This lesson plan examines both the content and form of lyrics in blues songs. In addition to highlighting the basic musical form of a blues song, it also addresses the use of floating verses in blues music, both within the context of the...

The crossroads, and the decisions made and entities met there, are a common theme in literature, pushing readers to examine the choices and encounters that shape life experience. The theme has also been explored in blues music, most...

In this lesson learners will learn about finding the blues in a variety of musical styles. They will investigate instances of the blues form heard in mainstream pop music, along with exploring the musical styles of two new artists who...

What ultimately influences a musician's creations? Is it the time in which he/she lives, his/her personal experiences, the music of the time and previous times, or the image the artist hopes to convey? This lesson explores these...

This lesson focuses on how the blues both operates as poetry and informs the poetry of many prominent African American poets. Students consider the poetic devices and recurring themes in blues lyrics and the significance of the poetry of...

This instructional activity enables teachers to use blues music to explore the history of African Americans in the 20th century. By studying the content of blues songs, young scholars can learn about the experiences and struggles of the...

Students create auditory musical patterns. In this patterns lesson, students create a pattern using their hands, feet, dancing, and snapping their fingers.  Students use a recorder to recreate a pattern.

Using their knowledge of right triangles, pupils find out how far a ship is from a light house. Class members determine how far around the world a ship would be sailing at a constant speed.

This lesson enables students to gain a broader awareness of the basic blues scale and the harmonic structure of the standard blues progression. Students will be given introductory exercises on blues improvisation and will also...

This lesson enables teachers to use blues styles and performers to think about various geographical regions of the United States. By studying different blues styles from the Mississippi Delta, Texas, and the Piedmont region of the...

When slavery took Africans from their land, they were separated from the rich musical and oral traditions native to each country and region. While working as slaves, Africans found they had two places where they could use these musical...

This instructional activity, focused on profile writing and its unique characteristics, considers the profiles developed in the film The Soul of a Man while also asking students to consider other profiles they are familiar with and to...

Students work with a family member in placing all of the music notes on a staff board. They try to match the rhythm on the rhythm board and show their completed song to the teacher.

Students practice number recognition. For this math and music lesson, students work in teams to identify numbers through music and movement.

Second graders view clips from the animated series Math Monsters, and discuss the many ways patterns can be found in the world around us. Following the video portion of the lesson, 2nd graders visit a variety of Web sites to assess their...

Students identify and reproduce simple patterns (e.g., red blocks alternating with blue blocks; clap-clap-stamp) and create and extend simple patterns using a variety of materials or actions (e.g., popsicle sticks, pebbles, stickers,...

Have your class practice measuring the perimeter of various objects using this resource. Fifth graders place various-sized polygons in order (from largest to smallest). They use non-standard measuring tools to estimate the distance...

Students explore the concept of fractions, decimals, and percents.  In this number sense lesson plan, students use a worksheet to guide them through the exploration of the relationship between fractions, decimals, and...

Students explore the concept of measurement. In this measurement lesson, students discuss what specific measurement tools such as an odometer measure. Students recite a measurement poem. Students make a foldable with conversion units...

Students use a battery, wires, small light bulb and a light bulb holder to learn the difference between an open circuit and a closed circuit, and understand that electric current only occurs in a closed circuit. They describe the...

Students integrate locomotor movements with nutrition information. They solve simple math functions related to the calories-per-gram contents of each nutrient and perform fitness activities to match the number of calories contained in...

Learners demonstrate an understanding of colors. In this visual arts lesson, students read the text Hot, Spicy Colors and name their favorite colors. Learners complete a bar graph to show the data. Students discuss how each color can...

Students estimate measurements in real world problem situations. In this estimation lesson, students read the book Pancakes, Pancakes and estimate how many cups equal a pint, quart, and gallon. Students test their estimations by...

Students explore how sound waves move through liquids, solids and gases in a series of simple sound energy experiments. They describe how sound needs molecules to move and that changing the medium that it travels through changes the...