Black Music History: PreK–12 Lessons and Activities
Black Music Appreciation Month is observed each June, but Black music is part of American history, culture and artistic expression throughout the year. Black musicians and musical traditions have shaped spirituals, gospel, jazz, blues, rock ’n’ roll, R&B, soul, rap and hip-hop—and influenced music around the world.
This curated collection offers more than 50 free, classroom-ready lesson plans, activities, videos, read-alouds and discussion guides for PreK through grade 12. Resources from trusted contributors such as TeachRock, Storyline Online and UNLADYLIKE2020 connect music with Black history, identity, creativity and social change.
Black musicians did not just create genres. They changed the course of American life. Spirituals carried coded resistance during slavery. Jazz lit up the Harlem Renaissance. Soul and gospel fueled the Civil Rights Movement. Hip-hop gave voice to communities that mainstream media ignored. Each genre has a story, and each story is worth telling in your classroom.
Organized by genre and era, the collection includes:
- Read-alouds and hands-on activities for early learners
- Lessons on spirituals, folk music and gospel
- Resources exploring jazz, blues, R&B and soul
- Materials on rock ’n’ roll, rap and hip-hop
- Stories of groundbreaking Black musicians
- Opportunities to examine lyrics, sound, sampling and historical context
Educators can select materials appropriate for their students, subjects and learning goals. Resources can complement Black Music Appreciation Month in June, Black History Month in February, civil rights and U.S. history units, music education, English language arts and media literacy.
