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Ethnic Folklore in Your Classroom: Traditions, Tales, and Treasures from Tijuana to Timbuktu
Students create their own festival. In this folk life lesson plan, students research their folklore history by interviewing their parents and grandparents, organizing the data found, and presenting that material to the class. Students...
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The Memory Play in American Drama
Students take a closer look at a memory play. In this American drama lesson plan, students read Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie and analyze it as a memory play. Students discuss the linear and non-linear aspects of the play...
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Patterns in Poetry: Part I--Rhythm
Students explore patterns in poetry. In this language arts instructional activity, students discuss rhythm in poetry. Students read poems and discuss the rhythm of each poem.
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Web Puts Undiscovered Musicians, Listeners In Tune
Learners read an article from USA Today about technology and the music business. In this news article lesson, students read an article about failed musicians and their new roles in music and technology. Learners discuss the article and...
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Patterns In Poetry: Images (Part 3)
Students explore imagery in poetry. In this poetry activity, students examine how the use of metaphors and similes aid in reading comprehension. Multiple resources are provided.
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Let's Put It in a Nutshell
Young scholars practice summarizing things they have read. After reviewing the steps for reading silently and summarization, they read a chapter in the book Tuck Everlasting. Working in groups, they summarize what they have read and...
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Rockin’ the World: Rock and Roll and Social Protest in 20th Century America
Students explore protest songs. In this interdisciplinary activity, students examine issues-based music by summarizing lyrics and revealing inferences, generalizations, conclusions, and points of view found in the songs.
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Traditional Japanese Dance
Students study introductory history and cultural purposes of selected Japanese dance forms. They analyze the philosophical beliefs, social systems, and movement norms that influence the function and role of Japanese dance in the lives...
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Original Band Compositions
Young scholars create and perform original band compositions using their own band instruments. This two day lesson requires student compositions to be done at home. Students evaluate performances using a checklist for composing...
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Write Your Own Rap
Third graders create a rap using basic AB form composition. Evaluation of performances are based on rubric formed during the first lesson by all students. This three to four day lesson culminates in student performances and evaluation.
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Garbage Bag Costume Creation
Students create plastic bag costumes for a short scene developed in the classroom. Performances and assessment occur at the end of this quick lesson. A very creative mini-project for theatre arts classes.
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Music Advocacy
Students view part of a video about advocating for music education. They discuss the importance of supporting music education in schools and create a presentation for the PTO, a news release about a local music event and/or scripts for a...
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Abstractions/Gestures
Students examine and display the differences between literal, and non-literal movement and abstraction using a creative project in movement. This project originates as an individual item, culminating in a small group performance.
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The First Fire : A Cherokee Animal Tale
Fourth graders discover movement through the telling of "The First Fire", a Cherokee tale. Small groups are given sections of the story to tell by creating dances. Music (live and recorded) adds to the final performance and assessment.
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Scene Writing
Eighth graders create an original scene or short one-act play within specified guidelines. Assessment is based upon the performance of student-created scenes during class time. Rubrics for assessment and connection to state standards...
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New York City: Passionate About Shakespeare
Students explore Shakespeare as part of American culture. In this Shakespearean culture lesson, students view video clips about modern theater. Students read excerpts from Shakespearean plays and other commentaries.
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Building Bridges
Young scholars, in groups, design and test a scale bridge. They use the Internet to research three basic bridge designs -- beam, arch, and suspension -- and the forces that act upon them.
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Music Around the World: United Nations Week
Students discover the United Nations through the use of musical examples and performance. This two day lesson plan requires two forty-five minute sections and delivers information about different cultures around the world. Emphasis is...
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VH1 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll Lesson 3
Students examine female artists who perform in the genres of rhythm & blues, jazz, soul, and hip-hop/rap. They compose lyrics and melody in one of these genres.
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A Mural Gift
Students listen as the teacher tells about the life of Keith Haring. Using drawing paper and pencils, they sketch figures and shapes in the style of K. Haring. They discuss the mural with students, and they vote on colors to use....
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Costume And Make-Up Shakespeare Style
Students create original costumes and make-up for a puppet presentation of a scene from Shakespeare in this week long creative project. Performances of the Shakespeare scenes end this lesson geared towards state and national standards...
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Searching the World Wide Web for Rudy Autio
Students research Rudy Autio. In this research activity students maneuver through the Internet to better understand the artist Rudy Autio. They examine his background, educational experiences, art production, influences, and style.
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VH1 Storytellers for Save the Music Starring Billy Joel
Students pretend they are taking a certain job in the music industry and respond to questions.
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Can You Compose?
Fourth graders investigate musical notes. In this music lesson plan, 4th graders compose a short song while clapping the rhythm and singing the syllables using the appropriate notes or rests.