Behind the Scenes of the Balcony Scene | Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet

Learn how the National Theater conceived a new version of the iconic Balcony Scene in this behind-the-scenes mini-documentary about the making of Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet. During the ongoing shutdown of London due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Theater created a compelling hybrid of theater and film that brings an exciting contemporary perspective to the play. “Shakespeare’s potential for reinvention is endless,” said director Simon Godwin. “Over 17 days of filming, the company was united by a sense of shared exploration. As well as being given intimate access to the thoughts and feelings of characters, we were able to bring to life remarkable, forgotten spaces at the National Theatre. Desire, dreams and destiny came together to make Romeo & Juliet sing in an entirely new way.”

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

Exploring Shakespeare: An Immersive Experience | Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet

Explore the world of Shakespeare using this immersive interactive featuring Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet. Interactive slides include video clips, infographics, graphic organizers, and different activities to engage students through a visual and immersive setting. Enter the Globe Theater and click on objects to explore the space and learn more about Shakespeare and Romeo and Juliet. This stylized film of Shakespeare’s masterpiece from the National Theatre celebrates the theatrical imagination. In this contemporary retelling, a company of actors in a shuttered theater bring to life the tale of two young lovers who strive to transcend a world of violence and hate. Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley star as Shakespeare’s immortal star-crossed lovers.

Material Type: Lesson

Understanding Juliet's Feigned Death | Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet

Explore how production choices can contribute to characterization and provide a deeper understanding of how that character sees the world in this video from Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet. The National Theater's production creates a modern stripped-down version of the play that utilizes both staged theater and film techniques to tell the story of the iconic star-crossed lovers. Students will analyze these techniques and how they help reveal the essence of Juliet's character.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

How Trap Music Took Over | Sound Field

Hi-hats. That blazing fast sound is everywhere—pop, reggaeton, country—and hi-hats are essential in trap music. Where exactly did trap music come from and how did it become a part of so many other musical styles? Hosts LA Buckner and Nahre Sol explore the genre's roots and make their own original beat inspired by the trap sound.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

Music from the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence | Sound Field

Since the beginning of time Phi—also known as the golden ratio—has inspired the world around us. Have you ever noticed how some pieces of music just seem to make sense? From the notes and chords to the phrasing and dynamics, they can all feel like they were meant to go together. Many people believe this is not a coincidence but the golden ratio in action.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

How Kacey Musgraves Changed Country With "Golden Hour" | Sound Field

Kacey Musgraves won the Album of the Year award at the 2019 Grammys, becoming only the fourth country album to ever win that award. Two of the producers of the album, Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, talk to us about how they and Kacey were able to make such a crossover success.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

From Mozart to Weird Al: The Evolution of Parody | Sound Field

"Weird Al" Yankovic might be the first person to come to mind when you think of parody music, but did you know that composers like Bach, Mozart, and Satie have been parodying each other's work for centuries? Nahre and LA explore the history of parody music from the 1700s to the YouTube parodies of today. Scott Dikkers, founding editor of The Onion, explains why humans love parody so much and why it's so hilarious. Nahre and LA compose a dance hit to the tune of the Barney theme song.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

How Classical, R&B, and Jazz Musicians Play Differently | Sound Field

Adam Neely joined LA and Nahre in the studio for an improvised jam session. Adam comes from a jazz and rock background, while Nahre comes from a classical background, and LA comes from a gospel and R&B background. Together they talk about the differences in how they approach music.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: PBS Learning Media

The Art and Science of Impressionist Color

Students will learn about the Impressionist painters' use of color and how it connected to early-19th-century scientific theories about color. They will explore combinations of primary and secondary colors, experiment creating secondary colors, and create a landscape using complementary colors.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Lesson Plan

Arts Lessons in the Classroom: Visual Art Curriculum - Grade 1

These active process-oriented lessons focus on concepts of line direction and type, organic shape, 3-D form, real and implied texture, secondary color, and principles of composition. Literacy-infused lessons explore text direction/spacing, observation, description, and story elements through drawing, painting, collage, clay modeling and printmaking. The K-6 lesson handbooks were originally produced for the Lake Washington School District with grants from 4culture and ArtsWA. Encourage your colleagues, other schools, and organizations to use these materials for non-commercial, educational purposes at no cost by downloading their own copy at: http://artsedwashington.org/portfolio-items/alic-2

