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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Polka

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers detailed information on polka, a type of music and dance originating in Bohemia. Includes samples, artists, and more.
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Website
Other

Early 1900s Southern Music Recordings From Victrola

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides several sound files of popular southern music of the Early 1900s. The site includes songs written by Stephen Foster such as "Old Folks at Home."
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: John Lee Hooker

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers comprehensive biographical details on the father of boogie music John Lee Hooker, a 1991 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes an essential songs list.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Chaucer: The Middle Ages and Ballads

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on folk ballads of the Middle Ages. It provides links to "Medieval Estates and Orders," an essay explaining the role of the social classes in the Middle Ages; three folk ballads: "Lord Randall" text and audio, "The...
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Website
Other

Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
The consummate resource for extensive information about folk singer Woody Guthrie. Includes a great biography with photos and quotes plus publications, special projects, and events.
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Influence of Folk

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site, which explores the influence of musical folk traditions in the poetry of Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen, provides lesson plans, a biography, examples of Hughes' poetry, and details about his meeting with Nicolas Guillen.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Lyrical Legacy: 400 Years of American Song and Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore eighteen American songs and poems each represented by an original primary source document, along with historical background information and, in many cases, sound recordings and alternate versions.
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Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Pete Seeger Lesson Plans: Abiyoyo

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Use this resource to learn more about Pete Seeger who sings about struggle and courage. This site provides links to lesson plans, resources and more.
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Lesson Plan
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Musical Travels for Children

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
A series of lesson plans geared toward elementary young scholars. These lessons explore various musical cultures such as Germanic music, Korean songs, Ugandan music and Mexican music. You can use all of the lessons or simply choose which...
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Primary
Contemplator

Popular Songs in American History: Rosalie, the Prairie Flower

For Students 9th - 10th
This page presents the lyrics to a famous folk song of the nineteenth century.
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Lesson Plan
California State University

Island Maracas

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A great multicultural art lesson that also connects visual art to music. Students create a set of paper mache maracas emphasizing rhythm and expression in the painting details. Upon completion students will have the opportunity to try...
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Website
Contemplator

The Contemplator's: I've Been Working on the Railroad

For Students 6th - 8th
This site offers complete lyrics with a bit of history on this American folk song.
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Website
Other

Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg: Welcome to Folklorama Winnipeg

For Students 9th - 10th
Welcome to the annual summer worldwide celebration of cultures in Winnipeg, Manitoba!Pavillions, ambassadors, music, dancers, food,and much much more! Though this is a commerical site, the information shared makes one aware of how a city...
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Website
Other

Lead Belly Foundation

For Students 9th - 10th
The Lead Belly Foundation seeks to preserve the musical heritage of Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. Listen to tracks of his music while you read his biography and learn about his contributions to the worlds of blues and folk music.
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Hank Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Read detailed biographical information on country/blues/folk music star, Hank Williams, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes an essential songs list.
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Activity
Kids' Wings

The Little Red Music Room

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site has curriculum based songs set to folk melodies. At this site teach language arts, science and math through songs.
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Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Guantanamera, a Poem and a Song

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The folk classic "Guantanamera," takes on added meaning when students learn of its origin. Cuban political activist Jose Marti and controversial American activist Pete Seeger, serve as the basis for a fascinating comparative study....
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Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Aaron Copland

For Students 3rd - 8th
Aaron Copland (1900-1990 CE) was one of the first composers to put jazzy music into symphonic music, Copland was also one of the greatest American composers. Read more about him and his work. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Arts

For Students 9th - 10th
The home on the web for arts-related content that airs on PBS stations. You can link to the program sites of long-running arts broadcasts, sample special exhibitions, and investigate what the network is airing or has recently aired on...
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Handout
Other

Folk Lib Index for Woody Guthrie

For Students 9th - 10th
An index of Guthrie songs and lyrics.
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Website
Other

African Australian Online Resource

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers dozens of reviews of African recordings, new and re-released. Well-known musicians Zap Mama and Femi Kuti, as well as up and coming ones, are reviewed. Links to individual Web sites and audio files are also featured here.
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Handout
University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania: Seeger, Pete

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Pennsylvania provides a brief biography of American folk icon, Pete Seeger. The biography focuses on Seeger's political stance as well as his music, since the two are so often intertwined. Article is by Richard Taskin,...
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Graphic
Other

History in Motion: Boll Weevil Blues

For Students 9th - 10th
This scenario shows the spread of the weevil and a few of the songs that singers such as Charley Patton, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and others created in the wake of its devastation. Click on the events to see the details of the...
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Joni Mitchell

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn enlightening biographical details on folksinger Joni Mitchell, a 1997 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.

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