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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Presidents Song

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Remember learning to spell “encyclopedia” by singing along with Jiminy Cricket? How about using a singing exercise to learn the names of the presidents? “The Presidents Song,” includes the names, in order, from Washington to Coolidge....
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Lesson Plan
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Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Yankee Doodle: How Has It Changed over Time?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Grab your feathers and your hat! And perhaps some macaroni! It's time to investigate the evolution of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Groups do a close reading of sheet music covers, lyrics, and even YouTube videos to see how this political song...
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Writing
Curated OER

Song Writing: Recording Your Song

For Students 9th
In this music sales worksheet, students read advice on the how to sell the songs that they write. They read about producers, managers, demos, royalties, and agents. They design a pamphlet based on the information in the reading and as an...
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Audio
University of Virginia

The Songs in Uncle Tom's Cabin

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Experience Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin in an innovative, musical way. A list of audio links leads class members to spirituals from the novel, such as "Die in the Field," "The Wings in the Morning," and "Blow Ye the Trumpet."
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Myth of the West: Lonely But Free I’ll Be Found

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Tumbling tumbleweeds! Scholars work with video clips, primary and secondary documents, and song lyrics to uncover life in the Old West. They examine song's lyrics to uncover myths told in the 1930s about life in the Wild West. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cole Porter: You're the Top

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor

For Teachers 7th - 12th
How do a person's musical preferences influence the way they compose music of their own? Learners analyze the sound and lyrics of Alicia Keys in relation to musicians that came before. Jazz, blues, and soul music from the past are shown...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write a Song About American History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the historic background of the song, The Battle of New Orleans. Working in pairs, students research other historic events and write their own songs based on them.
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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Immigrant Discrimination

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
For a class learning about Chinese and Irish immigration in America, here's a great starting lesson plan. It has your critical thinkers examining song lyrics, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and a political cartoon, and finally...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Campaign Songs as Propaganda:Free Trade vs. Protectionism - In Whose Interest?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze campaign messages about tariffs in a 19th-century campaign song. They read and discuss the lyrics, complete an analysis worksheet, and identify the intended audience of the song's message.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poetry for the Common Good

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners identify examples of philanthropy in poetry or song. For this philanthropy lesson, students examine several poems such as Give by Carrie A. Thomas and identify concepts of philanthropy in the poem. Learners construct their own...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine”

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Scholars go on a musical journey to discover the origin, importance, and evolution of the song, "This Little Light of Mine". Class members boost their voice talents and clap to the beat while learning the lyrics in both English and Zulu....
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Lesson Plan
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Center for Civic Education

The Power of Nonviolence: Music Can Change the World

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Here is a fantastic activity through which class members discover how music has the ability to influence others in a meaningful way. After reviewing selected pieces and modern-day protest songs, learners will research other songs that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turn of the Century: Songs and Events from 1900 to 1920

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research songs and events from the time period 1900 to 1920. They work in groups to create visual displays of the songs and historical references. At the conclusion of the unit, a concert will be held to perform the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protest Music Video

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create an iMovie that expresses the meaning of a protest song from the 1960's or 1970's. They investigate the emotional and political overtones of the times and use images to interpret the song's meaning.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The Freedom Riders and the Popular Music of the Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s marched to its own beat—literally. Using songs from the era, as well as other primary sources such as King's "I Have a Dream" speech, class members analyze lyrics to discover how music and protest...
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Lesson Plan
Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Protesting Violence without Violence

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
The ultimate legacy of Emmett Till's violent death is its role in the non-violent roots of the Civil Rights Movement. A lesson compares contemporaneous articles with the lyrics of Bob Dylan's "The Death of Emmett Till" and prompts...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sing! Sing a Song!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students investigate climate change. They read and listen to an environmental song or a song about change or taking action. Students write, sing, and record their own song about climate change.
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Printables
Box

Australia Day Printables

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd Standards
Here is your must-have resource for celebrating Australia Day with youngsters! It includes research activities, popular Australian songs, tracing and coloring worksheets, and other several other great printables.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Songs That Bring Us Together

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students listen to the song, Get Together, and discuss the theme. They list topics that bring people together, write the lyrics to and sing a class song, and write a paragraph about message songs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guantanamera: A Poem and a Song

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compare revolutionary actions of Jose Marti and Pete Seeger. In this Cuban folk song lesson, students listen to the song "Guantanamera" and discuss the content. High schoolers read articles on the poet and the songwriter...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Using Holiday Songs to Enhance Lessons

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Holiday songs can be fun and educational.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Dynamics - America the Beautiful

For Teachers 1st
First graders sing America the Beautiful and understand the words to the song.  In this singing social studies lesson, 1st graders become familiar with the images and vocabulary in America the Beautiful while singing the words.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Twist and Shout Lyrics

For Students 8th - 12th
In this handout, students examine the lyrics of popular music from the counter-culture era. Songs included are: Crimson and Clover, Turn, Turn, Turn, Have you Been to Jail for Justice, Uncle Sam, Ohio, Give Peace a Chance, Eve of...

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