Center for Instruction, Technology, & Innovation
Did African American Lives Improve After Slavery?
The Civil War made slavery illegal, but all ex-slaves were not totally free. Scholars visit eight different classroom stations to uncover life during the Reconstruction Era in America. Groups discover items such as Black Codes, 13th,...
Curated OER
Conveying Message Through Musical Composition
Students listen to and discuss various protest songs from the 1960's, and write original lyrics for a song addressing global or societal issues. They write a paragraph evaluating the efficacy of the song to convey a message.
Curated OER
People of the Plains:Music and Dance
Fourth graders are given a worksheet stating the goal of the day, different sections to visit, and time spent on each section. They are given the CDs, 4th graders are told to insert the CDs into the computer. Students go to The Plains...
Curated OER
Mexico: One Land, Many Cultures
Students research and study the country of Mexico and complete a project about it. In this Mexico lesson plan, students research Mexico's geography, traditions, art, songs, stories, and legends that are native to Mexico.
Curated OER
Composers
For this music worksheet, students use the appropriate reference and respond to 4 fill in the blank questions about composers and famous song titles.
Curated OER
Stop the Bus: Confronting Our Assumptions About Muslims in America
Students explore Virginia Interfaith Center's A More Perfect Union "Misunderstanding" Ad Campaign, view two episodes of PBS America at a Crossroads series, examine historical context of colonialism and geo-political tensions in Middle...
Curated OER
A Song for Every Headline - Lesson 1
High schoolers identify popular songs from 1968 and make connections with the year's current events They recognize popular music as a reflection of the culture. They focus on songs of the Vietnam War era.
Curated OER
Music - Lesson 16 - Songs
First graders determine that Spanish is the language spoken in Mexico before singing a number of Mexicans songs. They make maracas to use while singing Mexican songs. They sing the song, "La Cucaracha," in English realizing that it is a...
Curated OER
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America
Pupils listen to a selection of early Berry Gordy songs and identify musical characteristics of Motown music and recognize the relationship between Detroit and the development of a recording industry leader.
Curated OER
Christmas Songs Puzzle
In this Christmas crossword worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle by answering questions or filling in the blanks of items related to Christmas songs. There are 41 word blanks on the puzzle to solve.
Teacher and the Rockbots
Worksheet for the "National Holidays" Song
If you can find a copy of the song, "National Holidays," you can use this worksheet with your elementary schoolers. They read the lyrics to the song and answer questions about it. Along the way, they examine the reasons that we celebrate...
Curated OER
Happy Birthday America!
Students examine the United States flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Fourth of July. They create five-pointed stars, listen to stories about Betsy Ross and Paul Revere, and sing various patriotic songs.
Curated OER
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Gospel Beginnings
Young scholars identify musical characteristics of gospel and sing a gospel selection. They practice the call and response technique. After going through individual parts, they sing the entire song with piano accompaniment.
Curated OER
Regional Songs in the Southern American Experience
Students write a song about transportation in 100 years after comparing and discussing "Proud Mary" and "The Midnight Special".
Curated OER
Slavery of Africans in the Americas: Resistance to Enslavement
Middle schoolers explore the many ways African and African-American slaves resisted their enslavement in the Americas with special emphasis on the slave songs and maroon societies of slaves.
Curated OER
Music of the Great Depression
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the music of the Great Depression. In this 1930's America lesson, 11th graders read and analyze the provided lyrics of 6 songs from the era. Students then compose their own lyrics for songs that...
Curated OER
Understanding the Music of the Civil Rights Movement
Students examine protest music and songs from the Civil Rights movement. In this music of the Civil Rights era lesson, students listen to selected music before working in groups to determine who the music was directed at, what social...
Curated OER
Cowboys
Learners analyze cowboy literature. In this United States history and literacy lesson, students listen to a variety of cowboy songs and poetry, view the video "Rediscovering America: The Real American Cowboy," and view related websites....
Curated OER
Identifying the Beat
Sixth graders listen to various songs. In this musical properties lesson plan, 6th graders work in groups to identify musical selections, practice tapping the beat, review time signatures, and identify the meter of different songs.
Curated OER
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America
Students listen to and discuss the characteristics of Motown music. They recognize Motown music by its titles.
Curated OER
1900 America: Historical Voices, Poetic Visions
Learners examine the United States at the turn of the century. Using primary source documents, they interpret them within a specific historical context. Using this information, they write a poem with metaphors and a specific meter They...
Curated OER
Musical Change
Young learners record observations about different coin denominations and create a song about coins to the traditional song, "The Wheels on the Bus." This lesson plan is based on the Tennessee Quarter Reverse, and has all sorts of...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Immigrant Discrimination
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...
Santa Ana Unified School District
Getting to the Core: Early American Poets
How do poets convey emotion and represent their views of life? Pupils learn more about Whitman and Dickinson through the unit and analyze their bold reinvention of craft and style for poets to come. Looking at classic pieces such as...