National Park Service
The Poet's Toolbox
If you need a lesson plan for your poetry unit, use two poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ("Rain in Summer" and "The Slave in the Dismal Swamp") and a resource on Elements of Poetry. The lesson plan guides you through...
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Words/Music/Images: Interpretation and Meaning A Motivational Activity
Learners explore popular music in its historical context. In this music lesson, students examine the lyrics, musicical arrangement, and video imagery of selected songs to interpret the messages and themes of the songs.
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The Star Spangled Banner
Students perform Star Spangled Banner, and analyze purpose and meaning of patriotic songs.
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Using Cross-Genre Comparisons to Find the Message in Hip-Hop
Students analyze two cross -genre songs written in the early 1980s for lyrical content and social commentary. They consider the artistic merit of hip hop music in today's culture.
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Realism in Music, The Underground Railroad
Students complete a unit of 9 lessons to learn about realism in music during the time of the Underground Railroad. In this music realism lesson, students learn about coded lyrics in the slave songs. Students complete 9 lessons using...
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The Vietnam War: A Popular Music Approach
High schoolers explore the Vietnam War in music. In this Vietnam lesson, students listen to and analyze popular music from the Vietnam era in order to understand the use of propaganda regarding the controversial war. High schoolers...
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Hank Williams: My Inspiration
Students research Hank Williams and explore his life and career. In this Hank Williams lesson, students complete Internet research, listen to example songs, and watch a movie all to analyze Hank Williams. The ultimate goal is to decide...
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Individual vs. Social Responsibility: From Camus to the Cure
Young scholars explore the individual's role in society. For this social responsibility lesson, students analyze Camus's The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus as well as Borges's "Rosendo's Tale." Young scholars compare the themes of the...
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Why is It That Johnny Can't Read?
Students listen to and discuss Don Henley's song, "Johnny Can't Read" and the 10,000 Maniacs song, "Cherry Tree." They research reading literacy and find statistics, evidence, stories, facts, and sources which will support their beliefs...
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Animal Habitats
Students explore animal lifestyles by researching their characteristics. In this animal habitat lesson plan, students read the story Over in the Jungle and analyze the animal illustrations in the book. Students create clay animal...
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Understanding the Great Depression Through Film
Eleventh graders consider the role that government should play in economics. In this Great Depression lesson, 11th graders watch the film Cinderella Man and then complete a packet of worksheets to help them analyze the themes of the...
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Through My Eyes...How I See Relationships
In this relationships worksheet, students read shorts stories about relationships and then analyze the relationships in their own lives. Students then tell a visual story about their relationships using photographs from their lives.
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History: Sherman's March to the Sea
Students analyze two sources. First, they will look at a letter written by Sherman to Grant as Sherman's army approached Savannah. Second, they will review the lyrics to the popular song of that period, Marching Through Georgia.
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Storytellers: Coldplay
Students discover the importance of lyrics in the successful combination of music and words in the process of composing a song. They discuss how emotion-based lyrics influence the creative aspects in composing a song.
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Connecting to Colonial Music
Learners listen to songs from the French and Indian War period. They answer questions about the song and identify any historical terms. They examine the role of music in their own lives.
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Scarecrow: A Lesson Against Hate Crimes
High schoolers analyze and discuss different types of hate crimes. They listen to and discuss the background behind the song, "Scarecrow" by Melissa Etheridge. They research a hate crime and imagine how the victims must have felt....
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Patriotic Slaves
Eleventh graders listen to a song and read the lyrics and discuss what patriotism means to them. After viewing pictures of important patriots throughout history, they describe their contribution to society. They write in their journals...
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Bob Marley - Legend Episode #3 - Lesson 1
Students recognize and describe elements of Bob Marley's life that influenced his song writing as evidenced in the song "No Woman No Cry". They identify the elements of music characteristic of Reggae.
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Using Rock as Primary Source Material
High schoolers listen to a song which functions as an entertaining primary source. It illustrates the part angry, part irreverent anti-war sentiments of the counter-culture in the late 1960s. After hearing the song, students discuss how...
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Stand Up and Sing
Students locate historical references in songs. They create music/lyrics to illustrate an historical topic.
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The Music and Message of Lauryn Hill
Students explore the music of artist Lauryn Hill and analyze the way she uses her music in a socially responsible manner. In this music artist lesson, students read the lyrics to Hill's songs and listen to some example songs. Students...
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Storytellers: Pearl Jam
Students examine the nature of their own generation by looking at current events and music styles. They update old lyrics with new ones that are more relevant to current times and express a truth about their own generation. Finally,...
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Poetry Sings
Students examine examples of literary terms in poetry. Then they choose two songs, write out the lyrics, and decipher what they think the artist is trying to say. Each student presents their song to the class and they cite examples of...
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Feminism Does Not Have to be an F-Word
Students analyze social activism messages in music. In this feminism lesson, students explore selected music that expresses sentiments voiced in the women liberation movement in the United States. Students compare the lyrics of the songs...