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We Got Jazz! – A Jazz Black History Unit Study

January 21, 2021 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

Introduce kids to the pioneers of jazz and bebop with this printable jazz black history unit study for kids!
This jazz history unit is a perfect black history unit study for music class!

As the kids and I have been studying black history, we’ve found so many incredible stories of great jazz musicians.

I knew of all of these music pioneers, but learning about their lives and experiences has been so enlightening and it’s been a wonderful lesson for our children.

So I thought it would be nice to put what we’ve learned together into a printableĀ black history unit study that’s all about jazz, bebop, and scat!

We Got Jazz Digital and Print Black History Unit

We are very proud to announce the release of We Got Jazz! – Exploring the Pioneers of Scat, Bebop, and Swing! 

We Got Jazz! is a jazz unit study packed with jazz history, comprehension reviews, and listening activities for kids in grades 1-3!

Read on to see how to get your copy! And, if you need a digital version for distance learning – there’s one of those too.

If you’re looking for more black history lessons for kids, don’t miss our African Kingdoms unit study for elementary students!

We Got Jazz Elementary Digital and Print Unit for Kids

We Got Jazz! Black History Unit Study

We have always enjoyed the sounds of jazz.

While we knew about all of these famous musicians, we didn’t know much about how they got started making music or the challenges they faced during their careers.

Using We Got Jazz with Students

As we started exploring these figures with the kids, we found out so many interesting things.

Which is why I hope that your students find this black history unit enjoyable too!

We Got Jazz Black History Unit for Kids

We Got Jazz! features five biography units of jazz greats:

  • Dizzy Gillespie
  • Nat King Cole
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Miles Davis
  • and Duke Ellington
We Got Jazz Print Artist Biography

The section for each artist includes a comprehensive, age-appropriate biography of their life and career.

Jazz Artist Biography Review

This is followed by a question and answer review activity to see what students have learned from the biography.

Black History Jazz Unit Comprehension Activities

Then there’s a crossword puzzle, a timeline sequencing activity, and a listening activity (with a link to where to find each artist’s music) to help students learn even more about each artist.

We Got Jazz Artist Biographies

Depending on what your lesson plan includes, you could take one artist a week.

You might try covering the biography with the class. Then students can complete the activities on their own.

Black History Jazz Artist Biographies for Kids

Or you could spend a week discussing them all!

Read the biography with the class and then assign them to complete the review activities for homework or independent work.

We Got Jazz Unit Answer Key

Plus, a full answer key is included for easy grading!

See the full product flip through below!

Digital We Got Jazz Black History Unit

Are you distance learning this year? Or just looking to save on printer ink?

We Got Jazz! is also available in a digital version!

Using We Got Jazz Digitally

The digital version, which is compatible with Google Slides, contains all of the information and just as many activities as the print version.

Digital Jazz Black History Unit for Elementary

After reading about each artist, students can type their answers to the review questions – directly on the slides.

Digital Black History Duke Ellington Unit

They can drag and drop the events in each artist’s life into the correct sequence.

Digital Duke Ellington History Activity

Instead of a crossword puzzle, there is a word unscramble activity for each person.

And you can use the digital answer key (which is delivered in a separate file) to grade student submissions in no time!

See the video preview of the digital version of We Got Jazz below!

Scroll down to get the print or digital version of We Got Jazz for your students!

Check out more black history learning activities below!

20 Fascinating Books about Black Inventors and Scientists for Kids to Read - Perfect for Black History Month!
Digital and Print Ruby Bridges History Lesson
These Black history matching puzzles are a fun way to teach elementary students about notable Black Americans!

