My Music with Rhiannon Giddens Season 2 presents a series of musical performances and conversations with multicultural musicians features Chinese pipa master Wu Man, Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist, Black American violinist and improvisational conductor Mazz Swift, Indian tabla virtuoso Sandeep Das, Japanese percussionist Haruka Fujii, and Native American vocalist and lap steel player Pura Fé. The series brinsg US history alive and explore the development of the Transcontinental Railroad during western expansion in the United States. It also deepens understanding and connection and can build community around the cultures that were first connected by the building of America’s Transcontinental Railroad
We’re pleased to offer a range of educational resources to help you teach with My Music with Rhiannon Giddens!
American Railroad Instructional Guide for teachers and American Railroad Student Guide about the history of the American Railroad. These guides features 11 lessons focused on teaching about the American Railroad through primary sources, music, historical documents, and more.
Learning Guides for My Music with Rhiannon Giddens Season 2, for Episode 1 with Wu Man, Episode 2 with Maeve Gilchrist, Espisode 3 with Mazz Swift, and Episode 6 with Pura Fé.. These guides feature background information, useful terms, related resources, extended learning activities about the themes and musicians featured in each episode. Available in PDF and Google Slideshow formats. There are also Extension Activities and Handouts available as separate downloads that work with any of the lessons.
Learn more about teaching with My Music with Rhiannon Giddens Season 2 in our My Music with Rhiannon Giddens Teaching Resources FAQ.
My Music with Rhiannon Giddens is available on Amazon, PBS, and other streaming platforms.
American Railroad Instructional Guide: Curriculum with 11 Lesson Plans for Teachers + Student Guide
Lesson 1: Work Medley
Involves Primary Source Learning and More
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 2: I've Been Working on the Railroad
Involves Primary Sources and Builds on/Connects with Lesson 1
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 3: Pullman Porters
Involves Primary Source Learning, Media Literacy, and Visual Literacy Learning Opportunities
Subject: Media Literacy, U.S. History, Visual Literacy
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 4: John Henry
Learning History through Song Analysis
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 5: Native Americans, the Buffalo, and the Transcontinental Railroad
Focused on Map Study and U.S. History
Subject: Geography, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 6: Chinese Immigrants and the Search for Gold Mountain
Learning History through Poetry Analysis and Visual Learning
Subject: English Language Arts, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 7: CTraqueros
Learning History through Mexican Folk Songs
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 8: Boxcar Communities
Primary Source Learning and Other Historical Content Engagement
Subject: U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 9: Rock Springs Massacre
Comparative Perspectives in History Learning
Subject: U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 10: Paddy and the Pullmans
Irish-American History through Folk Song Analysis
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
Lesson 11: Culmination
Features a Student Culminating Project
Subject: U.S. History
Lesson Grades: 6, 7, 8
The American Railroad Instructional Guide for teachers features accurate historical information regarding the development of the Transcontinental Railroad during western expansion in the United States. These 11 classroom-ready lesson plans addressing the impact of the railroad’s progress on individuals and groups vital to the success of this national endeavor. The lessons are standard-based, with an emphasis on ELA and Social Science for middle school students.
Download Instructional Guide PDF
Preview Instructional Guide PDF
The American Railroad Student Guide features printable student handouts for all 11 lessons. Each lesson includes a Share Out, a Daily Learning Target, a detailed Reading Process, and Discussion Questions. They also include related primary sources, terms to know, worksheets and activities.
Download Student Guide PDF
Preview Student Guide PDF
Learn more about teaching with The American Railroad Instructional Guide and The American Railroad Student Guide in the American Transcontinental Railroad History for Middle School FAQ.
For My Music with Rhiannon Giddens Season 2, Episodes 1, 2, 3, 6. Available as PDFs and Google Slideshows.
Rhiannon Giddens and Wu Man (Episode 1)
Relevant for American Railroad and Chinese Immigrants and for Music Lessons or History through Music. Also teaching about Chinese music and about the pipa.
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Rhiannon Giddens and Maeve Gilchrist (Episode 2)
Relevant for American Railroad and Irish Immigrants and for Music Lessons or History through Music. Also for teaching Irish music and about the harp.
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Rhiannon Giddens and Mazz Swift (Episode 3)
Relevant for American Railroad and Black History. Connects as well as to Neurodivergence, Non-Binary (/LGBTQIA+) Representation, Music Lessons or History through Music.
Subject: Music, Social Emotional Learning, U.S. History
Rhiannon Giddens and Pure Fé (Episode 6)
Relevant for American Railroad and Indigenous/Native American History, Music Lessons or History through Music.
Subject: Geography, Music, U.S. History
Extension Activities for Episodes 1, 2, 3, and 6
Includes Music Listening and Song Analysis Activities as well as Useful Terms
Subject: Music, U.S. History
Music Listening Handout (Useful for Extension Activities)
Subject: Music
Song Analysis Handout (Useful for Extension Activities)
Subject: Music
These tips can help you create safe space for classroom engagement on the themes and subjects of this film.
This Glossary of Film Terms may be useful.
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