Catherine Schmidt-Jones
Two Traditional Korean Songs
"Arirang," the most popular Koeran folk song, and "Doraji" are featured in a resource that includes suggestions for how to incorporate these hauntingly beautiful songs into your curriculum.
Curated OER
Jazz Music and the Crisis Over School Desegregation
High schoolers will learn to appreciate the civil rights movement with a focus on Little Rock, Arkansas. They will also acknowledge Louis Armstrong's unparalleled contributions to American music.
Curated OER
General Music: Star Spangled Banner
"The Star Spangled Banner" became our country's national anthem, but why? Second and third grade musicians read about the song, analyze the lyrics, and discuss patriotism. They then complete a related word search.
Curated OER
1960's Protest Songs
By learning about 1960's protest songs, and the politics of the era, students can broaden their understanding of music and history.
Curated OER
Musical Sounds
Students investigate music appreciation by completing worksheets. In this musical arts lesson, students complete worksheets in which they identify different musical instruments, the sounds they make and the family of instruments they...
Curated OER
Primary Songs about Recycling
Students compose songs about recycling. For this ecology lesson, students use vocabulary and concepts related to recycling to generate lyrics for an original song. Students construct musical instruments out of discarded materials.
Curated OER
Lyric Analysis: Reflection
The Woody Guthrie song,"I Ain’t Got No Home in This World Anymore" invites upper graders to engage in lyric analysis. They use the lyrics to answer five analysis questions to determine a social meaning to the song. A suggested...
Library Sparks
When Marian Sang: Reader's Theater
Put on an eight-actor show based on Pan Munoz Ryan's When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson. The resource comes with a color-coded script that includes some images from the picture book.
Curated OER
Exploring African Music
Students appreciate African Music and the rich culture it represents. They identify two characteristics of African Music in their journals.
Curated OER
Rap Music and Hip-Hop
Pupils explore rap and hip hop music. In this music and culture lesson, students experience the music of Will Smith in order to work on language and communication skills such as rhyming words, writing, and public speaking.
Curated OER
When a Country Loses Its Songs
Students explore music as a cultural tradition. In this global studies lesson, students consider the implications of the loss of childhood songs to a cultural group. Students determine the type of musical "treasures" that are part of...
Curated OER
The Love and Safety Club for Children
Child safety and bullying is the focus of this sociology lesson plan. The Love and Safety Club is a program for children which is designed to help reinforce important information regarding how to stay safe at home, at school, and when...
Curated OER
I am Special and You are Special Too - Project Children L.E.A.D.
Eighth graders recognize what makes them special through class participation and discussion of rap music, writing a poem about themselves, and designing their own special hat while working in groups.
Curated OER
Christmas Music Lesson Plans
Christmas music lesson plans add a little spice to the season.
Curated OER
Poetry for the Common Good
Learners identify examples of philanthropy in poetry or song. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students examine several poems such as Give by Carrie A. Thomas and identify concepts of philanthropy in the poem. Learners...
Curated OER
African Dance and Song
Young scholars participate in a Zulu song game. They listen to African music and discover that is is a part of the culture, ceremonies, and dances. Students learn the dance/song, "Vulani Ringi Ring," and practice it after memorizing...
Curated OER
Songs of Native Americans
Students listen to chapter from novel When Legends Die by Hal Borland, listen to traditional Lakota song, discuss feeling song induces and in what circumstance it may be used, and examine connection between cultural music and family...
New York City Department of Education
Myself and Others
Self reflection is an important skill to reinforce in our children, and it's especially helpful to help them realize who they are in the context of their environment. A collection of lessons about self image and community encourage...
Curated OER
Chick Corea and Nicolas Economou: "Songs for Children"
Students study the career of Chick Corea, whose work has spanned myriad styles in the past thirty years. They explore the double meaning of "Children's Music" and are introduced to the piano
Curated OER
Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Duke Ellington
Students read Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the life of the 20th century composer. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and...
Curated OER
A New Life, a New Home
Young scholars connect with an immigration unit through research, journal writing, digital photography, and a movie production using iMovie. By acting out the immigrant's experience, students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation...
ESL Kid Stuff
Christmas Lesson 2
Wrapping presents, singing Christmas carols, writing Christmas cards and learning holiday vocabulary are all wrapped into this one exciting ESL activity.
Curated OER
A Celebration of Africa
Students investigate early African civilizations. They create Kufi hats, musical instruments, pottery and African masks, sing songs, play African studenT games, and participate in a feast and tour of a museum where their artwork is...
Curated OER
I Am Special and You Are Special Too #4
The students listen to a book about being different and investigate that everyone is different, but special in their own unique way. The students draw a picture of themselves using multi-cultural markers. Along with the drawing, the...