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Immigration in America
Fourth graders examine the musical traditions that immigrants bring to the United States. They discuss the concept of home, complete the "My Home" worksheet, participate in a class discussion, and write a letter to a fourth grade...
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Musician Extraordinaire Based on the DC Quarter Reverse
Learners develop an understanding of the role of a musician, composer, and conductor. In this musician instructional activity, students examine the District of Columbia quarter and see that Duke Ellington is on the reverse side. They...
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Memorable Singer 1929-1949
Learners examine how Louis Armstrong's fame spread from the African American community to the whole world. They examine how his singing style influenced both popular and jazz musicians by participating in guided listening of his musical...
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Regional Songs in the Southern American Experience
Students write a song about transportation in 100 years after comparing and discussing "Proud Mary" and "The Midnight Special".
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All Access Spotlight: U2
Students listen to songs from the group U2 to examine civil rights issues.
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Tapping the Trees-Traditional Oneida Song
Students practice singing the song, Tapping the Trees. They discuss the meaning in both the English and Oneida languages and how the words to this song demonstrate important feelings for the Oneida people.
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Diego Rivera: Art as the Universal Language
Students analyze the work of Diego Rivera. They participate in a class discussion, critique various paintings, write a short story based on a Rivera mural, and create a class mural.
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Overcoming Censorship Through Art
Students create an art piece that expresses their opinions while circumventing hypothetical government restrictions in this lesson plan on art and government censorship. Emphasis is placed upon historical instances of censorship around...
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Shange's Novel Betsey Brown & Jazz
Students read a work of fiction and investigate literary values and structure of the work. They demonstrate understanding of the family values, cultural and historical context of the novel;
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Bookmark Babies
Students make bookmarks by cutting cardboard into strips about 5 inches long by 1 1/2-2 inces wide. In this art lesson, students then glue their pictures on the strip.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Traffic Light
Students practice traffic rules. In this traffic rules lesson, students gain knowledge about the colors of traffic lights and their meanings. Students sing a song about traffic lights.
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Creating a Pot: Repetition as a Unifying Design Element
Middle schoolers use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks.
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Music ; Oneida Harvest Song
Learners practice singing the harvest song in their native Oneida language and English. They sing the lyrics to the melody of "Children Go Where I Send Thee." Students discover the meaning of the song as it expresses thankfulness to...
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Music: The Earth Is My Mother
Pupils sing The Earth Is My Mother in English and discuss its meaning to the Oneida people. They copy the words in the Oneida language and practice singing it in their native tongue. Students discover how the song relates to the...
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Dance: Cultural Dance Festival
Students participate in a folk dance presentation. In this multi-cultural instructional activity, students and their families work together to learn and perform folk dances at a school sponsored festival. The teacher acts as facilitator,...
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Sharing Beauty Through Song
Students perform a song for their school community. For this music lesson, students sing the philanthropic song See Me Beautiful by Red Grammar and reflect upon the lyrics. Students perform the song for their school community.
National First Ladies' Library
Language Arts: The Rise of the Operetta
Students develop an appreciation for the musical theater form, the operetta. In addition, they present parodies of songs from The Mikado. Working in small groups and accessing provided Websites, they compose their parodies. Once...
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What Does This Song Really Say?
Students investigate communication by analyzing lyrics from a song. In this music arts instructional activity, students discuss slavery, the Underground Railroad and African American traditions while listening to a song called "This...
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Thanksgiving Holiday
First graders explore American culture by participating in arts and crafts activities. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 1st graders listen to music based upon the Thanksgiving tradition and examine images of the first Thanksgiving. Students...
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Little Train of Caipira
Students listen to the "Berry Pickers' Song" on the piano twice. They practice the song several times to become familiar enough to recognize it in the piece. They listen to the CD and recognize the tune by raising their hand and tell...
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Questions for Dancers- Interviewing
In this interview learning exercise, students locate someone in their community who does traditional dances. They interview dancers using the questions listed.
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Designing Another Juilliard
Students investigate the vision and history of the Juilliard School. They develop a personal mission statement, watch a video, conduct Internet research, and create a PowerPoint presentation about a fictional school that also promotes...
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Facial Tattoos or Face Painting
Students use a grid-like method to create a life-size self-portrait from a 3X5 black and white photo. They explore the different customs and rituals surrounding face painting from ancient through modern civilizations. Students create a...
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Introduction To The Orchestra
Students listen to a book, "Meet the Orchestra." They observe a PowerPoint presentation, listen to the sounds in "Peter and the Wolf" and then match illustrations of instruments to their specific sound. Students identify instrument...