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Article
A&E Television

History.com: How Al Capone Spent His Time in Alcatraz

For Students 9th - 10th
Public Enemy #1 was transferred to the now-infamous island prison a few weeks after it opened. To Americans of the 1920s and '30s, he was the notorious gangster Scarface Al, Public Enemy No. 1. But when he arrived at Alcatraz in late...
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Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 32: The John Travolta Syndrome

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The songs and movies of modern times have had a major influence on fashion. Coincidentally, many of these important fashion-influencing films of recent times had one thing in common: John Travolta. From the white leisure suits ofSaturday...
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 25: Vietnam Revisited

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using music, videos, and interviews are effective ways to study the Vietnam War era. The music from the late 1960s and early 1970s offers wonderful insights into how many Americans felt about the times. Through the use of personal...
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Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 19: Runaway Slaves

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Underground Railroad was a significant part of American History. It served as a lifeline to hundreds of slaves who risked their lives to escape the horrors of bondage. Through readings of primary sources and listening to music,...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Cole Porter: You're the Top

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A high school lesson plan designed to delve deeper into the life of Cole Porter and the meaning in his music.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Quiz: Native American Entertainment Games, Sports, Music, Dance

For Students 1st - 9th
History Questions: Native American Entertainment Quiz, Test, and WebQuest
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Primary
Contemplator

Popular Songs in American History: Ben Bolt: 19th Century Folk Song

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains the lyrics to a popular nineteenth century folk song. A MIDI file of the song is also available to download.
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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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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Patriotic Melodies

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress site profiles 26 American patriotic songs with commentary, supporting visual material, and recordings of "America the Beautiful," "Fanfare for the Common Man" and the like.
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Handout
Other

American Forces Press Service: Interest Grows in Music Pioneer James Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
Article from the U.S. Department of Defense commemorating James Reese Europe for both his contribution to the 369th Infantry Regiment in World War I and his place in jazz history before and after the war.
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Website
Other

Jews in America: Portal to Jewish American History

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete with music from Aaron Copland, the Center for Jewish History provides an interactive website that traces the history of Jews in the United States from 1654 until today. Authors provide a searchable gallery of photographs,...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History:the Great Migration

For Students 9th - 10th
The Great Migration for African Americans began during World War I as blacks left the segregated south to find jobs in the north. Read about how segregation followed them into their northern neighborhoods. See also how the Harlem...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of many different forms of popular culture in the first half of the 19th century ranging from sensationalized newspapers to dime novels to pseudoscience. Read about Stephen Foster's music, theatrical productions, and even...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Slave Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the contributions African slaves and African American slaves made to not only their culture, but American culture in general. See what words have African roots, how African culture influenced food and music, and how there...
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Website
Other

Museum of Making Music: The Ukulele and You

For Students 9th - 10th
Exhibition of the origin and history of the ukulele and its significance to American popular music.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Sarah Vaughan

For Students 9th - 10th
An informative biography of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990 CE) is presented highlighting her long musical career.
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Activity
Digital History

Digital History: Formation of Modern American Mass Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
A mass culture developed in America in the 1920s due to several factors. Read about the influence of radio, movies, and spectator sports in the adoption of common speech. Find out about the creativity of the time in literature and music.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Voices Against Conformity

For Students 5th - 8th
The decade of the 1950s was kown for conformity. There was an undercurrent of rebellion, especially among younger Americans. Read about the Beat Generation, alternative literature, rebellion in art, and treatment of those who were not...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The French Alliance

For Students 5th - 8th
The surrender of General Burgoynne at Saratoga gave the French the assurance that the Continental Army had a fighting chance to beat the British. Read about early French help and the formal agreements signed between France and America.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Invention of the Electric Guitar

For Students 9th - 10th
Can you imagine music without the electric guitar? The Lemelson Center provides us with a comprehensive overview on the history behind its invention and design. Includes photos depicting how the design has changed over the years and...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Berry Gordy, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Berry Gordy, Jr., an American businessman, founder of the Motown Record Corporation (1959), which became the most successful black-owned music company in the...
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Handout
Other

Life in the Usa: American Culture: Country and Western Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives a brief definition and history of country and western music.
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Lesson Plan
American Forum for Global Education

American Forum for Global Education: Lullabies Link People

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This site is provided for by the American Forum for Global Education. Using lullabies as the base of study, students learn about cultural differences in child care and taking care of basic human needs.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Duke Ellington

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Duke Ellington, one of the originators of big band jazz, and a noted composer.

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