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What Is Cool?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare versions of the song, "So What," recorded by Miles Davis and Marcus Miller. They explore the Ken Burns Website to discover more about Davis and journal their thoughts about him and his music.
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Look, Listen and Learn

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners brainstorm what they know about the performing arts and research an artist or song and its related genre. Students work in groups to create an online banner to attract peers to their performing arts genre.
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For The Record

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create a database that catalogs their music collection of CD's and tapes. They sort, analyze and print selected database records in answer to questions about their favorite music recordings and performing artists. Each...
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America, A Home for Every Culture

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate the many cultures that are represented in America. In this American culture instructional activity, students look at the food, languages, music, and traditions that immigrants have contributed to the face of America....
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Percussion Instruments and Pitch

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students play string instruments to discover how the pitch changes on various string instruments.  In this pitch lesson plan, students listen to video clips and play an online music game.  Students become familiar with music...
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What's New?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students act as teams of product managers for personal electronics companies. Each team evaluate new electronic devices in different product categories (such as handheld devices and portable music devices), and create product...
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Crossroads Blues

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
The crossroads, and the decisions made and entities met there, are a common theme in literature, pushing readers to examine the choices and encounters that shape life experience. The theme has also been explored in blues music, most...
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James Brown: Life and Times

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students trace James Brown's rise from "Little Junior" in Depression-era Augusta, Georgia, to the "Minister of the New Super Heavy Funk" and create a collage that captures his impact on American music.
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B-A-N-J-O: A Bluegrass Version of Bingo

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain the history and relevance of the following instruments in bluegrass music: fiddle, guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin and stand-up bass. They identify the defining characteristics of each bluegrass instrument and participate...
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Patriotic Songs

For Teachers 1st
First graders recognize patriotic songs of America. In this historical music lesson, 1st graders discuss the historical background of the song "Yankee Doodle" and repeat the lyrics after the instructor. Students read the lyrics to the...
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What is Timbre?

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students analyze the differences in similar songs.  In this music appreciation lesson, students discover the meaning of timbre and how it can drastically change similar pieces of music.  Students sing two pieces of music with...
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Yankee Doodle... More than Just a Catchy Tune

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate the history of patriotic music and practice singing the tunes with classmates.  In this U.S. History lesson plan, students examine lyrics of the traditional song "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and discuss the differing...
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Can You Compose?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate musical notes. In this music lesson, 4th graders compose a short song while clapping the rhythm and singing the syllables using the appropriate notes or rests.
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The Piano

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read The Piano and become familiar with racial discrimination.  In this racial discrimination book lesson, 2nd graders answer comprehension question to focus on the importance of the book.  Students discuss the...
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All Mixed Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the emergence of bootlegs, also known as 'mash-ups' (the combination of two songs into one), on the Internet. By researching the musical origins of songs and creating and performing their own bootlegs, students gain a...
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Dizzy Gillespie

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare and contrast two songs by Dizzy Gillespie and identify elements of bebop. They construct a Web page about Gillespie and his music.
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Folk Dancing Fun

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss different kinds of music they have heard. They listen to a short selection of folk music and discuss where they think it is from. Using a globe, the teacher shows students where the music is from. They spread out on...
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American Rhythms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students combine elements of music with poetry.  In this creative writing lesson, students examine poems from a variety of authors with varying writing styles.  Students explore the different elements of poetry, including tone,...
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Electronic Poetry Project

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a digital project to go with a poem. In this technology instructional activity, students pick a poem and create images to go with it. They make background music for the narration of their poem and attach it to a...
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Que Llueva! It's Raining, It's Pouring!

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students learn to sing a song in another language.  In this music instructional activity, students learn a song about rain in English and Spanish.  Students listen to the song Que Llueva in Spanish and It's Raining, It's...
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Bringing Stories to Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers perform short stories with sound effects and music they've created.  In this stories lesson, create effects of record from a file to complete a presented story.
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The Mozart Effect

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop a concept of why skepticism is important in science by looking at actual scientific studies regarding the effect of playing Mozart's music to infants. They record a journal of their inner thoughts and feelings while...
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Moving and Grooving with Tempo:

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students are able to repeat various movements. They are able to state the definition of tempo. Students are able to distinguish between a slow temps and a fast tempo. They form a circle and play the music detective game.
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iRock

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore, listen to and analyze songs that helped define rock and roll music. They read and discuss the article, "They're All Oldies, Dad Included." Research on contemporary artists is conducted and then the students choose who...

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