Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Influence of Folk

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site, which explores the influence of musical folk traditions in the poetry of Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen, provides lesson plans, a biography, examples of Hughes' poetry, and details about his meeting with Nicolas Guillen.
Activity
ESL4kids

The Efl Playhouse: Songs for Young Learners

For Students 3rd - 5th
Music, songs and dance have always been instrumental in teaching students. This site offers fun and entertaining activities along with teaching tips that enhance the students' awareness of sound, numbers, body parts and more. Intended...
Website
Other

Music You Can Read Polly Wolly Doodle

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides information about the song "Polly Wolly Doodle." Includes downloadable PDF files on topics such as beats and rhythm. Also gives good ideas and questions for learning about the song.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Coasters

For Students 9th - 10th
Extremely popular from 1956-1961, the Coasters were a black vocal group with Jewish songwriters. Their music, which was a mixture of rhythm & blues, comedy and rock & roll, dominated the music scene of that time.
Website
Other

Ray Charles Online

For Students 9th - 10th
This personal website of Ray Charles contains a very interesting autobiography, including discussions with the artist on how he writes and arranges music in his head, how soul music and rock and roll originated, and much more.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Listening to Ragtime

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent resource explaining the details that characterize ragtime music. From the rhythms to the typical form, this site gives a great overview of this early style of jazz.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Bo Diddley

For Students 9th - 10th
Creator of the "Bo Diddley beat", this rock & roller was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Here is a brief biographical sketch of his life.
Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: The Sound of Numbers [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
In this lesson plan, students will explore numbers and their relationships through rhythm and learn how every aspect of music can be described mathematically. Includes a probability challenge for students.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Isley Brothers

For Students 9th - 10th
Originally from Cincinnati, The Isley Brothers had their breakthrough hit in 1962 with "Shout". Over the years, the group consisted of various family members and in 1969 won a Grammy for "It's Your Thing". They remain one of the most...
Handout
Alabama Humanities Foundation

Encyclopedia of Alabama: Musicians of Alabama

For Students 9th - 10th
Alabama musicians are featured in links to biographical sketches on their careers that helped contribute to Alabama's rich musical legacy.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: America Rocks and Rolls

For Students 5th - 8th
Read a brief history of rock and roll and its roots. See why this form of music shook the establishment and shattered the idea of conformity.
Website
Other

Jazz Improvisation Primer/ Free Improvisation

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at what makes free jazz musically unique. Contains specific examples of free rhythm and tonality.
Activity
Other

Rhythm Web: Coffee Can Drums

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how to make a percussion instrument using a coffee can. This site provides instructions for making the coffee can drum. You can also listen to audio clips of coffee can drums being played in various ways.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Life's Little Questions: Can You Beat Jet Lag

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore the human body's need for a normal cycle of dark and light and apply this to an understanding of biological clocks in other animals. Test the effect of light on the development of mealworm larvae into adults.
Interactive
PBS

Classics for Kids: Games

For Students 9th - 10th
Compose your own music, match the rhythm, form words with notes, and learn more about music and history in these games to teach students about classical music.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Why Shakespeare Loved Iambic Pentameter

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Shakespeare sometimes gets a bad rap in high schools for his complex plots and antiquated language. But a quick peek into the rhythm of his words reveals a poet deeply rooted in the way people spoke in his time- and still speak today....

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