Unit Plan
Curated OER

Middle School General Music Unit Plans

For Students 6th - 8th
Here's a collection of unit plans for middle school musicians. Topics include the mbira, opera, rhythm and culture, music in Africa, music in the movies, music theory and notation, blues and jazz, and the ocarina. Definitely worth a look.
Activity
Illinois Music Education Conference

Taking the “General” Out of Middle School General Music!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Middle schoolers will sing the praises of this music program. The resource, designed as an overview for music instructors, is loaded with ideas, activities, and links. Not a sour note in the packet. 
Lesson Plan
SoundTree

When The Saints Go Marching In: A Lesson for Middle School Keyboard Lab Students

For Teachers 6th - 8th
After listening to a variety of interpretations of "When the Saints Go Marching In," partners compose and then perform their own renditions of this classic before joining a full-class jam session.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Affirmation, Assimilation, and Acculturation: Middle School

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Latin American culture is deeply embedded in American culture as a whole. From the Latin rock scene in San Francisco to the hip-hop world of New York, Latin American artists have influenced every genre of modern music. Learn about the...
Lesson Plan
Concordia College Archives

Our School Song

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Show your school spirit! Class members use instruments or sing along and employ what they have learned in the two previous lessons to perform their school's songs.
Unit Plan
Broadway GPS

ALADDIN: Broadway's New Musical Comedy

For Parents 5th - 9th Standards
Aladdin, Disney's Broadway musical comedy, is a magic carpet ride. Prepare your class for a field trip to the show with a study guide that is a treasure trove of activities, cultural connections, and background information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Clothing" French Intelligence Preference Lesson

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Middle and high school pupils write about three scenarios using the proper French vocabulary. They develop a fashion show, a clothing store, and a crime scene using only French vocabulary. They draw and label five outfits and present a...
Unit Plan
Honors College at Scholar Commons

From Start to Strike: A Lesson Plan for the Whole Theatre Experience

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Introduce young thespians to all aspects of the theater. A syllabus for a one-semester drama course provides lessons that take learners from the history of drama to the many facets of play production.
PPT
Curated OER

Transitions and Managing Change

For Teachers 6th
Intended to help sixth graders move on to middle school or junior high, this presentation discusses ways to cope with stress caused by change. While this cute and friendly format may invite good healthy discussions, it may not appeal to...
Unit Plan
General Motors Corporation

Jazz

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Over the history of the world, music has been at the heart of some of the greatest social and political movements. Scholars discover their musical roots as they dive into the sounds and emotions of renowned jazz players. They see how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting Inside The Outsiders Through Music

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners listen to popular music of the 50's and 60's to make literature connections to The Outsiders. In this popular culture instructional activity, students evaluate and analyze various songs and connect them with the themes in the...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Latino Expression

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How much of your daily life is influenced by Latin American music? Take a listen—the answer may surprise you! High schoolers keep a journal to note any instances they see Latino culture represented, including the media, their school, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Music Styles: European Roots and African Influences - Lesson 3

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students describe some of the characteristics of country and blues music. They see how country music rose to a nationally known music style. They write a two-paragraph essay on what they think country music be like in the next 100 years.
Activity
Curated OER

Jazz Exploration: A Collage Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore and experience jazz through collage. They listen to improvisational jazz, discuss the origins of jazz, then design and create a collage that shows jazz being played. This project will result in amazing works of...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Songs, Sounds and Stories from the Georgia Sea Islands

For Teachers K - 12th
American music is the result of the influence of many cultures, including the traditions brought by the African slaves. Young scholars study the polyrhythms, the call-and-response format, and the vocal improvisations of the Gullah...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Civil Rights Lesson Plans

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Civil rights lesson plans can help students delve into history, music, law, and literature. There are a multitude of options.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Holiday Calendar in MS Publisher for Elementary School

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students create a holiday calendar using ms word. In this technology activity, students create their own calendar while learning basic Publisher skills. Students use clipart, explore how to change fonts, and how to use templates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michael Jackson's “Beat It” Dance

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Looking for a line dance? Look no further. This dance is performed to Michael Jackson's "Beat It". It is comprised of four eight-counts. The moves consist of walking forward, swinging the hips, doing the grapevine, walking backwards, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michael Jackson's "Beat It" Dance

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learn this 32-count line dance. There are four eight-counts that repeat throughout the song. The steps include walking forward, walking backward, pivots, grapevine, and some jumps. All in all this is a simple and quick dance to learn....
Handout
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Molecules to the Max!—Teacher's Discovery Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Molecules to the Max! refers to a movie released in 2009 about the world of atoms and molecules. A helpful discovery guide provides five posters on science topics typically covered at the middle school level. It also explains the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rests, Pease Porrige Hot with Game:Music, Rhythm, Beats

For Teachers K - 1st
Students use the nursery rhyme "Pease Porridge Hot" to explore rhythm, beats and rests in music.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Sing a Song of Science

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Using parodies of popular music to introduce and reinforce concepts in secondary classrooms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Vietnam War: A Popular Music Approach

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the Vietnam War in music. In this Vietnam lesson, students listen to and analyze popular music from the Vietnam era in order to understand the use of propaganda regarding the controversial war. High schoolers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bleacher Dance - Adding to School Spirit

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Looking for some moves to do in the bleachers while at a school sports event? This lesson teaches two sets of 32-counts. The moves can basically be done while standing up in the bleachers!. The amount of movement will be determined by...