TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Apr 24, 2022
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Baila! Latin Dance in the Spanish Classroom - The Kennedy Center
Grades
8 to 12
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This lesson provides students with an understanding of traditional Latin dance styles using videos and comparisons to elements of dance using standard terminology. The study focuses...more
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This lesson provides students with an understanding of traditional Latin dance styles using videos and comparisons to elements of dance using standard terminology. The study focuses on different types of dance that include salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, cha-cha, bachata, and samba. In addition, activities introduce the geography behind the dances and provide an introduction to the history behind the dance styles. As a final activity, student groups select a country and dance style to research and present to their peers. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (148), dance (25), spanish (103)
In the Classroom
Use the ideas found in this lesson to incorporate dance into your lessons that feature the Caribbean or South American countries. For example, when studying the history of Cuba, include ideas from this lesson and additional information about the dances that originated in the country to help students engage in a deeper understanding of the culture. As students share their research and presentations, provide them with various options to share their learning. For example, allow students to choose from Sway, reviewed here, to create a multimedia presentation, or offer students the opportunity to create a video presentation using Binumi, reviewed here, with voice overs and templates.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Kennedy Center Ballet Collection - The Kennedy Center
Grades
K to 12
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This extensive collection from The Kennedy Center features many lessons, media resources, and articles relating to ballet. Use this site to learn about ballerinas as athletes and discover...more
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This extensive collection from The Kennedy Center features many lessons, media resources, and articles relating to ballet. Use this site to learn about ballerinas as athletes and discover the history of ballet and its influence on cultures, politics, and art. Scroll through the home page to find articles on bringing community connections through dance, learn how to prevent injuries, and prepare for a visit to the ballet. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): dance (25), russia (33), stories and storytelling (36)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent site to use when introducing students to ballet as a form of dance or as an option to use with girls who are interested in athletics and sports. Consider including resources found on the ballet site as part of a storytelling unit or sharing ideas with students for finding role models when writing biographies. As you share information from this site and others, consider using curation tools such as Symbaloo, reviewed here, and Wakelet, reviewed here, to share information with students in an organized manner. Add information from this collection into an interactive lesson using Blendspace, reviewed here. Include videos, articles, quizzes, and documents as part of your interactive lesson.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Kennedy Center Dance Collection - The Kennedy Center
Grades
K to 12
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Discover the culture and history of dance worldwide and its importance in telling stories through movement and music using this rich and varied collection of resources. This site contains...more
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Discover the culture and history of dance worldwide and its importance in telling stories through movement and music using this rich and varied collection of resources. This site contains groups, lessons, information from featured artists, and more, covering many dance genres. In addition, media resources feature videos that teach dance, provide information on dance companies worldwide, and visit featured artists.
tag(s): chinese new year (5), cross cultural understanding (148), cultures (123), dance (25), hispanic (28), jazz (16), native americans (85), poetry (184), stories and storytelling (36)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free resources on this site to add dance to music lessons and cultural units and enrich topics featuring people and places worldwide. Each resource includes tags, and the lessons include suggested grade levels, use these links to find additional resources for classroom use. As you include information from this site, use an online whiteboard tool such as Google Jamboard, reviewed here, to engage students in learning. For example, add a link to a video from the site about a featured artist and ask students to share their learning or post questions to explore further. Ask students to share their understanding using one of the many tools found Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. For example, ask students to create a website of a featured dance style, while other students create a video sharing dance and cultural information about their chosen group of people or country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jazz - BrainPOP
Grades
3 to 8
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BrainPOP offers this interactive site with several resources for learning about jazz. First, view the introductory five-minute video to learn the basics of jazz. Then, see the lesson...more
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BrainPOP offers this interactive site with several resources for learning about jazz. First, view the introductory five-minute video to learn the basics of jazz. Then, see the lesson ideas and activities that provide opportunities to listen to different types of jazz, learn about famous jazz artists, and understand the roots of jazz from its start in New Orleans.
tag(s): 1920s (8), commoncore (79), jazz (16), Teacher Utilities (134)
In the Classroom
Use resources on this site as part of any lesson on music, musicians, and the early 1900s. Create a link to the site on classroom computers for students to explore independently. Replace pen and paper and have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo video, or Twitter links. This blog creator requires no registration. Ask students to research a jazz musician, share their favorite songs, or explore a neighborhood famous for jazz. You could enhance learning and challenge older students to create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.. Activities are correlated to Common Core Standards.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Rhythm Trainer - 4four.io
Grades
K to 5
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The rhythm trainer provides tools for learning about and improving rhythm through six different training activities, tempo trainer, and metronome generators. As a new player to the...more
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The rhythm trainer provides tools for learning about and improving rhythm through six different training activities, tempo trainer, and metronome generators. As a new player to the site, begin with the First Steps activity that provides sounds for you to match the rhythm. This activity increases in difficulty as you select correct responses. Registration isn't required; however, creating an account allows you to save progress within each activity.
tag(s): musical notation (34), rhythm (19)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your classroom website for students to practice and explore rhythm in a variety of different ways. Incorporate the activities into a complete online lesson including videos, articles, and quizzes using Actively Learn, reviewed here. Actively Learn includes tools for students to take notes and complete assessments within the online lesson. Have students enhance their learning by using a screen recording tool like Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here, to demonstrate their progress within each activity. Include their screen recording as part of their student portfolio of work using Seesaw, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Perfect Blues:1920s, 30s and 40s Vintage Blues; Duke Ellington; Leadbelly (Past Perfect) - Past Perfect Vintage Music
Grades
K to 12
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Are you having trouble finding Blues sites with the music? Listen to handpicked classic, popular Blues sounds of the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s on this YouTube playlist. You'll find ...more
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Are you having trouble finding Blues sites with the music? Listen to handpicked classic, popular Blues sounds of the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s on this YouTube playlist. You'll find Leadbelly, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Jelly Roll Morton, Joe Venuti, Bessie Smith and many, many more. The music is crystal clear with none of the scratchy sounds you hear with many old songs that were recorded from old technology. If your district blocks YouTube, you may not be able to enjoy this music.
