SDG 5 Lesson Plans

This page is meant to be a very small sample of ideas and options to engage your students in discussion and exploration of gender equality in music. Please feel free to add your own lesson plans or projects that have been successful for you in your classroom!

"Billboard Top 100" Lesson Plan

Appropriate Age: 4th grade-12th grade

Materials Needed: Access to internet (or print out lists). Space for students to work in small groups. System for turning in their work and discussions (my school uses CANVAS but could just as easily be done on paper or poster board). 

Step #1-Print out or project on the way the top 100 songs from 2022 (there are several sites listing these songs but here is one example.) 

Step #2-Break students into groups of 3-5. Have each group label the gender of each artist ((M)ale, (F)emale or (N)on-binary. For duets or trios or features, label "F" or "O" if anyone in the group identifies as female or non-binary.)

Step #3-Students create the percentage breakdown of each gender and display results on their chart (or answer online--however you set it up for them to share results).

Step #4- Students discuss and answer the questions: Is there a discrepancy between genders? How do you think the gender results for top 100 songs varies as you go back to 1992? 1972? 1942? 

Step #5- Have students look at the Oscar winner for best score and compare the gender of Oscar winners from 1940-present? What year did the first female composer win? 

Step #6-Discuss the differences and similarities seen between pop music and film music. Does one genre seem to be more equitable to women? Why? How have things changed over the last 100 years? What do you anticipate the future will look like in terms of gender equity in pop and film music? 

Additional Lesson Plan Ideas

Lessons similar to the above could be carried out looking at every aspect of music from orchestra conductors to studio musicians. From Broadway performers to songwriters in the songwriting hall of fame.

Another idea, which could be really interesting, ask students to plan a system for orchestral auditions that try and reduce gender stereotypes and inequity as part of the audition process. Should gender be considered when hiring a musician? 

Lastly, ask students to make a quick list of their top ten favorite artists they listen to right now (or look at Spotify/Apple Music specs); what is their gender balance? Why?

Additional Resources

Final-Gender-Equality-Lesson-Plan-1

List of various websites with high school lesson plans for gender equality (not music specific)

Resources and links to lesson plans from various organizations

Gender Inequality in orchestras

Email me your own lesson plans and I will add to this list! (christopher_rust@beaverton.k12.or.us)