Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Need a musical lesson for your drama or performing arts class? VH1 has put together a really neat lesson, in which learners use biographical information about Alicia Keys to write and perform a one-act musical related to her life. This...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

19th & 20th Century Composers: Exoticism

For Teachers 8th - 12th
VH1 Music Studio has put out another great lesson plan that incorporates analysis, compare/contrast, and musical terminology. Kids will listen to the song "Habanera" considering the use of specific instruments in evoking a sense of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Movies That Rock": Moulin Rouge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Upper graders explore musical film and the Bohemian lifestyle common in Europe during the turn of the century through the musical Moulin Rouge. After listening to (or viewing) songs from the movie, they discuss the Bohemian era and how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music History: Part One

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research the various music composers of the Baroque music period. They conduct Internet research, take notes about their selected composer, and write an essay that includes important information about their composer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students participate in a class discussion about jazz music, compare improvisation with regular conversion, listen to various jazz musicians and compare and contrast their individual sounds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Protest Music of the 60's

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate their knowlege about protest music of the late sixties by creating miniature protest signs.
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 plan, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Students define swing, develop a timeline of events...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crawford Grill: Opening the Doors of Opportunity

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Analyze the role the Crawford Grill played in the history of Jazz music. Budding historians research interviews and video clips to learn about the Crawford Grill in Pennsylvania and black music history. The lesson culminates when...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mozart and Music

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders experience performing arts by participating in a music performance. In this music history lesson, 5th graders practice playing notes on an instrument in class and discuss the challenges associated with making music....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hail to the Chief

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Young scholars examine the musical arrangement "Hail to the Chief". In this music history instructional activity, students listen to and compare jazz, samba, baroque, and march versions of the song. This instructional activity may be...
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
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 Plan
National Woman's History Museum

Songs of Protest: Seneca Falls to Vietnam

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed Standards
Long before the songs of the 1960's Peace Movement, long before the songs of the Civil Rights Movement, and even before the songs of the Abolition Movement, were the songs of the Suffrage Movement. To understand the power of protest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music in America - Louis Armstrong

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students listen to selections of New Orleans street band music. They explore the culture of New Orleans in the 1920's, and perform a closer examination of Armstrong's music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Passing Down Family History Through Oral Tradition: Corridos

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create and perform Corridos which are oral tradition ballads. In this Passing Down Family History Through Oral Tradition lesson, students interview family members using a predetermined list of questions. In addition, students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slices of American Pie: The 1960s Through Music

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine political, cultural, and social movements through music. In this 1960s American history lesson, 11th graders explore the music of the decade in order to better understand the complexity of the time period....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roots And Styles Of Black Music - Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify many genres of Black music. They identify Black music as a reflection of the culture. They study many historically influential Black music artists, producers, and other contributors.
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: Exploration of Folk Music

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young to examine Folk music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Lesson 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify general business terms such as entrepreneur, corporation, marketing, demographic, promotion and distribution. They identify many Black music industry leaders and their contributions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Family History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate their family history through pictures and writing. In this family history lesson, students research family, culture, food, music, religion, and clothing. Students gather pictures of their family and events. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music of My Heart

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view and discuss the movie, Music of the Heart. They compare/contrast two versions of the song, Music of My Heart, identify characteristics of heroes, and sing the song, Music of My Heart.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digital History

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders analyze different types of photographs. In this Digital Records instructional activity, 10th graders create a digital history of a specific topic in World History. Students present their story boards to the class. 
Lesson Plan
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford

Similes Activity using Jazz (featuring Duke Ellington)

For Students 4th
Language learners get into the swing of things with a jazzy lesson about similes. They read an article about Duke Ellington, listen to samples of his music, and then try their hand at crafting similes to describe his improvisational and...

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