Looking for the digital version of We Got Jazz? Pick it up in my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Digital Jazz Black History Unit for Elementary

>>> Digital We Got Jazz Unit for Elementary <<<

Elementary Jazz Black History Unit for Kids

To get the print version of We Got Jazz!, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

Filed Under: Black History, History, Unit Studies Tagged With: african american history, african american history for kids, black history, black history for kids, ebooks, history, jazz, jazz for kids, jazz history for kids, music, music history, music history for kids, we got jazz, we got jazz ebook

Children’s Books about Composers

November 28, 2017 by Selena Robinson 16 Comments

10 Children's Books about Composers - Look! We're Learning!

We’re getting into our study of classical music in our homeschool lessons, so we’re sharing children’s books about composers! These are perfect for circle time stories or unit study resources, especially if you want your kids to learn more about the music and the lives of these musicians.

While there are classical composers in this list, there are also kids’ books about modern composers, including the great Duke Ellington! If you enjoy these stories, be sure to check out the Duke Ellington unit in our ebook “We Got Jazz”!

These gorgeous children's books about composers are a perfect addition to a music history lesson!

Children’s Books about Composers

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One of the most interesting things about many classical composers is that they often began their musical careers while they were still children. Mozart began composing at the age of five. Five! That’s some serious inspiration for kids who are interested in music. šŸ™‚

Some of the activity books include coloring books and unit studies about composers. In fact, Stories of the Great Composers is one of the resources we’re using in our homeschool curriculum this year!

Picture Books about Composers

  1. The Extraordinary Music of Mr. Ives: The True Story of a Famous American Composer – Joanne Stanbridge
  2. George Frederic Handel – Mildred Clary
  3. Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue – Anna Harwell Celenza
  4. Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince And His Orchestra – Andrea Davis Pinkney
  5. Secret Lives of Great Composers: What Your Teachers Never Told You about the World’s Musical Masters – Elizabeth Lunday
  6. Sebastian: A Book About Bach – Jeanette Winter
  7. The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George – Hugh Brewster
  8. Becoming Bach – Tom Leonard
  9. The Story of the Orchestra: Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, Music, and the Composers Who Wrote the Music! – Robert Levine
  10. Why Beethoven Threw the Stew (And Lots More Stories About the Lives of Great Composers) – Steven Isserlis


Books about Composers for Kids to Read

Nonfiction and Activity Books about Composers

  1. Stories of the Great ComposersĀ – June Montgomery & Maurice Hinson
  2. Getting to Know the World’s Great Composers: Ludwig Von Beethoven – Mike Venezia
  3. Great Composers Coloring Book – John Green & Paul Negri
  4. Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? – Yona Zeldis McDonough & CarrieĀ Robbins
  5. Duke Ellington: His Life in Jazz – Stephanie Stein Crease
  6. World of Composers: Verdi – Greta Cencetti
  7. Peter Tchaikovsky: Getting to Know the World’s Great Composers – Mike Venezia
  8. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – Anna Harwell Celenza
  9. 18th Century Superstar: Mozart (Time for Kids Nonfiction Series) – Georgia Beth
  10. Johannes Brahms: Getting to Know the World’s Great Composers – Mike Venezia

Learn about music history as a family with these gorgeous children's books about composers!

Do you have any favorite resources for introducing classical composers to kids? Do you have any suggestions for great children’s books about composers? Let us know in the comments!

If you enjoy these stories, check out our other ideas for teaching music and art to homeschoolers!

Mozart Composer Study for Kids

Art Study Coloring Books for Middle Schoolers

And don’t miss your chance to learn more about introducing kids to jazz with our We Got Jazz unit study ebook! It’s packed with over 120 pages of music history and activities about jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and more!

We Got Jazz eBook - Look! We're Learning!

For more tips to make your kids into readers, check out my Reading for Kids board on Pinterest!

Want to get more ideas for making homeschooling fun? Sign up for our email newsletter to get plenty of homeschool tips and resources in your inbox!

This post is part of The Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists by iHomeschool Network! Click over to read tons of awesome booklists shared by my fellow homeschooling bloggers!

ReadingLists

Filed Under: Book Lists, Music Education, Reading Tagged With: booklists, books about composers, books for kids, children's books, children's books about composers, classical music, classical music books, composer books, composer books for kids, music, music books, music history, music history books, music history for kids

Hi! I'm Selena, a teacher and a veteran homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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