Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tradition through storytelling and music

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars discover how storytelling can shape a person's tradition.Students examine different methods of storytelling such as music, biographies, and African folktales. They then demonstrate their knowledge of storytelling by...
Unit Plan
Oklahoma City of Museum Art

Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Individuals expressed the Harlem Renaissance in diverse forms of art, ranging from poetry to photography to painting. Learners explore pieces using a carefully curated collection from the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Included lessons ask...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Signin' the Blues with Rock, Rap 'n Roll

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders listen to recordings and study jazz and the blues music. They identify the instrumentation and explore the 12-bar blues progression. After experimenting with different sound, 6th graders create their own arrangement, with...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Ragtime: The First "American" Music?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners investigate the concept of ragtime music and the times associated with it in American history. They conduct research using a variety of resources and listen to a sample before writing down some of the results of the information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African-American Gospel Music

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine gospel music including the lyrics and instrumentation. They explain the meaning of the lyrics and how they are related to the cultural values associated with the music. They differentiate between gospel and spiritual music.
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 for middle school and high school. Resource links are provided to aid instruction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In My Dream

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students listen to recordings of early jazz and identify examples of ostinato and syncopation. They discuss important personalities from jazz cultures and take a quiz on aspects of jazz.
Interactive
Curated OER

Bessie Smith

For Students 8th - 12th
In this jazz history worksheet, students respond to 7 essay and short answer questions about the life and accomplishments of Bessie Smith.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Strikes a Soothing Chord

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore music therapy. In this health journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Music Strikes a Soothing Cord", respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an activity based on the...
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
National Endowment for the Humanities

The Music of African American History

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High schoolers examine role spirituals have played in African American history and religion, examine Harriet Tubman's use of spirituals in her work, explore power of spirituals in Civil Rights Movement, and work with oral tradition,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Listen Up! Swinging with some Big Band Music

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read about the music and life of Glenn Miller. They listen to Miller's "Jeep Jockey Jump" and analyze the piece for instrumentation, formal structure and stylistic characteristics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inter-City Jazz Songbook Project

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students choose a city with famous musical highlights and create a tourist brochure.
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 Plan
Curated OER

Eckstine, Stayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners explore the history of swing music. In this music history activity, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Learners define swing, develop a timeline of events in...
Worksheet
Curated OER

William Walton [1902-1983] LAM 102

For Students 9th - 12th
For this music worksheet, students answer the questions that are based upon the influences upon the composition of the piece of music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music in West Africa

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore power and the symbols of power in West African music. They discuss the music of West Africa and compare it to African American music of today. In addition, they investigate musical instruments of Africa, identify the...
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sing the Blues

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore examples of this musical form, then write their own lyrics for a blues song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All That is Irish and More - Activity 1

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students listen to examples of fiddle music and violin music to determine the similarities and differences between the two musical forms. A video link is included in this introductory activity to fiddle music (Part One of Two).
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Looking Closer: The Artwork of Shinique Smith

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storytellers: Bruce Springsteen

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study rock and roll with the music of Bruce Springsteen.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storytellers: Coldplay

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars listen to the music of Coldplay to explore the band.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A World of Taste--Louisiana Gumbo

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the multicultural contributions to New Orleans gumbo through participation in cross curriculum activities. In this multicultural diversity and New Orleans history lesson, students shade regions of a map according to a...