Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Epic Improvisation Lesson PlanEpic Improvisation Lesson Plan
Publisher
Curated OER
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
10th - 12th
Subjects
English Language Arts
6 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
2 days
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
5 more...
Technology
Internet Access
Projection
Presentation
Lesson Plan

Epic Improvisation

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Epic Improvisation lesson plan also includes:
  • Activity
  • Lesson Plan
  • Presentation
  • Project
  • Join to access all included materials

Really? Rapping The Odyssey? Really. A discussion of the oral tradition of story telling and its links to Epic poetry sets the stage for a series of activities that encourage improvisation to integrate music into other classrooms. Improvising to a current event topic and a jazz piece by Louis Armstrong prepares teams to create a rap battle for a passage from The Odyssey.

81 Views 53 Downloads
CCSS: Designed

Additional Tags

visual and performing arts

Pros

  • Although the provided link to rap battles focuses on using rap to teach science concepts, it provides great examples for class members to critique and use as models
  • The link to the Improvisation Frame provides step-by-step directions for this approach

Cons

  • Minimal directions are included for the opening activity
  • No passages from The Odyssey are suggested for the closing activity
  • If using other rap battles available on the Internet, be sure to preview to determine whether the language is appropriate for your clasroom

Common Core

RL.11-12.4 SL.11-12.1.c

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Popular Music and Music Videos

Curated OER
This resource is part of a three-activity unit that introduces your class to the concept of popular culture and the role that it plays in their lives. Here, learners examine the importance of the music industry and music videos in pop...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
Lesson Plan

Music Lesson Plan for Teaching Children with (Severe) Autism

Curated OER
Here's a packet of music activities designed specifically for children with autism. Kids learn greeting, echo, and repertory songs, as well as rhythmic patterns to play rhythm instruments.
Pre-K - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
Unit Plan

Musical Theater Performance

Pearson
Musical theater is a trifecta, requiring cast members to be actors, singers, and dancers. Help theater arts students develop these skills with a unit designed to prepare them for a staging of a musical.
7th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Romantic and 20th Century Period Music

Curated OER
Upper graders explore the similarities, differences, and depth of pop music from the Romantic era and the 20th century. They listen to selections that exemplify the Baroque, Romantic, and 20th century periods, then create presentations...
7th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Save the Music Concerts: Parts 1 & 2

Curated OER
Music aficionados classify pop music into by musical genres or styles. They evaluate the positive and negatives of collaborative performances, view segments of VH1's "Save the Music" concert, and discuss the difficulties of...
7th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
Website

Pbs News Hour Extra: Rap as Lyrical Poetry

PBS
Here is an excellent way to engage your students in the study of poetry; use rap! PBS provides the materials you will need. Students will examine central themes, hip hop culture, political, social and cultural events that may have...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Audio

Bbc Radio World Music Guide: The Music of Haiti

BBC
Although not actively updated since 2005, this source provides a great resource about music from around the world. Listen as British world music radio host Andy Kershaw gives background on the Haiti, its history, and its music, and then...
9th - 10th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Ice -T's Rap School

Curated OER
Students research the history of rap and gain an understanding of the components of rap music. They experience the correlation between Shakespeare's poetry and rap music of today.
7th - 12th English Language Arts
Lesson Plan

Music and Animation: 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons

Curated OER
Music has been used to convey thoughts, feelings, and the human condition for thousands of years. Your class will analyze several songs hear in the animated classic, "Charlie Brown." They will listen to several jazz pieces from the show,...
7th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
Website

Music

University of North Carolina
Music is a universal pleasure, but writing about it can be a little trickier. An informative handout discusses common types of music writing assignments that one might encounter in a college-level course. Individuals read about musical...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use