Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Jazz

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of early jazz. They study Dixieland and the Roaring Twenties. They examine the American historical significance and cultural implications of early jazz.
Lesson Plan
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"Jazz is About Collaboration": Jim Crow Laws And Segregation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore development of jazz music in the 1930s by forming imaginary jazz bands which tour several cities in Depression-era America. Jazz band members create imaginary identities for themselves, develop publicity for their tour,...
Lesson Plan
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A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Study African American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger and create imaginary monsters using texture.
Lesson Plan
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The Sound of Music in Kenya

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Kenya's culture and see how people and things can be different and similar at the same time. They create a pictograph of objects from each culture that are used in similar ways and examine a few Swahili words.
Lesson Plan
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Louis Armstrong

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
In this reading comprehension worksheet students read a biography of jazz musician Louis Armstrong. Students answer 6 questions.
Lesson Plan
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Jazz In America

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners explore the Jazz Era in America not only by answering questions but listening to music as well.
Lesson Plan
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In My Dream

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students listen to recordings of early jazz and identify examples of ostinato and syncopation. They discuss important personalities from jazz cultures and take a quiz on aspects of jazz.
Lesson Plan
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Rhythm Sticks

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders experience artistic perception of rhythm in music and see how to move their bodies and tap their sticks to the rhythm of a particular song.
Lesson Plan
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All That is Irish and More - Activity 1

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students listen to examples of fiddle music and violin music to determine the similarities and differences between the two musical forms. A video link is included in this introductory lesson to fiddle music (Part One of Two).
Lesson Plan
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Blues Improvisation

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students practice playing and improvising while playing the 12 bar blues. They practice compositional skills, evaluate and perform musical pieces focused on the blues.
Lesson Plan
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Rhythm Sticks

For Teachers All
Music and dance appreciation are important to the education of children to help them appreciate the cultures that make up our society. Rhythm sticks teach kids artistic perception of rhythm in music and how to move their bodies and tap...
Worksheet
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Hunt the Fact Monster: February #4

For Students 3rd
In this search engine worksheet, 3rd graders will need to use factmonster.com to discover answers. Students will respond to 5 multiple choice questions using the given website.
Lesson Plan
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Pitch

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students experience sounds with different pitches. In this pitch lesson, students use open pipes as they are introduced to pitch, then make Straw Pan Pipes.
Lesson Plan
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Clerihew Dances III, 4 and 5

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders relate dance movements to chants. They tap out the rhythm of poetry on different body parts.
Lesson Plan
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Immigration Unit

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...
Lesson Plan
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Sounds Great

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine the types of sounds sculptures make. They create their own sculpture that make sound using everyday materials.
Lesson Plan
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Raising Cane: Building a Cane Flute From Scratch

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create their own cane flute. They use a model flute to gain the correct measurements and use the scientific method to construct the flute to have sound quality and pitch accuracy.
Lesson Plan
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Multimedia Stained Glass Window Design

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students construct and display a stained glass gothic window box made from cardboard boxes, color tissue or colored plastic sheets of mylar, and glue.
Lesson Plan
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Body Percussion: Hambone

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore body percussion. They practice playing quarter notes and eighth notes separately, then quarter and eighth notes at the same time by different groups. They practice this exercise at different tempos.
Lesson Plan
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Green, Green, Green

For Teachers 1st
First graders trave around the world celebrating St. Patty's Day and all things green! First, we start of in Ireland and travel our way down to Mexico for some green guacamole. They study dances from the two places.
Lesson Plan
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Teaching About Trade in the Ancient Mediterranean

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the trade routes in the Mediterranean of the Ancient world. In groups, they view slides of artifacts while answering questions on a worksheet. After watching a video, they discuss how each object was found and...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Nm Af A: Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Five traditional African musical instruments are highlighted at this Smithsonian site: two types of drums, the thumb piano (mucapata), harp, and whistles. Includes historical facts about the instruments.
Article
Other

Wesleyan University: West African Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This site talks about the African harp, guitar and several other instruments.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: National Museum of African Art

For Students 9th - 10th
A fabulous resource for students and teachers interested in African art! Click any of the icons to search for a specific artifact, or just browse their collection.