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Teachers and young children holding hands together in a dance

The Wagoner’s Lad Ballad and Juliet’s Soliloquy

  • Author: Kathleen Brown
  • Grade Level: Ninth, English
  • Keywords: Ballad, narrative, “The Wagoner’s Lad,” soliloquy, “Romeo and Juliet,” theme, marriage, feminism, family
  • Lesson Overview: Students read and listen to 3 versions of the ballad “The Wagoner’s Lad” and of Juliet’s soliloquy to analyze the themes and narrator’s point of view.

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Young children holding hands in a dance

Incorporating Folk Dance into the Music Class with Ease

  • Author: Robbin Marcus
  • Grade Level: 2 (adaptable to any elementary age)
  • Keywords: Playparty, folk dance, singing game
  • Lesson Overview: Over the course of several class periods, children will perform a familiar play party (such as Paw Paw Patch) as part of their regular music class routine. In an adjacent class at a later time, students will learn the additional moves for a similar folk dance (like Sweets of May) and perform it in class.

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A young boy smiling while dancers hold hands over his head

MLK Day Through Music

  • Author: Justin Morrison
  • Grade Level: Fourth
  • Keywords: Black History Month, MLK, Martin Luther King Jr., songs, protest
  • Lesson Overview: Over five days, students listen to and reflect on the events of the March on Washington and musical responses to it. Next, they reflect on how those musical responses contributed to the message of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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