Rap music and hip-hop were the pop music of the nineties. Students of all ages liked to mimic the rappers they listened to on CD's, tapes, and the radio. This lesson builds on students' interest in rap music as well as their enjoyment of...

The songs and movies of modern times have had a major influence on fashion. Coincidentally, many of these important fashion-influencing films of recent times had one thing in common: John Travolta. From the white leisure suits ofSaturday...

The Underground Railroad was a significant part of American History. It served as a lifeline to hundreds of slaves who risked their lives to escape the horrors of bondage. Through readings of primary sources and listening to music,...

As part of a general music class for 6th and 7th graders, various instruments are introduced. This instructional activity exposes students to the various timbres produced by the saxophone using popular, contemporary music.

Science instruction is most effective when using a hands-on delivery system. This lesson will use your students' natural affinity for music and musical instruments to reinforce and refine their knowledge of the nature of sound -...

The topic of an author's or artist's public image or persona may become more understandable for students with the judicious selection of contemporary musicians who have taken on obvious and sometimes changing personae in their careers....

Jimi Hendrix's 'The Wind Cries Mary' is an ideal song, not just to illustrate personification, but also to demonstrate how poetic devices enhance the meaning of the poem. As soon as the students recognize that the speaker is mourning the...

I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag' by Country Joe McDonald has been played with great success in classrooms for over twenty years. While it conveys literary elements such as theme, point of view, and irony, it also functions as an...

Using music, videos, and interviews are effective ways to study the Vietnam War era. The music from the late 1960s and early 1970s offers wonderful insights into how many Americans felt about the times. Through the use of personal...

Read a biography of African-American writer Maya Angelou, a woman whose career has inspired and affected millions of people.

Maya Lin became famous at the age of 21 as the architect and creator of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Here you can read about her numerous architectural projects and her promotion of human rights.

A brief history of Olympian Babe Didrickson's progression from sport to sport, excelling at every one including golf.

This short biography focuses on Lucy Stone's leadership in the suffrage movement and her role in attracting Susan B. Anthony to the movement.

Louisa Alcott (1832-1888 CE) is said to be a prolific author of books for American girls and is best remembered for Little Women. This site provides a short biography of her.

Read this brief portrait of progressive social reformer Jane Addams. Addams was an advocate of such causes as women's suffrage, child labor reform, and settlement houses.

Read this portrait of Ida Tarbell, a Progressive Era journalist known for her innovative methods of investigative journalism.

This online biography of Helen Keller (1880-1968 CE) gives the highlights and accomplishments of her life.

Brief biography of this famous women's rights leader.

This short biography tracks the life of Eileen Collins, first woman to pilot a space shuttle and command a space shuttle mission.

This Barnard-educated writer, anthropologist, and folklorist grew up in Eatonville, Florida; the first all-Black city in America. Read a short summary of her life and accomplishments.

Read about the life and accomplishments of abolitionists Angelina Grimke and Sarah Grimke, important political figures in the anti-slavery movement.

This biography of First Lady Abigail Adams outlines her important roles, both politically and personally, during her husband's administration. Includes a description of her famous "Remember the Ladies" letter, espousing her strong belief...

Read about the accomplishments of Alice Paul, a radical leader in the women's movement for suffrage who preferred to directly picket Congress. She was the organizer of the National Woman's Party, and spent time in jail for her activism.

This instructional activity will help learners to better understand and appreciate the epic poem Beowulf by comparing it to a modern rap song. All learners, and at-risk students in particular, learn better when they are able to find...