Unit Plan
Jazz Academy

Let Freedom Swing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Three lessons in the Let Freedom Swing concert tour resource guide packed with information, materials, and activities that provide the context for any study of American history.
Lesson Plan5:53
TED-Ed

A-rhythm-etic. The Math Behind the Beats

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Your learners will dance in their seats as this talented drummer connects math to music in a short video clip. Clayton Cameron shows how math puts the "cool" in various genres of music, including jazz, hip-hop, pop,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emotion Painting

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Budding artists explore the nature of emotion through artistic expression. They discuss feelings, colors, line, and design, mix colors and then create an emotive piece that expresses a singular emotion. There are three cross-curricular...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Romare Bearden

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine and discuss a collage by the artist Romare Bearden. They analyze the impact of jazz on art, listen to jazz, and create an original collage.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Sting

For Students 5th - 9th
In this music worksheet, students read an excerpt from the movie The Sting and identify the American composer, Scott Joplin, who found ragtime jazz music heard in the movie. They also respond to eight questions related to the excepts read.
PPT
National Humanities Center

Teaching The Great Gatsby: A Common Core Close Reading Seminar

For Teachers 11th - 12th
The 41 slides in a professional development seminar model how to use close reading techniques to examine the many layers of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In addition to passages from the novel, slides provide biographical...
Lesson Plan
Brooklyn Museum

Youth and Beauty: Art of the American Twenties

For Teachers 7th - 12th
While the lesson is lacking in procedure, it does provide a wealth of information on artist Yasuo Kuniyoshi. Information on his life, art, and inspirations can provide you with insights into creating learning activities that convey...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model a Famous Painting in Friendly Plastic

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Friendly Plastic is a fun art medium created by Amaco Clay Company. It is versatile and results in a beautiful end product. With this resource, young artists can recreate a famous painting using Friendly Plastic. What a fun way to study...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ray Charles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners read the book Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis. For this biography lesson, students read about the life of Ray Charles. Learners answer pre-reading questions about senses, strengths, and weaknesses they have. The lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the African American culture in the 1920's and the Harlem Renaissance. They read and analyze poems written by poets of the Harlem Renaissance, listen to jazz music and identify the characteristics of the music, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Romare Bearden

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students identify artwork by Romare Bearden and to explain his techniques. They look for cut and pasted papers and images, paint, ink and pencil designs, shapes and spaces and the rhythms therein. They listen to music by looking at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interactive Timeline

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the development of ragtime music and its relation to jazz. They participate in an online Interactive timeline and read about the history of ragtime music, listen to examples of music, and in small groups create short...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

The Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The Harlem Renaissance inspired a group of writers, musicians, and artists whose influence is still seen today.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sharing Your Music - Lesson 5

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe that music can communicate positive social messages. They create a theme concert with a positive social message after watching a video of famous artists playing on Sesame Street.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Around the Map

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the geographical histories of various musical genres and make maps that note important places in music history. They Write geographical biographies about one of their favorite musical artists.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography and World Music

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students are able to demonstrate the ability to identify, contrast and compare the music of different places and regions, and the ability to recognize music as a resource for information about places and regions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Night in Tunisia

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students discuss musical instruments common to jazz and compare several songs by various artists. They identify musical grooves common to jazz music. They compare a string quartet to a traditional jazz group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eckstine, Stayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the history of swing music. In this music history lesson plan, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Students define swing, develop a timeline of events...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inside Scoop: Bearden

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars read paragraphs and examine images of the artist Romare Bearden. In this art analysis lesson, students read text about the life and art of Romare Bearden. Young scholars study his medium of montages and then create their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify many careers within the music industry such as producer, A&R representative and recording studio engineer. They connect achievements of noted artists with their roles in the music industry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Langston Hughes

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars identify similarities between Hughes' poetry and music (jazz and the blues).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Brass Family

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the four basic instruments of the Brass Family in the four lessons of this unit. The French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba are inspected as students develope a familiarity with their sight and sounds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago Rhythms, Chicago Roots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video about different types of music. They examine the history of jazz, big band and rock back to the city of Chicago. They discover Chicago's music scene today and compare it to the past.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Words and Music - Lesson 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the relationships among cultural values, freedom of artistic expression, ethics, and artistic choices in various cultures and historical periods.