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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Younger Generation

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students discuss the composer Aaron Copland and the lyricist Ira Gershwin and their significance in/contributions to American music of their time while singing the song "Younger Generation" in the choir setting. Emphasis is placed on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan for Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 (1938)

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars study the life and music of composer, Samuel Barber. In groups, representing trees, water, and stars they use interpretive dance to tell the story of the musical composition, 'Adagio for Strings, Op. 11' by Barber.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Little Train of Caipira

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners listen to the "Berry Pickers' Song" on the piano twice. They practice the song several times to become familiar enough to recognize it in the piece. They listen to the CD and recognize the tune by raising their hand and tell...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blues Improvisation

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students practice playing and improvising while playing the 12 bar blues. They practice compositional skills, evaluate and perform musical pieces focused on the blues.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Crescendo and Decrescendo

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the sounds and notes for crescendos and decrescendos. They attend a concert by a symphony orchestra and when they return to the classroom they identify the crescendos and decrescendos in music they hear.
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Language Arts: The Rise of the Operetta

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students develop an appreciation for the musical theater form, the operetta. In addition, they present parodies of songs from The Mikado. Working in small groups and accessing provided Websites, they compose their parodies. Once...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Would the World be Different?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. In this civil rights lesson, students imagine the outcome of the Civil Rights Movement had King never been born. Learners compose essays that feature King's roles in the movement.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

James Van Der Zee

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize James Van Der Zee as an outstanding photographer who documented and reflected life in Harlem during the 1920s. They identify important aspects of Van Der Zee's life and artwork and compose and shoot their own...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ferde Grofe

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students participate in three different activities centered around Ferde Grofe. The different lessons are used to introduce music and the artist to the class. They listen to stories that music tells, and create their own sand painting...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Journey Through France

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine France and its culture. They create a passport, convert collars to francs, listen to French music, research Impressionism and Monet, and compare/contrast the French version of Cinderella.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Statement

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders make a statement about their position on the Revolutionary War using various means of expression. One half of students remain loyal to England and the other half want a revolution for independence. They express themselves...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compositional Techniques: Are There Similarities Between

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize how chromatic scales create tension and pentatonic scales create relaxation as compositional techniques used to create tonality. Also, students aurally recognize the use of mixed or alternating meter as a means of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"The Block": Romare Bearden's and Mine

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study Bearden's style of collage and create their own collage that reflects their neighborhood. They are read "The Block" and poems about neighborhoods and write one about theirs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How To Be Persuasive in an Entertainment Review

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students write persuasively through description and word choice while reviewing a topic of interest to them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Background Leading to the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine why, when our Fathers, signed the Declaration of Independence they were placing in jeopardy their freedom, property and lives.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration Unit

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Gershwin

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the life and accomplishments of George Gershwin. They listen to Latin rhythms and practice the rhythmic parts. Students identify Latin instruments George Gershwin added to the orchestra. After practice, they perform a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Songs That Bring Us Together

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students listen to the song, Get Together, and discuss the theme. They list topics that bring people together, write the lyrics to and sing a class song, and write a paragraph about message songs.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke Ellington

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site provides audio clips, photos, and biographical information of this legendary composer and performer. A match game teaches and tests your knowledge of Ellington.
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Lesson Plan
Broward Education Foundation

Broward Education Foundation: Creative Canjos [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
Creative Canjos is an interdisciplinary unit that teaches American History through Folk Art and Folk Music. The young scholars began the project in Art class. They were introduced to American Folk Art through a teacher made iMovie. The...