ONSITE PROGRAMS
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame K-12 Education programs have been teaching students for over 20 years. Our incredible team of instructors use the history and stories of rock and roll to engage your students in a variety of subjects from music and language arts to history and science – all through the lens of rock and roll.
Each of our educational programs begins with an interactive multi-media lesson in our Foster Theater. Based on the specific program topic you choose, our education team creates an exciting and fun experience using music from yesterday and today to help your students make connections between the knowledge they already have, and the educational learning objectives listed for the class.
Following the Foster Theater program, we have created self-guided activities that tie directly into the topics covered. This will help you guide your students through the museum and as they learn from our world class exhibits, connecting the museum exploration with the content of the class, deepening their comprehension and understanding.
We also have pre-visit and post-visit materials, via an online resource’s platform Rock Hall EDU, that are designed for easy use in your classroom. While our onsite programs are excellent as standalone educational experiences, these additional materials build on the onsite program and exhibit experience so they can truly master the subject matter and material.
ROCK HALL EDU
2024-2025 ONSITE PROGRAMS
The Evolution of Hip Hop: From the Bronx to the Hall
Grades 5th-8th and 9th-12th
Now what you hear is not a test! This program is designed to explore the revolutionary birth of hip-hop. Students will discover where hip-hop began, how it served as a voice for social justice, and how it continues to push boundaries to this day. Through discussion of hip-hop’s sound, technology, and lyrical content, students will get a glimpse of why hip-hop has been one of rock & roll’s most successful styles for over fifty years. Grades 5-8 will think critically about hip-hop’s cultural origins and the unique sound it created using turntables, drum machines, and rapping. Grades 9-12 will examine the technology and sound innovation of the early years and compare how technological innovation have allowed artists to create new sounds.
After participating in this program, students should be able to:
- Express how the social and cultural climate of The Bronx in the 1970s contributed to the birth of hip-hop.
- Examine music technology, such as turntables and drum machines, that fostered innovation in the hip-hop sound.
- Discuss how lyrics became a part of hip-hop and would develop into a vessel for getting a message across to listeners.
Hello Cleveland!: Why Cleveland is the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Grades 5th-8th and 9th-12th
Cleveland Rocks! This program helps to answer the question, “why is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio?” Students will learn about how Cleveland became a mecca for the rise of rock & roll in the 1950s and see how it connected to the birth of teenage culture. The program also describes the development of the Hall of Fame and the decision to make Cleveland the museum’s home. Grades 5-8 will dive into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s history and discover how Cleveland played its part in the revolution of rock & roll music. Grades 9-12 will look closely at the social and cultural impact rock & roll had in overcoming racial boundaries.
After participating in this program, students should be able to:
- Summarize how rock & roll began and how Cleveland played a part in its genesis.
- Consider how local and international artists found success in Cleveland via radio play and live performances.
- Discuss how the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame began and its current impact on Cleveland.
The Roots of Rock and Roll: An Exploration American Culture
Grades K-4th and 5th-8th
Let there be Rock! This program takes a close look at some of the diverse roots music that would become the building blocks of Rock & Roll. Students will analyze Blues, Country, and rhythm & blues, and discuss how they play a part in America’s regional history and culture. Through listening, live performance, and lyrical analysis, students will discover influential early artists and how each of their styles established America’s musical roots. Grades K-4 will listen to musical examples and read U.S. maps highlighting the country’s regions. Grades 5-8 will compare each musical style and how regional culture affected their sound.
After participating in this program, students should be able to:
- Recognize musical styles and cultures that contributed to the birth of Rock & Roll.
- Identify some of the most important and influential performers of these early musical styles.
- Locate the regions of the United States where these early musical styles originate.
