The Birth of Rock & Roll Lesson Plan & Art Project

Let's go a journey through the mid-1900s with the musicians and music producers who influenced a new kind of music that teenagers loved. It was called rock & roll, and it changed American popular culture forever. In this lesson, we consider who made the first rock & roll song: was it Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jimmy Preston, Goree Carter, or Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats? We also include the role of radio DJs and producers like Sam Phillips at Sun Records.

Students will make a mini construction paper record of their own, then they'll design the sleeve front and back.

Lesson includes:

• Story about Sun Records and early rock & roll musicians

• Materials list

• Prep steps

• Art concepts

• Step-by-step instructions

• Record sleeve template

• Reflection questions

• Suggestions for alternative learners

• Resources

• Photos of student work

Materials needed for the art project:

• Template (included)

• Black construction paper

• Colored construction paper

• Circle paper punches (3” and 1”)

• Colored pencils or crayons

• Glue sticks

• Scissors

This lesson is ideal for 2nd - 5th grade; however, it also works great with kinder, first, and even middle schoolers.