Meter Readers Turned Composers

What do Johann Sebastian Bach and Miles Davis have in common? Much more than class members might imagine. The comparison of these two famous composers is just one lesson in a unit that investigates many facets of the music industry...

For many people, Barack Obama's presidency was the next step in Martin Luther King, Jr's dream of America's future. Explore the dreams of Americans past and present, as well as the young Americans in your class, with a set of activities...

How are films made? As part of their study of film, middle schoolers investigate the pre-production, production, and post-production process and consider the role of the director, the screenwriter, production designer, cinematographer,...

Students explore the concept of renewable energy. In this alternative energy lesson plan, students participate in a play that conveys information regarding wind energy. The script may be performed as a play with props or as a reader's...

What happens during the pre-production, production, and post-production stages of the filmmaking process? This 30-page packet, designed to be used with a viewing of Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, is loaded with materials,...

"I'll just wait for the movie version." How often have you heard that line? Transform passive viewers into active readers of visual images with an understanding of the three stages of the filmmaking process. This 28-packet packet is a...

Remember learning to spell “encyclopedia” by singing along with Jiminy Cricket? How about using a singing exercise to learn the names of the presidents? “The Presidents Song,” includes the names, in order, from Washington to Coolidge....

Learners examine poetic devices such as rhythm and meter. They compare and constant poems via active class discussion.

Students consider the role of rhythm and meter in poetry. In this integrated arts instructional activity, students discuss the attributes of poetry and use their music skills to set picture book poetry to music by creating "singable" poems.

Fun awaits both you and your class as you embark on a musical activity. After discussing different rhythmic meters they choose a poem to set to music. The poem must rhyme and be set to a melody in the key of C Major. Because the activity...