Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Rock as Primary Source Material

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners listen to a song which functions as an entertaining primary source. It illustrates the part angry, part irreverent anti-war sentiments of the counter-culture in the late 1960s. After hearing the song, students discuss how it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rockin’ the World: Rock and Roll and Social Protest in 20th Century America

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore protest songs. For this interdisciplinary lesson, students examine issues-based music by summarizing lyrics and revealing inferences, generalizations, conclusions, and points of view found in the songs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

The Star-Spangled Banner

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the Star-Spangled Banner. In this civics instructional activity, students read the lyrics of the song as well as a handout that details its creation. Students respond to discussion questions from the handout.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Daniel's Story Study Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the concept of prejudice. In this World War II activity, students read Daniel's Story by Carol Matas. Students complete the provided study guide as they read the novel and discuss the Holocaust.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whitman and Lincoln

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students determine if Lincoln and Whitman ever met and write a dialogue between the two men. In this Whitman and Lincoln lesson, students read Whitman's poem "Beat! Beat! Drums!" and connect it to the events of Lincoln's presidency....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

P.O.W.: Products of War

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders are introduced to concepts of war through musical lyrics. They demonstrate and understanding of the role of segregation in US military policy and practice.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vietnam Revisited

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the impact of the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam and popular culture lesson, students research and plot major events in the conflict. Students interview people regarding their memories of the war and watch the movie " The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vietnam: Lesson 4

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students take a closer look at war memorials. In this Vietnam lesson, students research the Vietnam War Memorial and then visit the memorial. As a culminating activity, students research other war memorials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Closing Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students reflect on their thoughts about the Vietnam War.  In this history lesson, students exhibit all they learned about the Vietnam War by sharing their knowledge through the creation of a portfolio that is shared with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Song for Every Headline - Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify popular songs from 1968 and make connections with the year's current events They recognize popular music as a reflection of the culture. They focus on songs of the Vietnam War era.
Worksheet
Teacher and the Rockbots

Worksheet for the "National Holidays" Song

For Students 3rd - 5th
If you can find a copy of the song, "National Holidays," you can use this worksheet with your elementary schoolers. They read the lyrics to the song and answer questions about it. Along the way, they examine the reasons that we celebrate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans in World War I - Lesson Two

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the decision to allow African Americans enlist in the military. In teams of three to four, students debate allowing Muslim Americans to enlist in the war. Students not participating in the debate serve as legislatures....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the Underground Railroad.  For this American History lesson, 8th graders create a song about the railroad.  Students analyze various symbols used during the Underground Railroad. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Blowin' In The Wind

For Students 4th - 6th
In this song lessons worksheet, students listen to the song by Bob Dylan, "Blowin' in the Wind." They search for key phrases that use the words, "How many," and list each one with the noun that follows the phrase. Students listen to the...
Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Immigrant Discrimination

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
For a class learning about Chinese and Irish immigration in America, here's a great starting lesson plan. It has your critical thinkers examining song lyrics, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and a political cartoon, and finally...
Lesson Plan
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Alabama Department of Archives and History

Strange Fruit: Lynching in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
To continue their study of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the beginning of the civil rights movement, class members watch the YouTube video of Billie Holiday singing "Strange Fruit" as an introduction to an examination of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patriotic Music: Three Cheers for the Red, White & Blue

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the patriotic songs of the 1940's and compare them to those of today. They identify elements that classify a song as patriotic, listen to several examples and complete Venn diagrams contrasting different examples.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Hidden Messages in Spirituals

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Slaves laboring in the cotton fields of the old South singing joyously may have convinced overseers that their workforce was happy and content, but in truth, these spirituals contained secret codes. After viewing a short video about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Musical & Linguistic Lesson Plan

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study songs and music of the US Civil War period. They use technology to compose a song that highlights an event or concept from the war.
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Making Choices

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
What factors go into a decision to enter a war? Use a collection of primary source documents and images to prompt a discussion about the American Revolution and the reasons for entering a war against Britain.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

True Spin: Music

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Upper graders take a critical look at art criticism, music, and politics. They watch one segment of "True Spin," produced by VH1 music television and then discuss myths that relate to art and music. Several modern songs are analyzed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Mary Heilmann: To Be Someone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Kids consider the pure abstraction and minimalism found in Mary Heilmann's work. They analyze several of her pieces through critical discussion and then think about her use of a song title as the title of her exhibit. Learners then use a...
Lesson Plan
VH1

Lessons for Hight School Music Classes: Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Art and music have been vehicles for statements of civil unrest for hundreds of years. Upper graders critically analyze several pop songs or music movements from the 1980s that exemplify politically charged motives. They...

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