No Prep Sub Plans: States That Changed History: Tennessee

No Prep Sub Plans: States That Changed History: Tennessee Research + Group Project: Music & Cultural Influence Report Grades 5–8

Take students on a journey through the sounds that shaped America with this engaging music history and cultural influence research project focused on Tennessee’s incredible impact on blues, country, soul, rock and roll, and popular music around the world.

Students explore how Memphis and Nashville became two of the most important music cities in history while investigating artists, producers, record labels, and cultural movements that changed global music forever.

Perfect for U.S. History, Music Appreciation, Humanities, inquiry learning, project-based learning, and sub plans, this ready-to-use lesson blends research, cultural analysis, geography, creativity, and historical thinking into one exciting activity.

Students create a Music & Cultural Influence Report that highlights Tennessee’s musical roots, major artists, and the often-overlooked contributions of Black musicians to American music.

What’s Included
- Teacher Directions Page (Flexible for 1–2 class periods)
- Student Planning & Research Page (Color + B&W)
- Group Project Instructions
- Music Map & Timeline Planning Sections
- “Credit Where It’s Due” Research Extension
- Artists Across Genres Activity
- Reflection Questions
- Online Resources Page
- Print-Friendly Black & White Versions

Students Will Explore
- Memphis blues and Beale Street
- W.C. Handy and the origins of blues
- Sun Records and the birth of rock and roll
- Stax Records and soul music
- Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Otis Redding, and more
- Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry
- Country music traditions and influences
- Black contributions to country, blues, soul, and rock music
- Tennessee’s influence on global music and culture

Skills Covered
- Historical research
- Cultural analysis
- Timeline creation
- Geography & mapping skills
- Critical thinking
- Informational writing
- Collaboration & communication
- Reflection writing
- Music history appreciation

Perfect For
- U.S. History
- Music Appreciation
- Humanities
- Black History Month
- Middle School Social Studies
- Inquiry-Based Learning
- Project-Based Learning (PBL)
- Emergency Sub Plans
- Homeschool Learning

Why Teachers Love This Resource
- Ready-to-print and easy to implement
- Engaging cross-curricular connection between music and history
- Encourages meaningful discussion about culture and influence
- Helps students recognize overlooked contributions in music history
- Structured for substitute teachers and independent work
- Includes scaffolded planning pages for student success
- Vibrant Americana-inspired design students enjoy

Series Information
This lesson is part of the States That Changed History series — inquiry-based projects exploring how individual states shaped major movements, industries, leaders, and ideas in American and world history.