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Lesson Plan Jazz Arts and Nat King Cole

By Jennifer Atkinson


 * Grade: Grade 2
 * Subject: Music
 * Skill: Biographies, Timelines
 * Collection: Integrating Arts Inspires Smarts



Nat King Cole is one of America's musical treasures and much of the music he composed and performed is perfect for younger students to enjoy. Integrating the life and music of Nat King Cole into the curriculum not only initiates a forum to discuss difficult subjects, such as racism and prejudice, it enables students to discover and explore jazz music, a true American art form created by talented and innovative black Americans. Teaching students about jazz music in general, and then listening to specific Nat King Cole songs, such as; L-O-V-E, Ke Mo Ki Mo (The Magic Song), Frim Fram Sauce and Too Marvelous for Words, creates an exciting introduction to Black History Month. Build on this initial enthusiasm by using A & E Biography //Nat King Cole: Loved in Return//, to jump start specific lessons in art, reading, writing, music and more. All combined, it creates an arts unit that will be "unforgettable"! View A & E Biography //Nat King Cole: Loved in Return// over several days. As students watch and learn about Nat King Cole, his life and his music, they can discuss and use the information presented in the biography to complete the following projects: Being able to view the footage and interviews used in A & E Biography //Nat King Cole: Loved in Return// helped students to make a solid connection to every one of the activities outlined above. Many of these lessons could also be taught using other great jazz musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
 * Create a timeline of Nat King Cole's life.
 * Write and illustrate a biography about Nat King Cole.
 * Learn letter writing skills, by writing a letter to Nat King Cole's' daughter, Natalie Cole, to tell her what they have learned about her father.
 * Compare and contrast the struggles and conflicts Nat King Cole went through in his career, to an African American artist today.
 * Create artistic inspirations to some of Nat King Cole's songs. This can be done by painting or drawing while you are listening to the same song several times in a row. Choosing an up tempo song such as "Orange Colored Sky" and then a slower song such as "Nature Boy" usually allows students to sketch two very different, but intimate pieces of art.
 * Students can also illustrate specific pictures that match the words of a particular song.

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