In this lesson, students will watch the Lon Chaney episode of American Masters, read chapters from three original books on which Chaney's films were based, and use a reading strategy called Reader's Theater to adapt each chapter into a script.
By Title
Lon Chaney: Three Faces of Lon Chaney: Lesson Overview
Lucille Ball: What’s So Funny?: Lesson Overview
In this lesson plan, students study images of women in movies and television, contrasting the ideal of physical beauty with the risks an actress takes to be funny.
Maurice Sendak: Imagination and Art: Lesson Overview
Students will learn how Sendak not only wrote and illustrated children's books and created works in the field of ballet, but also turned his book Where the Wild Things Are into an opera. They will also work in groups to produce an opera.
Merce Cunningham: A Lifetime of Dance: Lesson Overview
In this lesson plan, students get a chance to observe movement by creating a "movement journal", and then they experiment with what they have observed to create a unique "movement vocabulary."
Following Muddy’s Trail: Lesson Overview
In thie lesson, using the AMERICAN MASTERS film Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied and the Guided Reading strategy in their research, students will learn about the influential musician's childhood and trace his journey from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago.
Paul Robeson: The Renaissance Man: Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will explore the accomplishments of this decorated athlete, sought after actor, renowned singer, and political activist.
Quincy Jones: What Makes an American Master?: Lesson Overview
n this lesson plan, students will learn about Quincy Jones, the context in which he has worked during his lifetime.
Ralph Ellison: Lesson Overview
In this lesson plan, students will use similar tools to explore the theme of invisibility in the book, in their own lives, and in their communities.
Robert Rauschenberg: Reinventing Art: Lesson Overview
Using the American Masters online essay as a tool, this lesson will examine the cultural context of Robert Rauschenberg’s work.
The Sidney Poitier High School: Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will prepare a mock-dedication for "The Sidney Poitier School." using a selection of reading strategies - Choral Reading, Guided Reading and Reader's Theater - to research the information before putting together their presentations.






