The Blues and The Great Migration

History of Rock and Roll

Teacher: Mr. Joseph Pierce
Date: 1/11/22
Class: 1

Prior Knowledge: The class has previously discussed how the Blues started and what Blues
generally sounds like in this time.

Class Objective: Helps students make connections between The Great Migration and the start
and rise of Blues music.

Assessment of the Class: Students will have a partner presentation that they will give at the
end of class.

Instructional Materials: teachrock.org, projector, computer, Google Slides, handouts, and

student laptops

Personal Improvement Objective: Being confident and providing a lesson that is effective in a
general education setting.

Lesson Plan

Introduction:
Students will be shown two paintings by Jacob Lawerence from his Great Migration Series.
Students will be asked to partner up and be led through a discussion on the paintings.

Activity 1:
Students will be shown a recording of Muddy Waters performing. Students will be informed that
Muddy Waters once wrote that his music had been referred to as “sharecropper” music.
Students will receive a handout on what sharecropping is. Students will read the handout and
have a discussion on what sharecropping is.

Activity 2:
Students will be shown music of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. Students will learn about how
Blues started making its way north and how these musicians grew to be successful. Students
will be asked questions to answer in partners.

Activity 3:
Students will be assigned new partners. They will be tasked with finding pictures of the South
during these times, specifically having its roots in Blues music (cities, juke joints, performers,
locations, etc.).
Conclusion:
Recap the slides and talk about where we are going next class.