Curated OER
Songs from the Past
Students research songs from the past to learn about historical events. In this music history instructional activity, students conduct a survey on the Star-Spangled Banner, research the song and history on various websites, and research...
Curated OER
Secret Message
Students make secret messages. In this visual arts lesson, students use crayons to create secret messages. A game, a song, a craft, and a recipe are all included with the lesson.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Illustrate A Song
Middle schoolers listen to various selections of music, discussing the interpretations of the song. They create a picture illustrating the feelings, mood, and message the music conveys.
Curated OER
Poetry in Music
Sixth graders look at poetry in music. In this language arts lesson plan, 6th graders listen to and read the lyrics of songs to find the poetic aspects of them. They focus on similes and metaphors and write their own songs lyrics.
Scholastic
Analyzing Media Messages
Telling young people to just say no can be difficult in a world that inundates them with messages to just say yes. A lesson on media messages encourages teenagers to analyze song lyrics and advertisements that mention drugs and/or...
Curated OER
Songs of Fela Kuti – Nigeria
Students explore the music of Fela Kuti. In this music lesson, students listen to the fusion protest music of Fela Kuti of Nigeria. Students reflect on Kuti's music and message.
NOAA
Who’s Blue Peter?
Scholars discover who Blue Peter is and how sailors used nautical signal flags on the open waters in order to create their own set of nautical signal flags and send messages to peers.
Curated OER
Music With a Message
Students write a line by line analysis of a song which they feel expresses a powerful message that can change society for the better. They then present their analysis to the class in an oral report.
Curated OER
Different! Diverse! Dynamic! Lesson 2: Teaching Peace Through Literature And Song
Students investigate bullying and discrimination and draw pictures of a personal response to being bullied. They read Thank You, Mr. Falkner by Patricia Polacco, to determine the philosophic act that the main character performs. They...
Curated OER
Slave Code Songs
Seventh graders study water bodies that were escape routes to Canada for slaves seeking freedom. They examine and create a coded spiritual that describes a personal experience with secrecy and fear.
Curated OER
Song Lyrics Scramble
Students who are learning English play a game in which they hear pop music lyrics (in English) and they must identify the song from which the lyrics come. This activity encourages students to listen to all words being said, not just the...
Curated OER
Singing as a Way of Giving
Students perform songs from previous philanthropy lessons. In this music lesson, students create a video of songs and give it to a local shelter. Students are encouraged to be creative and sing songs such as "What Can I Do for You" and...
Curated OER
Understanding the Music of the Civil Rights Movement
Students examine protest music and songs from the Civil Rights movement. In this music of the Civil Rights era instructional activity, students listen to selected music before working in groups to determine who the music was directed at,...
Curated OER
Using Cross-Genre Comparisons to Find the Message in Hip-Hop
Young scholars analyze two cross -genre songs written in the early 1980s for lyrical content and social commentary. They consider the artistic merit of hip hop music in today's culture.
Curated OER
Fraction Song
Students investigate the concept of fractions with the use of a song. The song helps memory for conducting different operations transferring them to long-term memory. A guitar is used to help the students practice the fraction song.
Curated OER
Musical Cares
Students explore ways in which music can relay messages of peace and how popular songs can be interpreted as commentary on current issues and themes.
Curated OER
Civil War
In this Civil War instructional activity, students listen to the song "Civil War" and complete 11 sentence completions based upon the information from the lyrics.
Curated OER
Protest Music Video
Young scholars use iMovie to express the meaning and context of a protest song from the '60s or '70s. They explore different views of the protest movement and gain an understanding of the emotional and political overtones of the times.
Curated OER
Covering the Issue
Examine how art and music can be powerful tools for conveying a political or social message. After considering the issues surrounding rapper Paris, students design their own album covers that reflect their political and/or social...
Curated OER
The Statue of Liberty: The Meaning and Use of a National Symbol
Engage your class in a series of activities, each related to the use or analysis of symbols used to convey patriotic or national concepts. They identify different national symbols and explain their meanings, discussing the importance of...
Curated OER
Determining Author's Point of View: The Sneeches
Determine the author's point of view in a text. Young readers read Dr. Seuss' The Sneeches and identify the author's purpose in the story. They identify persuasive techniques in writing, asking and answering questions to better...
Curated OER
Ella y Él
Take a trip to Costa Rica with th popular song "Ella y Él" by Ricardo Arjona. After listening to the song (and possibly reading the lyrics) the class discusses the general message of the song, the political nature, and other US bands...
VH1
Lessons for Hight School Music Classes: Lesson 2
Art and music have been vehicles for statements of civil unrest for hundreds of years. Upper graders critically analyze several pop songs or music movements from the 1980s that exemplify politically charged motives. They analyze lyrics...
Curated OER
Boogie Woogie with a B: Using Alliteration while Exploring Patriotic Tunes
Are you looking for a way to bring writing into your history lesson - or history into your writing lesson? This cross-curricular activity is helpful and fun, no matter what class you're teaching! Using "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the...