be performed at spring concert. Several lessons on one page.