PBS
Pbs: Identity, Oppression, and Protest
This lesson plan supplements a study of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The lesson is designed to help students understand the impact of Jim Crow Laws and their impact of oppression on African Americans. Blues music is shared to help...
Songs for Teaching
Songs for Teaching: Scientific Method Blues
This lesson plan introduces the scientific method to your students through song. Students will learn the steps of the scientific method through this great song written by Kathleen Carroll. Click on the link and play it for your whole class.
Other
Popular Songs During the Civil War
This website outlines the popular forms of music during the Civil War, which included the songs of the minstrel shows like "Dixie," "Blue Tailed Fly," and "Old Dan Tucker."
Library of Congress
Loc: Patriotic Melodies
The Library of Congress site profiles 26 American patriotic songs with commentary, supporting visual material, and recordings of "America the Beautiful," "Fanfare for the Common Man" and the like.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey
Known as the Mother of Blues, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey performed in a traveling minstrel show for over twenty years before recording over 100 songs for Paramount records. Because of her legacy as a blues singer, she has been inducted into...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Little Walter
Provides biographical details on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2008 inductee "Little Walter". Known for his sound of blues harmonica, he was a key contributor to the music of Muddy Waters. Includes timeline and song list.
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon Blue Book: State Symbols
Learn all about Oregon's state symbols. Find out the Latin names of the animals, when the symbols were adopted, and why each was chosen to be a state symbol. Click on "next" on the bottom of the page to see more symbols.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Color My World Grey and Blue
After listening to the song "Grey Street" by the Dave Matthews Band, and the song "Blu is a Mood" by Blu Cantrell, students will explore the lyrics and discover what role color can play when combined with a particular setting. Students...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: An I Pod Inspired Writing Lesson: The Dust Bowl Blues
The 1930's Dust Bowl era was about the grueling times of people suffering in the drought-stricken region of the Oklahoma pan handle. This lesson will help students to gain an understanding of the plights of the people. Using Woody...
University of Wisconsin
State of Wisconsin Blue Book: Wisconsin State Symbols
A listing of the symbols of the state of Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin
State of Wisconsin Blue Book: Wisconsin State Symbols
A listing of the symbols of the state of Wisconsin.
Scott Alexander
Alberta Hunter
This site contains an article on the singer and composer Alberta Hunter. It also includes audio clips of some of her most famous songs. Excellent resource.
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Gullah Net: Gullah Music
Explore aspects of African music as reflected in the songs and music of slaves who lived in coastal South Carolina.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Janis Joplin
Explores comprehensive biographical details on superstar blues and soul musician, Janis Joplin, a 1995 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Ma Rainey
Offers interesting biographical details on "Mother of the Blues", Ma Rainey, a 1990 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Other
David Holt: The Roots of Mountain Music
This is a short history of the major influences that have combined to create mountain music, one of which is minstrel music. Provides a good decription of minstrel music in general. Includes names and descriptions of specific songs,...
Other
Old Time Victrola Music: Blackface Minstrel Music
This website from Old Time Victrola Music, which sells victrola recordings of minstrel music from 1918, provides samples of several minstrel songs in Real Audio format.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: b.b. King
Provides complete biographical details on the "King of the Blues", musician B.B. King, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Willie Dixon
Presents comprehensive biographical details on "the father of modern Chicago blues" Willie Dixon, a 1994 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Big Joe Turner
Features complete biographical details on blues musician Big Joe Turner, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Howlin' Wolf
Offers excellent biographical details on blues musician Howlin' Wolf, a 1991 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Bessie Smith
Read detailed biographical information on the "Empress of the Blues", Bessie Smith, a 1989 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Bonnie Raitt
Covers biographical details on Grammy winning blues singer Bonnie Raitt, a 2000 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
University of Calgary
University of Calgary: Biography of Cynthia Voigt
This profile of Cynthia Voigt reveals her life and work, including her many awards for her children's and young adult books. Among these awards were the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and, in 1990, the California Young Reader's Award for...