Curated OER
Hangman Puzzles
In this hangman puzzle worksheet, students are given clues about six different famous hangings. They are to solve each puzzle and write the name of the person who was hanged.
Curated OER
Folk Traditions in the Blues
Click here to download a PDF of this lesson. (2.8 MB) Overview This lesson will enable teachers to use the blues to explore selected topics in African American folklore. Students will learn about some of the African American cultural...
Other
African Genesis: Black Gospel Music
This Black Gospel Music site provides information on the history, artists, and spirituality of black gospel music.
Other
Mississippi Arts Commission: Black Gospel Music
An extensive article on black gospel music and its origins. Discusses the evolution of the music and it's cultural impact.
PBS
Pbs: American Roots Music: Lesson Three: Gospel Music Meets a Wide Audience
The third lesson deals with the emergence of gospel as a form of popular music among a general public. Gospel is a musical genre with roots in the African American church, particularly in the South. Between the 1940s and the 1960s,...
Other
Black Gospel Music: The History of Gospel Music
This site explores the history of Gospel music, including how gospel music began and some of the various incarnations it has gone through.
PBS
Pbs: American Roots Music
If teaching a unit about the history of popular music in America, this PBS web site supporting their four-part TV broadcast of a few years ago would make a great resource. Includes lesson plans and oral histories too.
Other
Gospel Music Soloist
This site contains a brief look at the Black gospel soloist Rosetta Tharpe. This site also includes several other articles on early black gospel soloists and groups.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Gospel Music Meets a Wide Audience (Lesson Plan)
A lesson that identifies some of the leading figures in post-World War II gospel music. Pupils compare the differences in style and approach of several gospel musicians and analyze how music has different meanings in different social...
PBS
Pbs: This Far by Faith: The Spread of Gospel Music
An explanation of the origins and spread of gospel music from the producers of "This Far by Faith," a series on African-American spiritual journeys, which premiered on PBS stations in June 2003.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sam and Dave
Sam and Dave were known as "the greatest of all soul duos". Read about the history behind this famous duo and learn about their music and songs. They were 1992 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
English Club
English Club: History of Soul Music
Learn the history of soul music from its origins in gospel music, through Motown and Memphis Soul, to contemporary rhythm and blues. The site includes three videos: Sam Cooke singing "A Change is Gonna Come," from 1964, with images from...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Slavery and Freedom: Sorrow Songs
Sorrow Songs are examined as the music the African American slaves of the antebellum South to express both sadness and despair as well as well as hope for better. See "Sorrow Songs Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
Indiana University
Archives of African American Music and Culture
Contains resources on black culture and music from the early 1900s to the present.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Learning the Blues
This lesson plan introduces students to the blues. The origin and development of the blues is explored as well as its distinctive structure.
PBS
Pbs: This Far by Faith: Thomas Dorsey
A biography of Thomas Dorsey, the man known as "the father of gospel music," from the producers of "This Far by Faith," a series on African-American spiritual journeys. (The series premiered on PBS stations in June 2003.) The site...
Other
Ray Charles Online
This personal website of Ray Charles contains a very interesting autobiography, including discussions with the artist on how he writes and arranges music in his head, how soul music and rock and roll originated, and much more.
British Library
British Library: Virtual Books: Turning the Pages
Prepare for hours of fascination leafing through pages of 15 incredible original texts, from the Diamond Sutra, the oldest printed book, to an original copy of "Alice's Adventures Underground." Along the way, check out such varied texts...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Mahalia Jackson
Learn about the " Queen of Gospel", New Orleans born singer Mahalia Jackson.
Other
Negro Spirituals: History
Resource offers a wealth of information on the development and various uses of the negro spiritual songs.
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: Hank Williams
Featured is a biographical essay on the life of country crooner, Hank Williams. There is a career timeline and video footage interviews from those who knew him well.
Other
The Georgia Sea Island Singers
The Georgia Sea Island Singers are carrying on the tradition of their ancestors by performing chants, work songs, and gospel songs all over the world.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Al Green
Gifted 1970s soul singer, Al Green, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. After a rewarding R&B singing career, he became a Reverend in 1976 and moved to gospel music.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Sam and Dave
Biographical details on Sam and Dave, the American vocal duo who were among the most popular performers of soul music in the late 1960s and whose gritty, gospel-drenched style typified the Memphis Sound.