Students explore the American dream. In this contemporary music lesson, students analyze the lyrics of songs by Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen, and David Massengill. Students create 3-D representations of the American dream and write...

In this lesson students will learn about finding the blues in a variety of musical styles. They will investigate instances of the blues form heard in mainstream pop music, along with exploring the musical styles of two new artists who...

In this Elvis Presley Puzzles worksheet, students link to three different puzzles regarding numerical facts concerning the life of Elvis Presley.  Complete solutions are provided for each puzzle.

Students study rhythmic patterns and phrases on percussion instruments. They form a drum circle and take turns playing the beat. After listening to styles of rhythms, students compare styles of music. They compose a short piece of...

Make music. Class members construct a simple record player using a paper cone and a pin. The resource provides a description of what is happening and why listeners can hear the sounds through the cone. 

Eleventh graders research a given decade in US History.  For this American History lesson, 11th graders interview a person who lived during the decade to gain a personal perspective on it.  Students rehearse and present their...

Pupils listen to two examples of bluegrass music and try to identify the instruments that they hear and the subtle differences between the two songs. They describe their impressions of the selections, then conclude by comparing and...

Students discover a connection between the genres of popular music and musical theater. They find and discuss musicals written in many different musical styles.

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 use the internet to research the origins of rock and roll. In groups, they gather information on Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, his life and music. They work together to create a video on the 1950s and Elvis.

Students analyze two cross -genre songs written in the early 1980s for lyrical content and social commentary. They consider the artistic merit of hip hop music in today's culture.

Students analyze the concept of democracy. In this democratic values lesson, students analyze the lyrics of selected popular music that address issues that challenge the role of United States as a world leader. Students create exhibits...

Twelfth graders read lyrics for "My Hometown" and complete a worksheet to identify setting and tone in the song. In this Romanticism lesson plan, 12th graders read Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey by Wordsworth and...

Students research Hank Williams and explore his life and career. In this Hank Williams activity, students complete Internet research, listen to example songs, and watch a movie all to analyze Hank Williams. The ultimate goal is to decide...

Eleventh graders explain the causes, course, and consequences of the United States' role in World War II.

Students investigate the restoration of John Lennon's childhood home and the life of John Lennon. They discuss various famous buildings in Britain, view and discuss photos of Lennon's childhood home, read a handout and answer discussion...

Students recognize how chromatic scales create tension and pentatonic scales create relaxation as compositional techniques used to create tonality. Also, students aurally recognize the use of mixed or alternating meter as a means of...

Students explore literary elements through music. In this figurative language lesson plan, students examine imagery and personification in "The Wind Cries Mary" by Jimi Hendrix.

Students analyze song lyrics and discuss Faust theme in musical history. In this thematic activity, students view a film clip and create a song lyric, poem or short story developed around the Faust theme. Students perform or present...

Students listen to Pink Floyd's "Time" in order to apply the theme of carpe diem to other works of literature and to their own life.

Students explore the implications of the draft during the Vietnam War. For this Vietnam lesson, students analyze the lyrics of songs that explore differents opinions of the Vietnam draft. Students particpate in a role-play activity...

Looking for a project list to conclude a study of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? The six suggestions included in the menu (a song, thematic box, CD case, book jacket, blog, scene) could be assigned to individuals or groups....

Learners list the four main families of musical instruments, name one instrument from each musical family, name three ways music is used in everyday life.

Tenth graders discuss human rights. They brainstorm and listen to and read examples of music and poetry that deal with human rights and oppression. They choose one poem or song to analyze, looking for theme, oppression, and historical...