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The King of Ragtime

Module by: Catherine Schmidt-Jones

Summary: Suggestions for introducing elementary-school-aged children to Scott Joplin, the "king of ragtime".

Using this Module

This module includes a number of suggestions for a lesson (appropriate for approximately 3rd through 7th grade) about Scott Joplin. This lesson can be included in:

  • Music class, particularly if jazz is being studied.
  • Background materials for a young pianist learning to play some rags or ragtime-style music.
  • Social studies unit on famous African-Americans.
  • Social studies unit on early 20th century U.S.
  • Social Studies unit on the post-Civil war struggle for civil rights for African-Americans.

Lesson Suggestions

Handout

For younger students, make copies of the handout "Scott Joplin: King of Ragtime", available here as a PDF file.

Lecture and Listening Session

This activity will require some preparation on your part. You may read through the accompanying modules Ragtime, Scott Joplin, and Listening to Ragtime and decide which information you would like to include in your presentation. You will also need to find some recordings of Joplin's rags (try the local library, or the internet sites suggested in the other modules), and the equipment to play the recordings for the class, either before, during, or after your lecture. For younger students, you will probably want to include the handout above with your presentation. For older students, you may want to make a handout by copying the relevant information from the other modules (following the Creative Commons License rules, of course.)

Map Activity

For younger students, you can include a map activity. You may use the PDF files available here for the handout and the answer key.

In your presentation to the class, make sure you include the information about where Joplin was born and the various places he lived. Have the students identify these places on a U.S. map.

Illustrations by Ellen Rockett.

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