Activities

Bring Country Music to Life in Class or at Home

Discover how STEAM skills are used to create the unique sounds and unforgettable experiences of Country Music with these hands-on activities. Ignite collaboration in any environment with flexible resources that combine creative expression with STEAM problem solving.

Anatomy of a Hit Song Activities

Take students behind the scenes of Country Music production to learn what goes into the making of a hit song. Use these standards-aligned classroom activities, discussions, and career connections to bring lessons to life in the classroom.

Classroom Activity

Remakes and Remixes

Grades 3–8
45–60 min. instruction minutes
Students will learn how the message and poetry of a great song transcends genres as they explore the art of remixing music. Lyrics, rhythm, melody, and more are examined as students take on the role of record producer to remix and share a song of their choosing.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 567KB
WATCH VIDEO TOPIC SERIES VIDEO
Classroom Activity

Making Waves

Grades 3–8
45–60 min. instruction minutes
The recording studio comes to the classroom as students learn about acoustic shielding and sound engineering. Student groups will experiment with different baffling materials and recording setups and share a test recording with the rest of the class.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 3MB
WATCH VIDEO TOPIC SERIES VIDEO
Classroom Activity

Rhythm and Ratios

Grades 3–8
45–60 min. instruction minutes
Students explore the close relationship between mathematics and music in the form of rhythm. Hubert Payne of Little Big Town teaches students about the rhythm section (often called the “backbone” of a band) and its historical roots.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 351KB
WATCH VIDEO TOPIC SERIES VIDEO

STEAM Country Activities

Find out how diverse Country Music careers harness essential STEAM skills with these standards-aligned activities. Bring the magic of Country Music into the classroom with activities aligned to the This Is STEAM Country Video Topic Series.

Classroom Activity

Sounds of STEAM Country

Grades 3–8
45–60 min. instruction minutes
Students will step into the shoes of a music producer, embarking upon the journey of exploring and gathering evidence to understand the unique sounds of Country Music. Students will discover how energy is transferred and will engage in a hands-on exploration to learn about sound energy.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 513KB
WATCH VIDEO TOPIC SERIES VIDEO
Classroom Activity

Light It Up!

Grades 3–8
45–60 min. instruction minutes
In this lesson students will take on the role of a lighting producer and design a lightning prototype while considering how lighting is used in live music experiences to captivate spectators. Students will discover the science of optics and how to use lighting to invoke emotions such as wonder, awe, and excitement.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 2.1MB
WATCH VIDEO TOPIC SERIES VIDEO
Classroom Activity

Country Music Entrepreneurs

Grades 3–8
45–60 min. instruction minutes
This hands-on lesson connects students to STEAM careers and opportunities in the Country Music Industry. Students will explore and apply mathematical principles as they implement marketing concepts throughout this real-world learning experience.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 4.9MB
WATCH VIDEO TOPIC SERIES VIDEO

Virtual Field Trip Activities

Bring to life the excitement, talent, and teamwork of Country Music with activities that take students behind-the-scenes of the CMA Awards. Students will creatively problem-solve with a series of activities aligned to the STEAM Careers Take the Spotlight Virtual Field Trip: Country Music's Biggest Night™.

Classroom Activity

Create an Awards Ceremony

Grades 6–12
45–60 min. instruction minutes
Recreate the excitement and glamour of the CMA Awards with an activity that lets students step into the roles of music industry professionals. Students will work together to plan and execute a unique awards event of their own to showcase their own passions.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 838KB
WATCH VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP
Classroom Activity

What Makes A Classic?

Grades 6–12
45–60 min. instruction minutes
What matters more, music or lyrics? Get to the heart of what makes Country Music so popular in American culture with this hands-on exploration. Students will consider what constitutes a classic while investigating the essential components of a song.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 502KB
WATCH VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP
Classroom Activity

The Math Behind the Music

Grades 6–12
45–60 min. instruction minutes
Dig into the data of the CMA Awards and discover what patterns and trends students can identify. Students will harness the power of mathematics and statistics to analyze real-world CMA Awards data, then create an effective presentation to share their findings.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 550KB
WATCH VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

Family Activities

Inspire collaborative learning experiences outside the classroom with activities that transform students’ home into a Country Music stage. Celebrate the power of STEAM with easy-to-use activities designed to bring the whole family together.

Family Activity

Good Vibrations

Grades: All Ages
Students and their families will build a number of apparatuses to visualize sound waves using everyday materials in their home. Students will observe the effect of different frequencies and volumes on their testing devices and reflect on the results. What will their favorite songs “look” like when put to the test?
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 303KB
Family Activity

Wind Chimes

Grades: All Ages
Families will learn about how sound is produced and identify the distinct sounds of Country Music in this interactive experience.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 373KB
Family Activity

Family Superstar

Grades: All Ages
Families will learn about how sound is produced and identify the distinct sounds of Country Music in this interactive experience.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 373KB
Family Activity

Backyard Lights

Grades: All Ages
Students and families will create a lightshow at home using Country Music. Families will use lighting to set the mood or tone for Country Music songs and consider the properties of light throughout this activity.
DOWNLOAD.PDF, 379KB

“Music is an opportunity to share cultures, to share backgrounds, to share stories.”

—Alec Takahashi, Stage and Lighting Director for Thomas Rhett