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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Once Upon a Time: Writing Stories about Reading

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article to examine strong first person voice in essays about reading. They write their own first person essays about some aspect of reading, participate in peer review, and re-writing.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine”

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Scholars go on a musical journey to discover the origin, importance, and evolution of the song, "This Little Light of Mine". Class members boost their voice talents and clap to the beat while learning the lyrics in both English and Zulu....
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Interactive
Curated OER

Passive or Active Exercises

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this active and passive voice worksheet, students choose which voice the sentences are in. Students complete 21 problems total.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sondheim: Voice of Cultural Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore Stephen Sondheim's contributions to musical theatre in the context of the dramatic cultural shift that occurred in American life in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I See and I Think (It's A Wonderful World)

For Teachers 3rd - 11th
Students analyze song lyrics (by listening to the song) to pick-out descriptive vocabulary. They use this descriptive vocabulary to create a drawing of the images they "see" in the song. They compare their drawings to find similarities...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Voice for the Times

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students make connections with events of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's with songs made popular by Aretha Franklin.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MacBeth Activity Using Alanis Morissette's "Wake Up"

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students analyze Macbeth through the lens of a pop song. In this Macbeth lesson, students read Act I, Scene 7 of Macbeth and determine Lady Macbeth's viewpoint. Students read the lyrics to Alanis Morrissette's song 'Wake Up' and work in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MUSICAL ELEMENTS OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners demonstrate knowledge of musical instruments and the families of the orchestra. They acknowledge different voice types found in opera. Students interpret emotional expressions through listening. They compose sounds to express...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My (musical) Valentine

For Teachers K
Get out those bells, sand blocks, and sticks! Your kindergarteners use their singing voices to ask and answer friendly questions while keeping rhythm. They take turns in a group and in pairs singing questions and answers while keeping...
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Activity
Glacier Peak High School

Huckleberry Finn Theme Project Ideas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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....
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: 2012 Mid-Term Elections

For Students 8th - 12th
Use a political cartoon to help scholars grasp the significant turnover in Congress following the 2012 mid-term election. A Mike Keefe cartoon uses symbols and current political lingo to convey perspective on the issue, and background...
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Unit Plan
Gwinnett County Public Schools

Analysis of the Tuck Everlasting and The Birchbark House Text Exemplars

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Happiness is A Warm Puppy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate dog breeds and write a short story from a dog's perspective. In this dog research and writing lesson, students watch the film, "Dog: The Early Years. They apply critical thinking skills to determine which type of dog...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write Your Own Rap

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a rap using basic AB form composition. Evaluation of performances are based on rubric formed during the first lesson by all students. This three to four day lesson culminates in student performances and evaluation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1900 America: Primary Sources and Epic Poetry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Using Walt Whitman's Song of Myself and Hart Crane's The Bridge as models, class groups first craft their own epic poems for 1900 and, using primary sources, create a multi-media presentation that captures the sights and sounds of life...
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Activity
San Francisco Symphony

Lesson Ideas for Any Music

For Teachers K - 12th
Music is a wonderful tool you can add to enhance the learning process for every subject. Here is a list of music selections that are categorized by subject, along with some neat teaching suggestions. You'll find songs suited to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students play "Fly Away" and "All Along the Watchtower" and then use different voicings of guitar chords and compare them.
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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 teachers for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DIGITAL WATERWORKS

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students add digitally-produced, water sound effects to a song, using electronic keyboards.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Being Done?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of animal welfare. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine legislation that supports animals in their state as well as the role of the  American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Poetic Finale

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars write a poetic response to the Holocaust as a culminating activity to a unit on the Holocaust. They listen to and discuss a rap song about the Holocaust, complete various handouts, and write a poem for future generations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE PEN VS. THE SWORD: LYRICAL RESPONSES TO A NATION AT WAR

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students brainstorm lists of songs that were written in response to American wars; consider the patterns in the lists they create.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Africa: Small Sounds From a Big Country

For Teachers 8th
Students explore the music from Burundi, Zimbabwe, and Pygmy cultures. They listen to and discuss music from the African cultures, analyze the musical elements, write a song, and perform music.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Personal Narrative on the Immigration Experience

For Teachers 9th - 11th
The students create a personal narrative on their experiences with immigration. In this lesson, students are asked to read and understand examples of narrative writing as well as evaluate lyrics from Ben Folds Five to determine elements...