History Songs

USA History 1971 to 1991 Song

Use a song about U.S. history from 1971 to 1991 as a listening and review resource.

Compare and Contrast Activities: Black Heroes of the Revolution | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Students read printed song lyrics recounting the histories of the three historical figures, complete a compare/contrast graphic organizer for two of the heroes, answer 10 multiple-choice compare-and-contrast questions (circling the best answer), and write a compare/contrast paragraph using provided transition words.

Includes: printed rap-song lyric passage (titled 'Black Heroes of the Revolution') covering three historical figures: James Armistead (spy for… · compare/contrast graphic organizer

Historical Protest Songs

Research two protest songs (one from the 1960s or 1970s and one more modern), create a slide presentation (Prezi or Google Slides) embedding the audio/video and lyrics, explain the historical context surrounding each song, and comment on its effectiveness as a means of protest.

Includes: assignment instructions ('Protest Songs - Then and Now') · list of example protest songs and artists from the 1960s-70s (e.g. Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte Marie) and recent…

1960s and 70s Songs of the Times

Reference list of protest-era songs organized by topic, intended to supplement a U.S. history unit on the Vietnam era.

Includes: organized list of songs (title, year, artist) grouped by topic: War, Drugs, Counterculture, Environmental, Civil Rights

Compare and Contrast Activities: Hip Hop History Song | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Teaches reading comprehension and compare-and-contrast skills using a nonfiction rap-song passage about the origins of Hip Hop (DJ Kool Herc, Cindy Campbell, and Grandmaster Flash).

Includes: 12 multiple-choice reading comprehension questions (two sets) · printed rap-song lyric passage in 3 parts covering the history of Hip Hop, featuring DJ Kool Herc, Cindy Campbell, and Grandmaster…

Sequencing Activities: Jazz Music History | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read the jazz music history lyric passage, identify five important events and record them in chronological order on a graphic organizer, write a paragraph putting the events in order using sequence words, and complete a history timeline finding four additional dated events from the passage.

Includes: Cover page · Sequencing graphic organizer (5 events)

Sequencing Activities: George Washington Carver | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read the George Washington Carver lyric passage, identify five important events and record them in chronological order on a graphic organizer, write a paragraph putting the events in order using sequence words, and complete a history timeline finding four additional dated events from the passage.

Includes: Cover page · Sequencing graphic organizer (5 events)

Sequencing Activities: Frederick Douglass | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read the Frederick Douglass lyric passage, identify five important events and record them in chronological order on a graphic organizer, write a paragraph putting the events in order using sequence words (first, next, then, later, finally, at last), and complete a history timeline finding four additional dated events…

Includes: Cover page · Sequencing graphic organizer (5 events)

This or That Game: Women's History Month

Students listen to two song options per slide, drag and drop a checkmark onto their preferred selection, and then view a video of the performer.

Includes: directions slide (drag-and-drop checkmark instructions) · practice slide

Main Idea and Details Activities: Hamilton vs. History | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read the rap-lyric passage, fill in graphic organizers sorting similar details into a main idea, answer multiple-choice questions identifying the main idea and supporting details of individual verses and of the whole passage, then discuss with a partner.

Includes: main-idea explainer/tip page · 3 graphic organizer pages (details -> main idea)

Main Idea and Details Activities: Molly Pitcher Biography | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read the rap-lyric passage, fill in graphic organizers sorting similar details into a main idea, answer multiple-choice questions identifying the main idea and supporting details of individual verses and of the whole passage, then discuss with a partner.

Includes: main-idea explainer/tip page · 3 graphic organizer pages (details -> main idea)

History Of Rock And Roll Gr. 6-8

Engage with lesson content on the history of rock and roll (e.g., listening to blues songs, discussing mood/instruments, researching music styles, making a poster on a music style, writing/composing a blues verse in groups).

Includes: teacher background/history content on rock and roll's evolution · classroom activity suggestions (listening, discussion, research, poster-making, songwriting)

Synonyms and Antonyms Activities: The History of Hip Hop Dance | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Students read multiple-choice questions asking them to choose the best synonym (page 1) or antonym (page 2) for an underlined word from a quoted song lyric, using the full 3-page song lyric passage (pages 3-5) as context/clues if needed.

