From the time of its publication, Uncle Tom's Cabin has been controversial. To better understand the debate, class members first examine a broadside decrying the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and then two newspaper reviews of the...

Students use different folk songs to learn chords and other musical elements.

Second graders uncover the form, timbre, and the significance of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" in the five lessons of this unit. The use of instrumentation forms the basis of the lessons.

Students explore the concept of Egyptian contributions in mathematics. For this Egyptian contribution lesson, students research Egyptian hieroglyphics and pyramids. Students write numerals in hieroglyphics. Students use Egyptian...

High schoolers study the effects of production and consumption of goods on French society during the porcelain period.  For this history lesson students research the trade history of porcelain from Asia. 

Students practice using keyboard and sequencing software to expand their compositions. They use the notes in the C Major Scale and playback their song written in an ABA song form. They complete pages in a basic piano workbook and...

Young scholars work as a class to compose an original four-measure rhythm. After a brief review of a sight reading Gordon rhythm patterns, students compose their own rhythm with each student selecting a part for the composition. All...

Pupils examine recordings of Billy Joel.

Young scholars compose, notate, and evaluate their own rhythmic compositions using the song "Broccoli" for inspiration in this excellent elementary-level General Music lesson. Emphasis is placed upon four-measure patterns and the classic...

Learners explore music notes. For this music lesson, students sing the song "Hot Cross Buns" and practice playing it on melody bells to find the letter and rhythm notation. They create a new phrase to the rhythm of this song. 

Pupils create, notate, and perform the melody of and a rhythmic accompaniment to the traditional Japanese folk song, Sakura. This lesson requires a networked computer lab with headphones.

High schoolers discuss the Western method of teaching and learning music and compare that to the aural transmission method used around the world. They practice singing two songs using aural transmission and watch a video showing...

Students discover the importance of lyrics in the successful combination of music and words in the process of composing a song. They discuss how emotion-based lyrics influence the creative aspects in composing a song.

Young scholars compare Reggae to other musical genres and identify rhythms. They study the history and musical significance of Reggae as a musical genre.

Students practice and perform the song "B is for Banana" using their knowledge of basic rhythms in 4/4 and student-created rhythm accompaniment based on speech. This excellent lesson is provided by the MENC (National Association for...

Students create movement, improvise rhythmic accompaniment, practice, and perform the song "Phytochemicals" in this excellent elementary-level General Music lesson. The lesson includes lesson challenges for more advanced students.

Students explore non-locomotor movements and instrument improvisation creating accompaniments to the song "Vitamin A" in this elementary-level General Music lesson plan. The lesson plan nutrition messages links and student challenges for...

Students practice playing and improvising while playing the 12 bar blues. They practice compositional skills, evaluate and perform musical pieces focused on the blues.

Students practice and perform 8 and 16 beat rhythmic patterns in 4/4 using the song "Salad Sisters" as a basis in this elementary-level General Music lesson. An amazing lesson for teaching cooperative music composition techniques and...

Students perform "Fifty States in Rhyme" with correct posture, correct rhythms, and accurate pitches. They also identify and perform such musical terms as tone color, tempo, dynamics, phrases, and accents. Emphasis is placed on the...

Students discuss the composer Aaron Copland and the lyricist Ira Gershwin and their significance in/contributions to American music of their time while singing the song "Younger Generation" in the choir setting. Emphasis is placed on...

Students listen to a recording of "Sakura" and determine where it is from. In this global sound lesson, students view pictures of cherry blossoms and connect its significance to Japanese culture. Students sing the score while...

Young scholars investigate lullabies from Ghana, Poland, and India. In this music lesson, students learn several lullabies from several countries and find the rhythm and pulse within each song.

Students explore authentic and 1/2 cadences. They use authentic and 1/2 cadence and perform their works in small groups. Students use technology to notate all compositions. Students discuss the most common progressions in traditional,...