tag(s): 1920s (8), 1930s (18), 1940s (11), 1950s (7), blues (21), harlem (7), jazz (16)
In the Classroom
Play musical selections for students to talk about musical elements and styles in music class. Scroll down the page to find links to other Past Perfect sites, or use the search bar and type in Past Perfect Vintage Music to get only that selection. Have partners explore the sites to find examples of different rhythms or styles they prefer. Enhance learning by having a class Padlet, reviewed here, where students share their favorites and listen to others' favorites. In social studies or history classes, use this Perfect Blues music as an introduction to any unit of study from the 1920s - 1950s in your classroom. Share with students for use in multimedia presentations (with proper attribution, of course). Try sharing this resource with students when they are creating podcasts, slideshows, and other media projects. Make sure students realize that "royalty-free" does not dismiss the need to give proper credit for their source!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jazz in America - Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
Grades
6 to 12
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The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz offers Lesson Plans for grades 5-11 and a wealth of information. Click on the Jazz Resources and you'll discover a rich collection of biographies,...more
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The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz offers Lesson Plans for grades 5-11 and a wealth of information. Click on the Jazz Resources and you'll discover a rich collection of biographies, background information, musicology, and other jazz-related information. The content includes some really in-depth analysis of different jazz musical styles. Both music and social studies teachers will find plenty of material here.
tag(s): africa (134), african american (105), blues (21), harlem (7), jazz (16)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this site! The lesson plans are meant to be taught in American history classes, so search and see how this site can benefit your classroom. Make sure and save this one as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Museum of American History - Smithonian Institution
Grades
2 to 12
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Designed to both inspire and teach, the Smithsonian's Jazz site offers several online instructional modules that do a nice job of introducing the history and structural elements of...more
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Designed to both inspire and teach, the Smithsonian's Jazz site offers several online instructional modules that do a nice job of introducing the history and structural elements of jazz. Students can learn about particular composers and performers, and how their work built on the experiences of other jazz musicians.
tag(s): africa (134), african american (105), harlem (7), jazz (16)
In the Classroom
Use the audio on this site to supplement a lecture or class discussion about the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz era. Click Education from the left menu then use the next menu on the left to allow students to explore an area of interest. Enhance learning by having students use Flip, reviewed here, to share what they learned and comment on their peers' contributions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Living Pictures Representing the History of Black Dance - Yale University
Grades
7 to 8
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Through the study of paintings, books, photography, and poetry, students will learn about the history of Black dance. With an emphasis on the evolution of Black dance from the African...more
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Through the study of paintings, books, photography, and poetry, students will learn about the history of Black dance. With an emphasis on the evolution of Black dance from the African period through the Harlem Renaissance and beyond, this unit emphasizes research as a tool for meaningful choreography. The culminating activity is a video production that chronicles a living history through movement.
tag(s): africa (134), african american (105), dance (25)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this web page. The focus is interdisciplinary, and although lengthy offers a lot of valuable information. Be sure to look at this thoroughly before you plan to use it with students. Though the resources are listed, you will need to obtain them yourself. Definitely take a look at this one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Multicultural Music - Wesleyan University
Grades
9 to 12
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Dr. Charry's scholarly interest in non-Western music provides sound files and research information on African Music and links to Ethnomusicology resources on the Web. ...more
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Dr. Charry's scholarly interest in non-Western music provides sound files and research information on African Music and links to Ethnomusicology resources on the Web.
tag(s): africa (134), music theory (44)
In the Classroom
Music or History teachers looking for music sources to supplement a lesson should look here first! Not only is there information to help teachers/students review - but there are resources that allow you to listen to the music being studied in each section. This could be useful in a lesson on the Harlem Renaissance, the 1920's, or even the Jazz age.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interactive: Roots of Jazz - PBS
Grades
4 to 12
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The companion web site to the PBS Jazz series offers an interactive history of jazz and its evolution as part of the African American experience. Click "Classrooms" on the top ...more
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The companion web site to the PBS Jazz series offers an interactive history of jazz and its evolution as part of the African American experience. Click "Classrooms" on the top menu and find lesson outlines included on the site. Searching YouTube for Learn About Jazz PBS will result in a list of free vdeos about the history of jazz. If your district blocks YouTube the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): jazz (16)
In the Classroom
This site would be a great addition to a US history class studying the Harlem Renaissance. The site could be used for the lesson plans OR as a learning center in your classroom. If using the site as a learning center, we recommend creating a graphic organizer to accompany it for students to take notes on each section. For help creating a graphic organizer, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jazz History Pages
Grades
4 to 12
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Here's a look at the history of Jazz in New York's Harlem, based on a remarkable photo of several dozen jazz greats. The site includes information on musicians, their music, ...more
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Here's a look at the history of Jazz in New York's Harlem, based on a remarkable photo of several dozen jazz greats. The site includes information on musicians, their music, their instruments, and how Jazz and Harlem came to be synonymous in the early twentieth century.
tag(s): jazz (16)
In the Classroom
The most usable portion of this site is actually the interactive picture seen on the main page. Rarely are teachers going to need to go in on an in-depth exploration of Jazz, but the main page picture can be used in a visual discovery activity. Open the image on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and have students discuss what they observe, infer and predict about the image. There is a zoom tool that can provide greater detail. Guide the students towards why this image is significant, why someone would take it, how important Jazz was in this community, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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