Home›Lesson Plans›The Arts›Music · Grade 6

Music Genres

Sixth graders explore musical genres — classical, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and folk — learning what makes each style unique and how music reflects the cultures and times it comes from.

Grade 6Music & Culture45 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name music genres.
  • ✓Describe each style.
  • ✓Connect music to culture.
  • ✓Recognize genres.
Essential Question

From a symphony to a rap song, music comes in many styles called genres — each with its own sound and story. What are some major genres, and what makes each one special?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Genre

Project this and match each genre to what makes it unique — tap a genre, then tap its description.

🎷 Match each genre to its descriptionTry it
Genre
What Makes It Unique
Now tap its description!
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Listen · Explore · Create · Perform · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Listen — Many Styles

5 min

Music comes in many styles called genres — what are they?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Play clips of two genres.
  • Ask how they differ.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Compare.
  • Predict.
2

Explore — Explore Genres

11 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Genre.
  • Note each style.
  • Note its origins.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Note styles.
  • Note origins.
3

Create — Create

13 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Describe a favorite genre.
  • List its features.
  • Connect it to a culture.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Describe it.
  • List them.
  • Connect it.
4

Perform — Perform

11 min

Students perform.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Share a genre example.
  • Explain its features.
  • Give kind feedback.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share it.
  • Explain it.
  • Be kind.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a genre.
  • Describe it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Describe it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Music).

NCAS
MU:Cn11.0.6

Connect music to history and culture.

NCAS
MU:Re7.1.6

Identify the genre and style of music.

NCAS
MU:Re9.1.6

Evaluate music from different genres.

NCAS
MU:Cn10.0.6

Relate music to personal experience.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Genre + description cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ music has ___.”
  • Play short clips.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with two genres.
  • Match one at a time.
  • Use clips.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add more genres.
  • Trace a genre’s history.
  • Compare two genres.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🎵Genre audio clips
  • 💻Match the Genre
  • 📄Genre cards
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

genrea style or category of musicclassicalorchestral music from past centuriesjazzimprovised, swinging American musicrockguitar-driven music with a strong beathip-hopmusic with rapping over beatsfolktraditional storytelling musicimprovisationmaking up music in the momentculturethe traditions of a group of people
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name two music genres.
Sample: classical, jazz, rock, hip-hop, or folk.
QUESTION 2
What is a key feature of jazz?
Improvisation and swing.
QUESTION 3
What genre features rhythmic spoken lyrics (rapping)?
Hip-hop.

Reflect: explore a genre.

Have students listen to a genre they don’t usually hear and describe one thing that makes it unique. A printable genres sheet is in the Arts library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Music GenresFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Music GenresQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Music GenresPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: classical, culture, folk, genre, hip-hop, improvisation, jazz, rock
  1. traditional storytelling music
  2. orchestral music from past centuries
  3. the traditions of a group of people
  4. guitar-driven music with a strong beat
  5. music with rapping over beats
  6. a style or category of music
  7. improvised, swinging American music
  8. making up music in the moment

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name two music genres.
  2. What is a key feature of jazz?
  3. What genre features rhythmic spoken lyrics (rapping)?
Answer key — Part A: 1) folk · 2) classical · 3) culture · 4) rock · 5) hip-hop · 6) genre · 7) jazz · 8) improvisation
Part B: 1) Sample: classical, jazz, rock, hip-hop, or folk. 2) Improvisation and swing. 3) Hip-hop.