Smithsonian Institution
War of 1812
Luckily for those who aren't history buffs, anyone can guess that the War of 1812 happened in ... 1812. But how to cover the rest of the story? The resource does just that with effective direct instruction that includes statistics,...
Gobal Oneness Project
Building a Community of Trust
Barrio de Paz is the story of Nelsa Libertad Curbelo, a nun, who works with the gang youth of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The 17-minute documentary focuses on her explanations for the rise of gangs and for how gang culture reflects...
Gulf University
The Elements of Drama
Introduce young actors to the meanings of basic drama literary, technical and performance elements with this colorful presentation.
Curated OER
Crossword Puzzle for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 10 of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets holds a cache of words perfect for this crossword. Learners read the definitions and write in the correct words.
Louisiana Department of Education
Unit: Hamlet
Encourage readers to determine if Hamlet's madness is actually divinest sense. Class members analyze the words of the play before studying related texts, including T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," scenes from...
University of Kansas
Newspaper in the Classroom
Newspapers aren't only for reading—they're for learning skills, too! A journalism unit provides three lessons each for primary, intermediate, and secondary grades. Lessons include objectives, materials, vocabulary, and procedure, and...
Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program
Dinosaurs Before Dark
Young readers travel back to the time of the dinosaurs in this literature unit based on the story Dinosaurs Before Dark. Intended for use with upper-elementary special education students, this resource provides reading...
Annenberg Foundation
Becoming Visible
The television and interstate highways both came of age in 1950s America. Scholars use film, text, and discussion to explore how these and other cultural icons shaped the literature of the time. Pupils also create a family history...
Curated OER
Write a Rap Song
Pupils compose lyrics for a rap song. In this music lesson, students choose a topic, such as "Our School," and use rhyming words to compose a rap song. Pupils perform the song for their classmates.
Curated OER
Drama and Music
Students listen to recorded music, and watch a short video to observe how the musical sounds reflects the action in the video. Afterward, they discuss images that come to mind when listening to certain types of music and the effect that...
Curated OER
African Women: Their Roles and Music
Middle schoolers explore music by African women. In this African society lesson, students compare and contrast the roles of African and American women. Middle schoolers listen to music by African women and analyze the lyrics of the music.
Curated OER
Introduction to Poetry Part I-- The Three Pillars of Poetry
In these poetry writing worksheets, learners learn the power of words and the ability of the poet to say a great deal with a few well-chosen words. Students learn the 3 pillars of poetry: Emotion (makes you feel something), Image (makes...
Curated OER
The Living Environment
In this reading comprehension lesson plan, 2nd graders have the choice between musical, kinesthetic, logical mathematical and verbal linguistic options to display their knowledge. Students can write a song, perform a play, construct a...
Curated OER
Carerrs in Song And Dance
Middle schoolers write a job posting for a career in the performing arts. They view a Discovery Channel video as an introduction to the types of performing art careers are possible. They choose one that they are most interested in to...
Curated OER
Treble Clef Quiz Part I: The Basics
This three-part quiz tests learners knowledge of the treble clef by asking them to name the parts of the treble clef, to write the letter names under the notes represented, and to write the note names on the correct line or space.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Musical Myths
Create musical myths in this West African tales lesson. Middle schoolers read myths from African Myths and Legends as well as West African Trickster Tales. They note when music could be used to enhance the tales, and then write their own...
Curated OER
Putting Pitch In Its Place
Students focus on reading musical notations. They see, hear, practice and write notations in the lessons to become more independent readers of music. They complete a Rubric for Pitch Worksheet.
Curated OER
Butterflies Fly!
Chopin was a lovely composer who played the piano masterfully. Third graders are introduced to Chopin, his piano sounds, triple meter, music patterns, movement, and the waltz. They listen to his music while hearing the story Butterflies...
Curated OER
Triads, Intervals, Keys, Note Values
Older or more advance musicians can test how well they can identify specific triads, intervals, keys, and note values with this quiz. Each staff focuses on one concept, they write the name of the triad, interval, or key.
Curated OER
Scripting The Great Train Robbery
Take writing prompts to another level in this activity, which allows pupils to create scenes of dialogue based on the 1903 silent film, The Great Train Robbery. Useful for a language arts/history cross-curricular activity, the...
Curated OER
Ocean Life Mural
How many oceans can you name? First, have learners try to name as many oceans as they can, and then have them locate and identify the oceans on a world map. They create a recognizable ocean animal using poster board and tissue paper....
Curated OER
Bass Clef Note Names Test
Asses your musicians' knowledge of clef note names with a two-page test that asks them to identify the names represented by the nomenclature and then to place a whole note on the line or space that is appropriate for the letter name.
Fun Music Company
Compound Time
To demonstrate their understanding of simple and compound time signatures, young musicians complete a chart by drawing quarter or dotted quarter notes equal in value to the note groups shown.
Curated OER
Is Perception Reality? Writing Paradoxes in Poetry
Explore the paradox of the universe - or, at least, of popular music - with this lesson. Using the songs "Inaudible Melodies" by Jack Johnson and "She" by Green Day, your class will complete a graphic organizer to help them understand...