Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And You Don't Stop-30 Years of Hip-hop

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the musical genre of Hip-Hop and make a connection with other styles of music. A time line of musical styles is developed and discussed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Remus to Rap: A History in Theory and Practice of the African-American Storytelling Tradition

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine the specific form and function of tall tales and toasts. They discover the importance of performance in the telling of a story and the importance of rhythm in the telling of toasts. They create stories of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 Driven: Kanye West

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students watch a video excerpt about the life of Kanye West. They draw connections between his life and their own and compose a rap song in the style of West, using his song, "Through the Wire" as an example.
Activity
Weebly

Nationalism Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Don't just ask your class to define nationalism, but invite them to experience it with an engaging project. Learners are divided into groups to design four items—a flag, slogan, national anthem, and historical tale—for a fictional...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

“And Still I Rise” Proud Black Women

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the experiences of African American women. In this poetry lesson, students use their literary analysis skills to compare the poetry of Maya Angelou to rap music performed by Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hip Hop and Geography

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the various geographic regions of the U.S. and discuss how popular music is influenced by cultural/regional factors. Groups choose East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, or South in rap/hip hop music and create a PowerPoint or...
Lesson Plan
Speak Truth to Power

Harry Wu: Forced Labor

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Over the course of two class periods, young historians explore human rights issues; specifically, forced labor in China. This resource provides everything you need, including relevant vocabulary, an anticipatory activity, and a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Formal versus Informal Language

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Engage in an activity that focuses on the concepts of formal and informal language use. Middle and high schoolers compare and contrast each style by using a Venn diagram that includes some examples. They read and hear a passage of lyrics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep on Pushing: Popular Music and the Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore music that exemplified the Civil Rights Movement. For this music and history lesson, students research 1960's protest songs, Motown recorded music, and rap of the 1990's to consider the power of music and its reflection...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cable in the Classroom

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners understand how to successfully work in a group. Students create and perform their own autobiographical rap songs. Learners conclude how rap music and music in general can help us to deal with emotional issues.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music, Culture and War

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students see that music serves as a major conduit for the transport of knowledge. As they watch video, students tabulate the variety of music artists listed by different soldiers.
Lesson Plan
University of Northern Iowa

Additional Folklife Information

For Teachers 5th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Praise of Political Parties

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research a political party and prepare a report about its history, philosophy, and the party's position regarding two major political issues. They complete a variety of additional creative activities regarding their party, as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Comparative Study of the Civil Rights Movement & the Grassroots Hip Hop Movement

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify, research, and discuss similarities between the Civil Rights Movement and the grassroots hip hop movement in America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Music

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate a variety of sites to gather relevant information for a presentation about African American musical forms in this general Music lesson plan for middle school and high school. Resource links are provided to aid...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Japanese Empire: The Beginning

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore empires by researching Japan's history. In this Japanese research lesson, 9th graders discuss the history of Japan and the elements of World War II that caused Japan to become an enemy of the United States. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 Fan Club Dave Matthews Band

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study how the music of Dave Matthews Band is based on jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock and roll, and rap.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
In this African American music history worksheet, learners research the history of African American music. Students then answer the fifteen questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

H1 Classic Presents: Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students are introduced to the various songwriting techniques of Paul McCartney. They explore and compare the basic melodic, harmonic, and lyrical tendencies of the different types of pop music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back in the Day

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the genre of music called Hip Hop, analyze its elements, and formulate a definition of the Hip Hop culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World War I: Overview of the Great War

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders read first hand accounts of soldiers' lives during World War I, examine historical timeline of major events during war, and research and listen to clips of popular music of the time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Songs that Bring Us Together - Lesson 5

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners compose song as a classroom effort. They write a one-paragraph essay about "message" songs in 100 years and include three ideas for topics along with the style of music (such as folk, rock, blues, rap, etc.) that would match.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Fun Way to Learn Math History!

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders, in groups, search for and locate resources on a chosen famous mathematician. Enough information needs to be gathered to examine the mathematician's life and his/her contributions to the field of mathematics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plants and Animals of Great Bay Animals and Plants of the Estuary

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students participate in a webquest about the plants and animals that inhabit an estuary. They role play as environmentalists researching this habitat and present the results of their research in a creative way.