Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music Video

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore songs that tell stories over various decades and create a Garage band track for their voice.  In this story song lesson, students create a video for their song group.  Students present a proposal to their...
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
Curated OER

Expressions - Activity 1

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students create wax sculptures of a full body using mathematical calculations and information gathered from a video in this excellent art project. The lesson plan can be used along or within the unit provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz In America - Lesson Plan 6

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore cool jazz and how it reflected American culture in the 1940's and 1950's.
Handout
Ballet Austin

The History of Modern Dance

For Students 4th - 12th
The evolution of modern dance, and the dance history of many of the key figures in the development of this uniquely American form, are the focus of a 13-page packet that includes photos of revolutionaries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mariachi Mania

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students play the beats of mariachi music. In this mariachi lesson plan, students listen to mariachi music and discuss why music is important.
Lesson Plan
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Ostinato

For Teachers 3rd
Quarter notes, eighth notes, and rests; it's time to read rhythmic patterns in music. The class plays ostinatos as they practice identifying rhythmic patterns. They then listen to Mannheim Steamroller as they draw geometric patterns that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Expression: Masks - Activity 1

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students create art plans for an "installation" after viewing a video of Native American mask making that centers around the Salmon rack idea. Emphasis is placed on collaborative work in this introductory lesson plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Improvise a Short Story through Jazz

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners evaluate jazz music and a jazz music performance. They collaborate and create an improvised group short story. They improvise a musical piece on found objects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

“And Still I Rise” Proud Black Women

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the experiences of African American women. In this poetry lesson plan, students use their literary analysis skills to compare the poetry of Maya Angelou to rap music performed by Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Giants of American Music and Quarter Notes

For Students 1st - 2nd
In this music worksheet, students are asked to "name a Giant among Musical Monsters." Students also draw quarter notes in the space provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Folk

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students read about Woody Guthrie and how folk music often tells of events of the time and can be effective protest music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the Swing Era and its implications. They answer questions and listen to music from the era.
Unit Plan
San Francisco Symphony

American Civil War Songs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners will compare and contrast two songs from the Civil War era, one from the North and one from the South. They'll write a comparative essay on their songs, and then compare their essays and songs with others in their small groups....
Lesson Plan
American Documentary

American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this lesson, young scholars will examine Hawaii's issues of colonization, authority, authenticity and cultural identity, and understand the distinction between native and non-native Hawaiians. This lesson includes links to videos,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Boombox Classroom: American Folk Music

For Students K - 1st
In this music worksheet, students draw a picture of one of Chula's favorite things from a quotation. They answer three multiple choice questions about folk music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners identify part of the Native American culture and perform a "rain dance".
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Duke Ellington and the Rise of Jazz in New York

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils consider how Duke Ellington impacted the rise of jazz music. In this jazz music lesson plan, students listen to a lecture regarding the life and work of Ellington. Pupils also watch a video regarding Ellington and discuss music of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Demystifying Stereotypes and Understanding Contemporary Cultures

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders compare and contrast folk songs from different cultures. In this music lesson plan, 4th graders listen to and list the attributes of selected Japanese and American folk songs. Students discover the customs, foods, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Muses of Independence

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the entertainment options in colonial America. For this colonial life lesson, 8th graders watch a movie about colonial music and arts. Students then respond to questions regarding the movie and also respond to 1...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Two by Two Guitars!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students play three simple chords on guitar while singing American folk songs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rockin’ the World: Rock and Roll and Social Protest in 20th Century America

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore protest songs. For this interdisciplinary lesson, students examine issues-based music by summarizing lyrics and revealing inferences, generalizations, conclusions, and points of view found in the songs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Rock and Roll: Parts 1, 6, 8, and 10 Roots of Rock & Roll

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the musical influences on the emergence of Rock and Roll.
Worksheet
Curated OER

"West Side Story"

For Students 5th - 6th
In this music history worksheet, students discover the musical "West Side Story" by first reading a summary of the plot. Students answer 5 questions about the story line. Students then read and analyze the lyrics to "America" and discuss...