Curated OER
Smithsonian Jazz Class: Ella Fitzgerald
Students play "Ella's Match Game" to learn an overview of Fitzgerald's life and career. In this Ella Fitzgerald lesson, students listen to excerpts of Fitzgerald's music and respond by creating writing prompts.
Curated OER
Save the Music Concert: Part 2 Composition
Students examine why music is considered to be the "universal language" and study the expressive quality of a musical performance. They compose a melody using a computer and software which they perform on an instrument.
Curated OER
Electronically Composing Music
Students complete a worksheet and discuss components of musical composition. Students familiarize themselves with the program, Finale. Students then work cooperatively to compose a musical suite.
Curated OER
Reading Music Notation
Ninth graders develop an understanding of music notation and become proficient at reading rhythms by sight. They explore rhythms base on divisions of two and four and triplets.
Curated OER
Musical Alphabet- Skipping Up
Students explore the musical alphabet. In this music lesson, students are introduced to the concept of skipping up and stepping up. Students complete a worksheet to reinforce the concepts taught.
Curated OER
Music History: Part One
Students research the various music composers of the Baroque music period. They conduct Internet research, take notes about their selected composer, and write an essay that includes important information about their composer.
Curated OER
Painting to Music
Students play a kind of musical chairs, painting around a table to music, and stopping when the music stops.
Curated OER
“And Still I Rise” Proud Black Women
Students examine the experiences of African American women. In this poetry lesson plan, students use their literary analysis skills to compare the poetry of Maya Angelou to rap music performed by Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill.
Curated OER
Japanese Music-Some Songs for Children
Students explore songs from Japan. In this music lesson, students listen to four Japanese folk songs and identify the characteristics of the music.
Curated OER
Mexican Music
Students explore Mexican music. In this multicultural music lesson, students read the lyrics of songs such as "Poll Parrot" and sing along with a recording of the song. Students practice the pronunciation of Mexican lyrics.
Curated OER
The Musical Alphabet- Stepping Up
Students learn the musical alphabet. In this music lesson, students complete a worksheet which reinforces stepping up on the musical alphabet. Students are graded based on the correctness of the worksheet provided.
Curated OER
Bells - Making Music
First graders are introduced to the basic concepts of music. Using bells, they ring their bell when their color card has been shown. They practice a musical song with their classmates and are assigned to one bell for them to focus on. ...
Curated OER
Musical Alphabet- Stepping Down
Pupils complete a worksheet where they learn about the musical alphabet and stepping down. In this music lesson, students learn the definitions of down and step. Pupils will demonstrate their knowledge by writing a step down from the...
Curated OER
High School Lesson Plan -- Music
Students are introduced to the concept of minimal music. In groups, they identify its characteristics and its relationship to minimal art. Using the internet, they research the various historical time periods in which it was popular. ...
Curated OER
Mexican Music-A Christmas Tradition
Students explore a facet of Mexican culture. In this music activity, students discuss how Christmas is celebrated in Mexico and listen to a traditional posada song.
Curated OER
Musical Instruments - Percussion
Students research and analyze various percussion instruments from different countries and cultures in this Music lesson for the upper-elementary classroom. Emphasis is placed on internet research and hands-on drumming techniques from...
Curated OER
Germanic Music - Christmas Carols
Students learn German Christmas carols. In this Christmas music lesson plan, students learn Christmas carols in either German or English. They study the background of the songs and learn about Germanic Christmas traditions.
Curated OER
Musical Instruments - Woodwinds
Students assemble and examine typical European orchestral woodwind instruments, determine how the instruments change pitch, identify common orchestral woodwind instruments by sound, and research a non-Euro-centric woodwind instrument in...
Curated OER
Introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven
"Ode to la Tortilla" and "Ode to Joy"? Sure! Use Gary Soto's poem to introduce learners to the ode format. After examining the descriptive words Soto uses, class members study a poster of Ludwig van Beethoven, suggest words that describe...
Curated OER
Sondheim: Voice of Cultural Change
Students explore Stephen Sondheim's contributions to musical theatre in the context of the dramatic cultural shift that occurred in American life in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Music of African American History
High schoolers examine role spirituals have played in African American history and religion, examine Harriet Tubman's use of spirituals in her work, explore power of spirituals in Civil Rights Movement, and work with oral tradition,...
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...
Curated OER
Hip-Hop History and the Beastie Boys
So what about those Beastie Boys? Kids read a New York Times article relating the history of hip-hop and rap icons the Beastie Boys. They then answer eleven who, what, when, where, and why questions about the text they read.
Curated OER
M.C. Bard: Hip-Hop and Shakespeare
What is poetry? Does hip-hop qualify as poetry? Do Shakespeare's monologues qualify as poetry? Class members grapple with these questions as they examine the poetic elements and themes presented in different texts. Groups of four study...