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
Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine” Lesson PlanSinging for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine” Lesson Plan
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
4th - 8th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
3 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
4 days
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
4 more...
Technology
Audio
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

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

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine” lesson plan also includes:
  • Singing for Justice: Following the Musical Journey of “This Little Light of Mine” (.html)
  • “This Little Light of Mine” by Michel LaRue
  • “This Little Light of Mine” from The Story of Greenwood Mississippi
  • “This Little Light of Mine” by Elizabeth Mitchell
  • “This Little Light of Mine” by Betty Fikes
  • Activity
  • Assessment
  • Join to access all included materials

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. Discussions connect the historical background to musical application. Participants write an original lyric to add to the song in focus.

21 Views 17 Downloads

Concepts

Songs, slavery, social justice, civil rights, frederick douglass, black history month, african american culture, african american history, african americans, slave culture, song lyrics, song writing

Additional Tags

visual and performing arts

Instructional Ideas

  • Combine the lesson with a unit on slavery or civil rights to add more substance to its history portion
  • Make journal entries digital—direct pupils to answer questions on a classroom blog where they can read, and respond to, their peers' work
  • Conduct the lesson during Black History Month

Classroom Considerations

  • The lesson focuses primarily on the music more than the history

Pros

  • Provides extension opportunities
  • The plan is written in detail

Cons

  • None

Common Core

SL.4.2 SL.4.3 SL.4.4 SL.4.6 SL.5.2 SL.5.3 SL.5.4 SL.5.6 SL.6.2 SL.6.3 SL.6.4 SL.6.6 SL.7.2 SL.7.3 SL.7.4 SL.7.6 SL.8.2 SL.8.3 SL.8.4 SL.8.6

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

The Power of Nonviolence: Music Can Change the World

Center for Civic Education
Here is a fantastic activity through which class members discover how music has the ability to influence others in a meaningful way. After reviewing selected pieces and modern-day protest songs, learners will research other songs that...
6th - 12th Social & Emotional Learning
CCSS: Adaptable
Worksheet

Sheet Music and Fingering: When the Saints Come Marching In

Sheet Music
Here is a great resource for all those music teachers! Included are two sets of sheet music, for the songs, "When the Saints Come Marching In" and "Ten Little Indians." Learners are given their own sheet music. They write in which...
3rd - 6th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Songs of Protest: Seneca Falls to Vietnam

National Woman's History Museum
Long before the songs of the 1960's Peace Movement, long before the songs of the Civil Rights Movement, and even before the songs of the Abolition Movement, were the songs of the Suffrage Movement. To understand the power of protest...
3 hrs 8th - Higher Ed Social Studies & History
CCSS: Designed
PPT

Music of Russia

Curated OER
Music around the globe may sound different, but it always tends to function partly as a mode of communicating religion, rights of passage, and oral tradition. Delve into the world of Russian music. Folk, peasant, Cossack, and...
6th - 8th Visual & Performing Arts
Instructional Video

Evolution of Music - Pentatonix

Pentatonix
Explore music through the decades with an engaging video brought to you by the 5-part harmony acapella group, Pentatonix. Genuine musical talents sing through a variety of popular music from the 11th century to the 2010's. Artists...
4 mins 4th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
Activity

Behind the Music Project

Wordpress
Authors write about what they know, and that does not exclude songwriters. Invite partners to explore the story behind a song. They analyze and discuss the lyrics, conduct research online, create a poster, and put together a two-minute...
6th - 10th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Music from Across America

Curated OER
Students complete a unit of lessons on a variety of types of American music. They record their impressions of music samples on a worksheet, identify types of instruments, and choose a musical selection for their family to respond to.
3rd - 5th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Japanese Music Study

Curated OER
Gagaku is music traditionally played in the Japanese imperial courts of long ago. Learners listen to this and other traditional Japanese music to gain an understanding of culture and music history. They work to identify Japanese...
3rd - 5th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Music: "Hearing Between The Lines"

Curated OER
The class listens to and reads lyrics from popular songs that explore themes of self-esteem, body image, and eating disorders. The song interpretations will serve as a jumping-off point to deeper discussion on the issues, culminating in...
7th - 12th Visual & Performing Arts
PPT

The History of the "Blues"

Curated OER
Take a quick tour through the history of Blues. Elementary learners will find this presentation easy to understand and full of interesting information. There are web links that direct viewers to additional information but none that...
6th Visual & Performing Arts
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