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Scarecrow: A Lesson Against Hate Crimes
Students analyze and discuss different types of hate crimes. They listen to and discuss the background behind the song, "Scarecrow" by Melissa Etheridge. They research a hate crime and imagine how the victims must have felt. Finally they...
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Using Rock as Primary Source Material
Learners listen to a song which functions as an entertaining primary source. It illustrates the part angry, part irreverent anti-war sentiments of the counter-culture in the late 1960s. After hearing the song, students discuss how it...
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Know Thyself: Reflections of the Adolescent Identity Crisis in Rock and Roll
Twelfth graders define themselves through music. In this psychology lesson, 12th graders identify James Marcia's 4 states of identity and identify songs that reflect each of the states.
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Storytellers: Pearl Jam
Students examine the nature of their own generation by looking at current events and music styles. They update old lyrics with new ones that are more relevant to current times and express a truth about their own generation. Finally,...
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Energy TV
Learners rewrite the lyrics of existing songs using the different energy terms as the focus of their work. They break into four groups and form the name of a musical group. Using a tune from a popular group, students make up a song about...
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Peer Pressure
Eleventh graders analyze the social impact media plays in relation to peer pressure. In this peer pressure lesson, 11th graders listen to Afroman's "Lets All Get Drunk" and read the lyrics. Students write about the song and view a party...
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No Path Without Pain
Students analyze the message of John Lennon's "Imagine." In this promoting peace lesson, students complete a cloze activity on the song and discuss its meaning. Students then write their own versions of "Imagine."
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U2
Students examine the cover of a compact disc from U2 and describe what they see. They match words in English with other languages. They discover the meanings of words they do not know from the songs.
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Woody Guthrie and The Grapes of Wrath
Students examine American idealism. In this literature and music instructional activity, students analyze the lyrics of Woody Guthrie songs as well as the themes of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Students examine parallels between the...
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Intro to the Cold War
Eleventh graders examine the Cold War. In this American History lesson, 11th graders develop answers to comprehension questions about the song "We Didn't Start the Fire". Students write a persuasive essay at the end of the...
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Compass Rose: Dance and Quilt
Fourth graders identify the cardinal directions by listening to a song entitled, "Stand," and by reviewing the lyrics to that song. They notice the cardinal directions that are posted around the classroom. They perform the motions as...
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Tradition through storytelling and music
Learners 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 writing...
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MG Industrial Revolution
Eighth graders identify advancements made during the Industrial Revolution. Through listening to songs and reading other passages, 8th graders explore the working conditions of children during the Industrial Revolution. They examine...
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We Are One World
Students examine discrimination, prejudice, and bias in the world. In this tolerance lesson, students research examples of prejudice in different countries. They then identify the Core Democratic Values in song lyrics. Students locate on...
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Hank Williams: My Inspiration
Students research Hank Williams and explore his life and career. In this Hank Williams lesson, students complete Internet research, listen to example songs, and watch a movie all to analyze Hank Williams. The ultimate goal is to decide...
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Feminism Does Not Have to be an F-Word
Students analyze social activism messages in music. In this feminism lesson, students explore selected music that expresses sentiments voiced in the women liberation movement in the United States. Students compare the lyrics of the songs...
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Pollination Station
Students investigate why and how bees pollinate flowers and other plants. They define pollination, and read and sing along with the song "Yo, i'm a Flower." Students examine a diagram of a flower, simulate bees pollinating flowers, and...
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Subject-Verb Agreement
Young scholars explore subject-verb agreement. They read sentences on the board and fill in a correct subject and verb. Using Lil' Boooie's lyrics, students correct the wrong subject-verb agreements in the lyrics. Time permitting,...
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The Star-Spangled Banner
Second graders explore American song. In this Star Spangled Banner lesson, 2nd graders discuss what it means the meaning the lyrics of the song and the history behind the song as they participate in a classroom activity.
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Singing About Zoo Animals
Fifth graders sing a variation of "The Muffin Man" with lyrics dedicated to zoo animals. As a class, 5th graders sing the song as a round and maintain a stead beat and rhythm while singing.
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The Twelve Days of Christmas
Fourth graders investigate the holidays by performing a song with their class. In this Christmas instructional activity, 4th graders recite some of their favorite Christmas songs and read the lyrics to the song "The Twelve Days of...
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Exploring Personal Responsibility
Third graders examine themselves to evaluate their own levels of personal and social responsibility. They read the lyrics to 'The Man in the Mirror' and compose journal entries about personal responsibility.
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My! What a Sky!
First graders read "Goodnight Moon" or "Day And Night" and discuss what they see in day and night skies. They read and sing lyrics to the "Day and Night" song. They identify objects in the sky as day or night objects. They illustrate day...
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The Bill of Rights is a-Rockin
Young scholars explore the U.S. Constitution through music. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students discuss a hypothetical case regarding lyrics by Madonna and the historical Massachusetts Blue Laws. Young scholars use the Bill of...