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan, Unit of Study

Author: Washington ArtsEd

A Bear of a Poem: Composing and Performing Found Poetry

Children find favorite words, phrases, and sentences from familiar stories. Working together, they combine their words and phrases to create a poem. The poem is then shared as performance poetry.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Classroom Thunderstorm

Students create a class composition of a thunderstorm by exploring expressive qualities of crescendo/decrescendo and accelerando/ritardando

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Lesson Plan

Composing a Melody

Students compose and notate short melodies using their names.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Lesson Plan

Creative Dance Handshake Dance

This template is meant to be a guide for Nebraska Physical Education Teachers when creating digital online lessons. Headings and/or topics not included in the lesson plan should be marked N/A.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: Sheri Cohen Vollmer

Feeling the Tempo: Presto and Largo

How can we identify the tempo of music through movement? Students demonstrate the expressive quality of tempo through movement.

Material Type: Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: Carnegie Hall

Improvising with Our Voices

Students use their singing voices to take turns improvising and creating melodic phrases on a given theme.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Lesson Plan

Inside My Heart

Inside My Heart A Copyrighted Activity Created by and Re-posted with Permission from Kristina Marcelli Sargent http://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com Objectives: The participants will: 1. Identify those people, animals, memories, etc. that they hold dear in their hearts 2. Use color and symbolism to show importance of those listed above in their lives 3. Reflect on their “heart” and acknowledge their feelings Audience: This activity was designed for children but could be helpful for any age of participant in recognizing those people (and other things) that have held importance in their lives.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: NDE Digital Learning

Listening for Contrasts in Genre

Students create arrangements of a melody and listen to recordings contrasting in style and genre.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Lesson Plan

Primary Physical Education Creative Dance Unit

This unit is presented as a progression of tasks that allow students to explore movement through a variety of creative tasks. Students will move in personal and general space, while exploring elements of shape, size, speed, force, flow, and time. To promote student confidence and willingness in dance, teachers should isolate the dance elements before asking students to apply these elements using imagery or partner/group tasks.The National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes in this unit are referenced from the "National Standards & Grade Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education."SHAPE America Outcomes:KindergartenPerforms locomotor skills in response to teacher-led creative dance. (S1.E5.K)Maintains momentary stillness on different bases of support. (S1.E7.Ka)Forms wide, narrow, curled and twisted body shapes. (S1.E7.Kb)Contrasts the actions of curling and stretching. (S1.E10.K)Travels in general space with different speeds. (S2.E3.K)Recognizes that when you move fast, your heart beats faster and you breathe faster.3 (S3.E3.K)Follows directions in group settings (e.g., safe behaviors, following rules, taking turns). (S4.E1.K)Identifies physical activities that are enjoyable. (S5.E3.Ka)Grade OneCombines locomotor and nonlocomotor skills in a teacher- designed dance. (S1.E5.1)Maintains stillness on different bases of support with different body shapes. (S1.E7.1)Demonstrates twisting, curling, bending and stretching actions. (S1.E10.1)Differentiates between fast and slow speeds. (S2.E3.1a)Differentiates between strong and light force. (S2.E3.1b)Identifies the heart as a muscle that grows stronger with exercise, play and physical activity. (S3.E3.1)Accepts personal responsibility by using equipment and space appropriately. (S4.E1.1)Describes positive feelings that result from participating in physical activities. (S5.E3.1a)Grade TwoPerforms a teacher- and/or student- designed rhythmic activity with correct response to simple rhythms. (S1.E5.2)Balances on different bases of support, combining levels and shapes. (S1.E7.2a)Differentiates among twisting, curling, bending and stretching actions. (S1.E10.2)Combines balances and transfers into athree-part sequence (i.e., dance, gymnastics). (S1.E11.2)Varies time and force with gradual increases and decreases. (S2.E3.2)Identifies physical activities that contribute to fitness. (S3.E3.2b)Practices skills with minimal teacher prompting. (S4.E1.2)Identifies physical activities that provide self-expression (e.g. dance, gymnastics routines, practice tasks in games environments). (S5.E3.2)Photo Attribution: KCBalletMedia (Photography: Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios)References:Graham, G., Holt/Hale, S. A., & Parker, M. (2013). Children moving: A reflective approach to teaching physical education. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.Joyce, M. (1994). First steps in teaching creative dance to children. California: Mayfield Publishing.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Dorann Avey

Telling a Story with Music

Students use pitch to explore the characters in a story.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Lesson Plan