Browse lesson plans

Call and response singing

This lesson is a study of call and response singing, especially as it relates to African-American spirituals.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Music Education)

By Melody Moore.

Dance of the times: African-American expression of jazz

Explore jazz dance as a social dance form and a uniquely expressive art of African-American culture from the 1920's and 1930's. Students will learn about the complexity of African-American experiences that generated the dance and musical style. The activities develop students' understanding of jazz dance while integrating visual, audio, and kinesthetic learning styles.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Dance Arts Education)

By Shelese Douglas.

Freedom songs of the civil rights movement

Students will listen to freedom songs recorded during the civil rights movement, 1960–1965. Students will write about personal reactions to the music and lyrics. Through reading and pictures, students will briefly explore historical events where these songs were sung. Listening again, students will analyze and describe — musically — particular song(s).

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Music Education and Social Studies)

By Merritt Raum Flexman.

A renaissance of jazz and poetry

The Harlem Renaissance was the birth of a creative plethora in all fields of art for African Americans. The poetry and jazz composed during or inspired by this era naturally complemented each other. Furthermore, many of the themes from the musical and literary worlds are universal and provide a great lesson on how two different works can have a parallel theme.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–10 English Language Arts and Music Education)

By Janet Fore.

The second grade world of Louis Armstrong

Second grade students will explore the music of Louis Armstrong via booktalks, compact disc recordings, digital video disc recordings, and may pursue internet web-questing through Marco Polo (http://www.marcopolo-education.org) and http://www.redhotjazz.com as a bonus!

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Music Education)

By Dirk Robertson.

Spirituals and the power of music in slave narratives

In this lesson, students will learn about the importance of music in the lives of slaves by reading slave narratives and listening to recordings.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Music Education and Social Studies)

By Dayna Durbin Gleaves.

Resources on the web

Jazz in America - The National Jazz Curriculum

Lesson plans, a comprehensive jazz resource library, a teacher’s manual, assessments and more can be found on this site that celebrates the rich heritage of jazz. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

North By South

Culture, traditions, history and impact of the communities resulting from the 1900-1960 African-American migrations from south to north. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Kenyon College

Our Shared History: African American Heritage

A portal to the National Parks Service websites that are related to African American heritage. Find lesson plans about Vieuxx Carre (a Creole neighborhood in New Orleans); get a new perspective on the Underground Railroad; view an exhibition of Frederick Douglass... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: National Park Service