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Nationalism Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Don't just ask your class to define nationalism, but invite them to experience it with an engaging project. Learners are divided into groups to design four items—a flag, slogan, national anthem, and historical tale—for a fictional...
Lesson Plan
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Conjunto Music from South Texas

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students listen to conjunto music and identify the instrumentation. After discussing the the history of South Texas, they examine lyrics of several songs and interpret them. As extensions, students can learn to partner dance to the...
Lesson Plan
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Japanese Music

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students experience the components of Japanese dance and music through the songs, "Soran-bushi nd Hanagasa Odon." The music is presented in relation to the country's history and culture.
Lesson Plan
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Political Music Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students review concepts of the oppressive system of apartheid and relate the significance of Mandela's freedom from prison. They also use music to understand a concept and to convey a concept by using music.
Lesson Plan
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Spooky Notes

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders move to, sing, compose, and interpret various musical techniques through the use of "America", Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers", and a song called "Skin and Bones". Emphasis is placed upon identifying names and values...
Lesson Plan
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The Media and Social Justice in Your Community

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study symbolism in media. They listen to two Hip Hop songs and watch the videos for them. They identify symbols and their meanings based on the context of the images seen in the videos and the lyrics heard.
Lesson Plan
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Sing! Sing a Song!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students investigate climate change. They read and listen to an environmental song or a song about change or taking action. Students write, sing, and record their own song about climate change.
Lesson Plan
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Storytellers: Pearl Jam, New Twist on an Old Song

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the use of music as a medium for social protest. They watch the video, "VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam," describe the historical significance of words/phrases in three versions of one song, and answer discussion questions.
Lesson Plan
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Woody Guthrie and The Grapes of Wrath

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine American idealism. In this literature and music lesson, students analyze the lyrics of Woody Guthrie songs as well as the themes of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Students examine parallels between the characters in the...
Lesson Plan
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The Southeast Region

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students write a song about the southeast region. In this southeast region lesson plan, students view pictures of landforms, hear music, look at maps of states, and more.
Lesson Plan
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Compass Rose: Dance and Quilt

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify the cardinal directions by listening to a song entitled, "Stand," and by reviewing the lyrics to that song. They notice the cardinal directions that are posted around the classroom. They perform the motions as...
Lesson Plan
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Truth, Trash and Treasure

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how people can make a difference in the world. They read and analyze excerpts from a novel, discuss song lyrics, clean up a local park, and write an essay.
Lesson Plan
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You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until It’s Gone: The Changing American Landscape

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the changing American landscape. In this cause and effect instructional activity, students listen to rock music that exemplifies urban growth in America and the interconnectedness of America today. Students write cause...
Lesson Plan
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Irish-Americans: Work and Song

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore Irish-American culture. In this immigration lesson, students watch video segments regarding immigration in the 1840's and 1850's. Students discuss the discrimination Irish-Americans faced as they listen to songs and...
Lesson Plan
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How Are Boundaries Made, Kept, Broken?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the works of Noam Chomsky. They collaborate in small groups to read and identify vocabulary words and historical questions. They answer their questions and role-play as emissaries to locate remaining answers. They...
Lesson Plan
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Social Studies: War and the Media

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the impact of the media on various wars, especially the Iraq and Vietnam wars. By examining cartoons and popular music as primary sources, they suggest motivations for the conflicts and propose reasons for public...
Lesson Plan
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Brother, Can you Spare a Dime?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students through song analysis and group discussion, identify the qualities representing the Great Depression. They study the Great Depression and how it affected people all over U.S. They analysis the lyrics to the song "Brother Can you...
Lesson Plan
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Man in Conflict - Vietnam and Literature

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze the lyrics of protest music. In this Vietnam War lesson, 11th graders examine conflict as they consider the controversial nature of the war as evidenced in song lyrics. Students also consider the Iraq War and its...
Lesson Plan
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SATIRE AND POLITICS

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students, after analyzing a satiric song written during the Prohibition era, illustrate how humor can be utilized as a political tool by writing satiric lyrics on a current political issue at the front of the news world today. They...
Lesson Plan
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History of Christmas Carols

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students write the lyrics to their own Christmas carol. Through discussion and lecture, students become aware of the history of two Christmas carols. They memorize the lyrics to carols and perform them in class. Students use their...
Lesson Plan
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Trouble for the United States in the Middle East: The Reagan-Bush Years

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine U.S. foreign affairs with the Middle East during the Reagan and Bush presidencies. In this Middle East lesson, students watch video segments, examine maps, and listen to music regarding the relationship between the U.S....
Lesson Plan
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The 50 States

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use maps and music to learn the 50 states. In this US Geography lesson, 5th graders map out a region of the United States and practice singing the song, The 50 States that Rhyme.
Activity
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Sing a Tale

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This activity allows students to explore the elements of traditional folktales in folk music.
Lesson Plan
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Oh, Say Can You See...

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners explore the meaning behind "The Star-Spangled Banner." In this music lesson, students sing the first verse of the national anthem and watch several performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Learners define several vocabulary...