Curated OER
The 50 States
Fifth graders use maps and music to learn the 50 states. In this US Geography lesson, 5th graders map out a region of the United States and practice singing the song, The 50 States that Rhyme.
Curated OER
Feminism Does Not Have to be an F-Word
Students analyze social activism messages in music. In this feminism lesson, students explore selected music that expresses sentiments voiced in the women liberation movement in the United States. Students compare the lyrics of the songs...
Curated OER
"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Students complete reading and vocabulary activities for Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias." In this literary analysis lesson, students review vocabulary and related definitions for the text. Students read the poem and discuss the meaning.
Curated OER
Literature Soundtracks
Student choose ten songs to create a soundtrack for a novel read in class or as outside reading. In the liner notes, instead of lyrics Students writes a rationale of why or how the song relates to the novel in terms of setting,...
Curated OER
Quoting the Dalai Lama
Students read and reflect on statements made by the Dalai Lama and
discuss with cooperative group members what they believe is
meant by the statement and how to report this information the
rest of the class. They take turns presenting...
Curated OER
Whose Land Is It Anyway?
Seventh graders comprehend the interaction and conflict beween Native Americans and white settlers in the years following the Civil War. They listen to T"his Land is Your Land." Students are asked what their interpretation of the...
Curated OER
Folklore in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God
Students read Zora Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and explore her life history as well as novel analysis activities. In this novel analysis instructional activity, students identify elements in the novel and its overall literary...
Curated OER
Using Rock to Teach Literary Devices: Jimi Hendrix “The Wind Cries Mary”
Students explore literary elements through music. In this figurative language lesson, students examine imagery and personification in "The Wind Cries Mary" by Jimi Hendrix.
Curated OER
And We Were All in One Place: Youth Culture and the Rock Festival
Students explore historical youth culture events. In this youth culture instructional activity, students discover details regarding the Altamont, Woodstock, and Monterey concerts. Students conduct research that regarding the rock...
Curated OER
The Big Blow
High schoolers identify and explain factors that contribute to extreme storms in the Great Lakes. In this investigative instructional activity students study the weather systems in the Great Lakes and compare cyclones to tropical...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: An I Pod Inspired Poetry Lesson: Poems vs Lyrics
After listening and analyzing song lyrics and, subsequently, doing the same analysis with poems, students will discover how similar song writing and poetry writing can be. Students will get their own chance to write a small version of...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Hey, I Known That Song: Literary Analysis of Popular Music
This PDF lesson plan uses the Lyrics to "I Was a Kaleidoscope" by Ben Gibbard and the song "I Was a Kaleidoscope" by Death Cab for Cutie to analyze the poem and determine its meaning.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 20: The 1960s Through Music
By listening to and analyzing the lyrics of selected examples of popular music from the 1960s era, students will develop a greater understanding of the historical and political forces as well as the emotional climate of the decade. This...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 29: Adolescent Identity Crisis
Knowing oneself and attaining a mature identity is the developmental task of adolescence. Successful resolution of the identity crisis involves making healthy choices and personal commitments to an occupation, religious belief, and a...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 38: Robert Plant and Jimmy Page
Many adolescent boys are consumed by theLed Zeppelinsong 'Stairway to Heaven.' The analysis of this song can be used to interest students in the music of the Renaissance minstrels. It will also serve as a means of making students aware...
Other
Verse Development
You have written some lyrics to a song, but are they any any good? Do they capture the listener? This column offers great advice about how to develop your verses to keep them interesting. Through analysis of other lyrics the author will...
New Advent
Catholic Encyclopedia: Thomas Moore
Information on the life of Thomas Moore, English poet and biographer from the 18th century. This is a very complete analysis of Moore's life. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia" is a historic reference source and should be...
PBS
Pbs: Continental Harmony
PBS presents several activities and lesson plans that cover the concepts of identifying different forms of music, learning about musical imagery, writing in response to music, and creating lyrics. The Sound Lounge has many interactive...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Poetry and Music Fun With Chris Daughtry
This language arts instructional activity grabs students' attention by incorporating a popular musician. The lyrics to "Over You" include vivid language that makes identifying figures of speech intriguing. The students will identify...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 43: Screening Coleridge's Fantasies
Students are often hesitant to speak out with their own explications of literature, but usually have no qualms when asked to offer interpretations of popular musical lyrics. In fact, they seem quite eager to defend a lyrical explanation...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 10: Interpretation and Meaning
Using the lyrics, music and video of a selected song (example used here is 'One' by the Irish group U2), students will explore the ways in which words, music and visual images interact to create meaning. Students will analyze the...
Other
California State University: Judging Aesthetic Value
Julie Van Camp gets our aesthetic minds in action with this article from the California State University on the court ruling that 2 Live Crew did not infringe upon the copyright of Roy Orbison's song, "Oh, Pretty Woman." Van Camp cites...