Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Painted Dreams

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the importance of art in Haitian culture by analyzing the cause and effect within the story, "Allie's Basketball Dream." They examine all the aspects of the story and characters including their goals, dreams,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Holocaust

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the geography of Eastern and Western Europe. They compare and constrast the culture of Jewish people from Eastern and Western Europe. They analyze deportation and confinement in concentration camps, using personal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carnival Celebrations: Masks and Vejigantes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Carnival. In this Puerto Rico Carnival lesson, students discover the history of the cultural celebration as well as the significance of the elaborate masks worn for the festivities. Students create their own Carnival masks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scops, Rappers and You: Historians with Style!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the epic poem Beowulf. In this analyzing poetry lesson, student compare listen to the Will Smith song "Wild, Wild West" and read Beowulf. Students analyze the song and the poem. Students then research an influential...
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, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Students define swing, develop a timeline of events in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Skip Counting to Music

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Your youngest mathematicians skip count by 2's, 5's, and 10's as they sing along to a Hap Palmer song that helps them remember the patterns. Students practice in whole group and then individually with the worksheet provided, using the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of the Image: Understanding Symbols in Buddhist Art

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discuss symbolism in art, examine various images of compassion in Buddhist tradition, analyzing components of the concept, and then produce their own images of compassion through art.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students perform a song using correct rhythms, accurate pitches, and dynamic phrasing. They perform an accompaniment to "America" on Orff instruments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SPEECHES TO INTRODUCE

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils create multimedia speeches of introduction which focus on women and Hispanics. They introduce their famous person and, using a video camera, video tape their speeches. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1's When Disco Ruled the World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners choose a minority culture or an event and research the musical influences of that culture or event on American popular music. They discuss how minority cultures and events in American society influenced the Disco era.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food and Languages of the World

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students engage in creative bead making while discussing Africa. In this diversity and arts lesson, students create African necklaces while being introduced to the African culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Rock and Roll: Part 1 - Rock and Roll Explodes Music Reflects The Times

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine technological advancements in music and broadcast over the decades.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lullabies From Around the World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate lullabies from Ghana, Poland, and India. In this music lesson plan, students learn several lullabies from several countries and find the rhythm and pulse within each song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wonderful World of Color

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students compare the paintings and lives of William H. Johnson and Henri Matisse through their use of line, color, and patterns to publish an individual fact book. They then create an imaginary painting while listening to classical music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical Instruments - Strings

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore various string instruments in this multi-week music lesson for the upper-elementary grades. Emphasis is placed on group violin lessons, listening to and identifying string instruments, and researching non-European...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Rainstick

For Teachers K - 4th
Students construct a rainstick. In this music lesson, students investigate the history of the rainstick by reading the book Bringing the Rain to the Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema. Students express their feelings about the rain and create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystic Lands: Maya: Messages in Stone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore an ancient Mayan city. In this world history lesson, students watch a video about the ancient Mayan civilization, discussing information prior to and after watching the video. Learners then come to understand more about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life and Music of Celia Cruz

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a set and design a costume for a musical performance. In this Life of Celia Cruz lesson, students study biographical facts about Celia Cruz on the exhibition web site. Then students share their creations with the class.
Lesson Plan
Media Education Lab

Understanding Viral Messages

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Imagine advertising for a product but not being paid to do so. Welcome to the world of Viral Messaging. Class members first view a T-Mobile flash mob video that went viral and has been seen by over 14 million viewers. After analyzing the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music to Learn Countries and Capitals Around the World: Learning Countries and Capitals in Asia

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use musicto explore the countries and capitals of Asia.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Americans During the 19th and 20th Centuries

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Learners explore major events in Native American history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In this American history instructional activity, students listen to lectures, examine photographs, and analyze music regarding Native...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal Homage

For Teachers K - 12th
Students research an African American person of interest to them. Once the research is complete, they share the information with the class. They also create a visual or written portrait of the person to show their character and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Right About Now… and Then

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss significant figures in music history and read an article about the Smithsonian's Hip-Hop exhibit. In groups, they develop and curate an exhibition of hip-hop music and history using artifacts that represent relevant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Three

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe, illustrate, and present main beliefs of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Animism, Judaism, or Christianity religion. They share with a partner their most significant fact about each leader interviewed. Students...