Includes: 6-question synonyms multiple-choice worksheet (with directions and example) · 6-question antonyms multiple-choice worksheet (with directions and example)

Main Idea and Details Activities: The History of Hip Hop | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read the rap-lyric passage, fill in graphic organizers sorting similar details into a main idea, answer multiple-choice questions identifying the main idea and supporting details of individual verses and of the whole passage, then discuss with a partner.

Includes: main-idea explainer/tip page · 3 graphic organizer pages (details -> main idea)

Henry Ford: History - Hands On

Read biographical sections about Henry Ford's life and the Ford Motor Company, complete related activities (e.g., a personal-interests quiz, a Model T cardboard cut-out, a car-repair action song, an assembly-line simulation), research early modes of transportation, and participate in a culminating 'Ford Festival'…

Includes: teacher letter/overview and recommended supplemental resources (books, videos, websites) · Henry Ford's Birth/Down on the Farm reading with travel-research extension activity

Main Idea and Details Activities: History of Hip Hop Dance | Passage with Questions

Read the rap-lyric passage, fill in graphic organizers sorting similar details into a main idea, answer multiple-choice questions identifying the main idea and supporting details of individual verses and of the whole passage, then discuss with a partner.

Includes: main-idea explainer/tip page · 3 graphic organizer pages (details -> main idea)

Compare and Contrast Activities: The History of Hip Hop | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Teaches reading comprehension and compare-and-contrast skills using a nonfiction rap-song passage about the origins of Hip Hop (DJ Kool Herc, Cindy Campbell, and Grandmaster Flash).

Includes: 12 multiple-choice reading comprehension questions (two sets) · printed rap-song lyric passage covering the history of Hip Hop, featuring DJ Kool Herc, Cindy Campbell, and Grandmaster Flash/Joseph…

Main Idea and Details Activities: The History of "Frozen" | Passage with Questions

Read the rap-lyric passage, fill in graphic organizers sorting similar details into a main idea, answer multiple-choice questions identifying the main idea and supporting details of individual verses and of the whole passage, then discuss with a partner.

Includes: main-idea explainer/tip page · 3 graphic organizer pages (details -> main idea)

Syllable Activities: The History of Hip Hop Dance | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read syllable-counting explanations and tips, then read the nonfiction song-lyric passage and: count syllables in 14 listed words, sort new words found in the lyrics by syllable count (1-4) into a graphic organizer, divide those words into syllable parts using / or -, and find and divide two 5-syllable words from the…

Includes: syllable concept explanation with 2 tips · "How Many Syllables?" worksheet (14 words to count syllables for, drawn from the lyric passage)

Sequencing Activities: The History of "Frozen" | Passage with Questions

Read the two-part song-lyric passage on the history of Frozen, identify five key events, record them on a sequencing graphic organizer, write a chronological paragraph using sequence words, and build a timeline with dates for four more events.

Includes: sequencing graphic organizer worksheet · "History of Frozen" rap-lyric passage Part 1 and Part 2

Compare and Contrast Activities: Warrior Women vs. Superhero Comics | Passage with Questions

Listen to/read song lyrics, complete a same/different graphic organizer, answer 10 multiple-choice compare-and-contrast questions, and write a compare-and-contrast paragraph using transition words.

Includes: compare-and-contrast graphic organizer page · 2-page song lyrics passage (Warrior Women vs. Superhero Comics)

Making Inferences Activities: The History of Hip Hop | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read a song-lyric passage about hip-hop history, then answer multiple-choice inference questions using context clues from the lyrics.

Includes: song-lyric reading passage (hip-hop history themed) · multiple-choice inference questions (Part 1 and Part 2)

Making Inferences Activities: The History of Hip Hop Dance | Nonfiction Passage with Questions

Read a song-lyric passage about the history of breaking, answer multiple-choice inference questions using context clues, and complete a "Turn and Talk" discussion activity.

Includes: song-lyric reading passage (history of breaking/breakdance themed) · multiple-choice inference questions

Synonyms and Antonyms Activities: The History of "Frozen" | Passage with Questions

Students read multiple-choice questions asking them to choose the best synonym (page 1) or antonym (page 2) for an underlined word from a quoted song lyric, using the full song lyrics (printed on pages 3-4) as context/clues if needed.

Includes: 6-question synonyms multiple-choice worksheet (with directions and example) · 6-question antonyms multiple-choice worksheet (with directions and example)