Education Closet
West Side Shifts
Combine math, language arts, music, and dance with an activity focused on "America" from West Side Story. After listening to the song, learners compare the film to Romeo and Juliet, analyze the song's meter, design choreography, plan...
Thalian Association Community Theatre
West Side Story: Teacher Resource Guide
West Side Story is widely known as a modern-day Romeo & Juliet. Learners read a list of characters from the play and list their counterparts from Romeo & Juliet before completing a vocabulary enrichment activity and word...
Orlando Shakes
West Side Story: Study Guide
Hey, enough frabbajabba about that stool pigeon, Daddy-O! Using the West Side Story study guide, scholars explore the language of the play and read about its historical associations and themes. Pupils also engage in a Spectrum of...
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
West Side Story Suite and In The Night Fancy Free
West Side Story and Romeo & Juliet—two classics in their own rights that help young literature lovers better analyze different works. Learners research and compare the characters and story elements of West Side Story and Romeo...
Tune Into English
America – West Side Story
Anita's iconic rooftop ode to American life in West Side Story is the focus of a lesson on immigration. As class members listen to "America," they follow along with printed lyrics, and discuss whether they agree with Anita's...
Curated OER
"Mambo" from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein
Students encounter and study "Mambo" from "West Side Story," by Leonard Bernstein. They practice utilizing musical elements (instrumentation, tempo, and dynamics) to create a certain mood for a scene with music. Each student interprets...
Curated OER
"West Side Story"
In this music history worksheet, students discover the musical "West Side Story" by first reading a summary of the plot. Students answer 5 questions about the story line. Students then read and analyze the lyrics to "America" and discuss...
Curated OER
Expressions of Anti-Racism through Painting: The Puerto Rican Community from West Side Story to Connecticut
Students create a graffiti wall using their own name or personal symbol. They examine their own understanding of the film as a source of inspiration and listen to the music from the soundtrack as an effective motivation. They make...
Little Kids Rock
The Influence of Latin Music in Postwar New York City
Music has often been called the international language that transcends cultures and regions. Scholars analyze the impact of Latin American music on New York City culture in the years following World War II. They research music, video,...
Curated OER
Musical Imagery
Students experience musical imagery. They link this musical concept to literary imagery to gain an understanding of the use of imagery in both genres. After listening to a varriety of sounds, students will compose and perform a melody.
Library of Congress
Loc: West Side Story: Birth of a Classic
View the online exhibit featuring photographs, documents--opening night telegraphs, letters, notes by Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein, set designs--and other items such as posters, DVD covers, and a pair of slippers worn in the...
Leonard Bernstein Office
West Side Story
This official West Side Story website offers a synopsis of the play, lyrics for all of the songs, information about the creators, and various productions, and much more. The site is created by Jamie Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein's daughter.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Leonard Bernstein
This site explores the life of Leonard Bernstein. It provides an overview of his life and accomplishments, followed by articles addressing his overnight success, creation of "West Side Story," and radio concerts for children.
Seymour Brody
Jewish Heroes in America: Leonard Bernstein
Presents a biographical summary of the life of conductor, composer, and pianist Leonard Bernstein. He composed music not only for symphonies, but also for Broadway (West Side Story) and operas.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Leonard Bernstein Collection
The online version of the Library of Congress' collection. Content includes more than 400,000 items, including music and literary manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, audio and video recordings, fan mail, and other types of...
Other
The Official Leonard Bernstein Site
As the Official site, there are recordings, lectures, letters, photos, publications, scripts, etc. that are unavailable elsewhere. Links to the Library of Congress' Leonard Bernstein Collection, another excellent source.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Treasures: Something's Coming
Inspiration for the song "Something's Coming" from "West Side Story" came from a speech Arthur Laurents had written for the character Tony in his libretto for the musical.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Leonard Bernstein Collection
This site from the Library of Congress provides information on perhaps the most important American musical figure of the 20th century has over 400,000 items housed in the Library of Congress. Photographs, his famous Young People's...
My Hero Project
My Hero: Stephen Sondheim
The creator of music for "West Side Story" and "A Little Night Music," Stephen Sondheim is described in this article as one of the most innovative composers and lyricists of our time.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Leonard Bernstein
Resource about Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990 CE), American musician/composer/conductor. Learn how he became famous just because another conductor was ill. Listen to some of his work using RealAudio or Windows Media Player.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Leonard Bernstein
This site from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts provides an excellent overview on the life and musical accomplishments of composer Leonard Bernstein is found at this site.
Curated OER
Leonard Bernstein: A Tribute to Lenny
Essay offers a tribute to Leonard Bernstein and his work as an American composer and conductor. Inlcludes links to sites of relevant books, links to the musicals "West Side Story" and "On the Town", and more.
Curated OER
Leonard Bernstein: A Tribute to Lenny
Essay offers a tribute to Leonard Bernstein and his work as an American composer and conductor. Inlcludes links to sites of relevant books, links to the musicals "West Side Story" and "On the Town", and more.
Curated OER
Leonard Bernstein: A Tribute to Lenny
Essay offers a tribute to Leonard Bernstein and his work as an American composer and conductor. Inlcludes links to sites of relevant books, links to the musicals "West Side Story" and "On the Town", and more.