Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting to Know You

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore different types of poetry and illustrate their own experiences through creating their own poem. In this getting to know you instructional activity, 3rd graders create and recite their poems with a self-portrait.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WHAT IS JAZZ?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the life of a jazz musician.
Handout
Other

Bo Diddley: The Originator

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information on Bo Diddley, popular musician of rhythm 'n' blues and rock 'n' roll. Provides highlights of his 50 years in the music industry.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Solomon Burke

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the famous rhythm & blues singer, "King of Rock and Soul" Solomon Burke, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.
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.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Hendrix, Jimi

For Students 9th - 10th
In this encyclopedia entry, you'll read about Jimi Hendrix and his influence on rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Cooke, Sam (1931 1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
Sam Cooke's influence on music, as the pioneer in cross-over from gospel to rhythm and blues, is described in this encyclopedia entry. His music was important to the African-American identity in the Civil Rights movement.
Article
English Club

English Club: History of Soul Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the history of soul music from its origins in gospel music, through Motown and Memphis Soul, to contemporary rhythm and blues. The site includes three videos: Sam Cooke singing "A Change is Gonna Come," from 1964, with images from...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: The Soul Stirrers

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica's Guide to Black History features the Soul Stirrers, an American gospel group who were one of the first male quintets and one of the most enduring male groups. Several singers emerged from the...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Rhythms in Poetry: Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet laureate Langston Hughes is featured in this brief biography highlighting his vast collection of writings, particularly his poetry, which drew upon racial and self awareness in America. See "Langston Hughes Activities" for related...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Usher

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life and career of Usher, the American musician whose smooth vocals and sensual ballads helped establish him as a rhythm-and-blues superstar beginning in the late 1990s.
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.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Chuck Berry

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents comprehensive biographical details on rock musician and legend Chuck Berry, a 1986 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Fats Domino

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover some basic information on the life story of 1950s rocker, Fats Domino, who sold more records in his era than any other rocker except for Elvis Presley.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Little Anthony and the Imperials

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides engaging biographical facts on successful vocal group, Little Anthony and the Imperials, 2009 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Drifters

For Students 9th - 10th
Considered one of the greatest vocal groups of the 1950s and 1960s, The Drifters were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988 and have three songs on the list of the top 500 most influential songs.
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...
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.
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.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Floyd Dixon

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Floyd Dixon, an American rhythm and blues (R&B) musician who was one of the principal exponents of the up-tempo blues style known as West Coast jump blues.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Horace Silver

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Horace Silver, an American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, exemplary performer of what came to be called the hard bop style of the 1950s and '60s. The style was an extension of...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Teddy Pendergrass

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Teddy Pendergrass, an American rhythm-and-blues singer who embodied the smooth, Philly soul sound of the 1970s as lead vocalist for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes before embarking on a...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Ike Turner

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Ike Turner, an American rhythm-and-blues and soul performer and producer who was best known for his work with Tina Turner. This site, rich in detail and breadth of...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Berry Gordy, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Berry Gordy, Jr., an American businessman, founder of the Motown Record Corporation (1959), which became the most successful black-owned music company in the...

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