National Center for Families Learning
The Summer Fun Summer Learning Music Unit
Take note. Soul music. Gospel music. Country music. Summer comes alive with the sounds of music as program participants learn about various genres of music, create instruments, and write and perform songs about the facts and traditions...
Curated OER
Country's Music
Jazz, Blue Grass, Hip Hop, Swing. Gospel, R&B, Ragtime, Disco. So many music genres born in the USA. After reading an article about the fate of New Orlean's Jazz after Hurricane Katrina, class members investigate the life cycles of...
University of Northern Iowa
Additional Folklife Information
Use a packet packed with ideas for how to celebrate the traditions of your country, state, community, and pupils's families. Suggestions for how to draw on oral and material traditions, customs, beliefs, music, and stories all find...
Curated OER
Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson - Lesson 1
Appeal to your music lovers with this lesson. Middle and high schoolers listen to and describe music from contrasting styles. They identify the common elements between gospel and bluegrass music and have a class discussion regarding the...
Curated OER
Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story - The Birth of Soul
Students analyze various kinds of music. In this music activity, students listen to music clips to determine the kind of music each clip is then they participate in a class discussion about the music and prepare a presentation.
Curated OER
The History of Rock and Roll: Parts 1, 6, 8, and 10 Roots of Rock & Roll
Students examine the musical influences on the emergence of Rock and Roll.
Curated OER
Lesson: Looking Closer: The Artwork of Shinique Smith
A critical discussion regarding the nature of Shinique Smith's second-hand clothing art is the foundation for the lesson. Critical thinkers fully analyze the meaning behind her work, taking close consideration of where the clothing came...
Curated OER
Soundtrack to War
Students discuss the important role of music in lives of soldiers stationed in Iraq. They identify and demonstrate skills in creating compositions with limited resources, similar in concept to the soldiers viewed in the documentary.
Curated OER
Learning the Blues
Students become familiar with the characteristic form and sound of the blues, then learn about the history and evolution of the blues in relationship to the African-American experience. Students examine the structure and language of...
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.
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.
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.
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: American Masters: Ray Charles
PBS presents a biography of the "Father of soul," Ray Charles. He was an internationally famed musician, combining jazz, country, gospel, soul, and R&B in a way that was truly unique.
Curated OER
Singer Mahalia Jackson Practices With Gospel Legend Thomas A. Dorsey
In Summer 2003, NPR broadcast a special series on the history of American music. This site focus is on the unique traditions in American music including country music, blues, and gospel.
Curated OER
Bob Wills
In Summer 2003, NPR broadcast a special series on the history of American music. This site focus is on the unique traditions in American music including country music, blues, and gospel.
Curated OER
Santiago Jimenez Jr.
In Summer 2003, NPR broadcast a special series on the history of American music. This site focus is on the unique traditions in American music including country music, blues, and gospel.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Tennessee: Graceland
Graceland was Elvis Presley's home for 20 years starting in 1957, and is intimately associated with his music and career. Presley profoundly influenced American music and culture in the 20th century, and has been inducted into the Rock...