2023-2024 WITNESS Resources

Thank you for being a WITNESS Partner School!  Enjoy these free resources funded by institutions and individual donors. Scroll down to view a variety of resources created by curriculum writer Joanna Cortright and the VocalEssence Learning and Engagement team staff. We hope you and your students will use and learn from these throughout the school year.

Emma Jirele, Engagement and Communications Manager
Robert Graham, Learning and Engagement Manager | Conductor, VocalEssence Vintage Voices Program
G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Associate Artistic Director

2023-2024 Resources

  • Lesson: Meet Melanie DeMore
    Part 1: Meet Melanie
    In this lesson, students will either read a biographical article or view a scripted PowerPoint to learn about who Melanie is and more about her background.

    Part 2: Listening and Responding to Melanie's Voice
    In this lesson, students will listen to recordings of Melanie's deep, rich voice and respond via a worksheet activity.
  • PowerPoint that accompanies the Lesson Meet Melanie DeMore (to be used in Part 1 Lesson)
  • Student Resource for Background and Context:
    Introducing Students to the Gullah People of South Carolina and Georgia and Melanie's Connection to Stick Pounding
  • Lesson Plan: Leading wtih Love - The 2024 WITNESS Concert Theme

    This lesson introduces students to the 2024 program and concert theme, engaging them in a variety of activities including a word wall activity and acrostic poem worksheet to unpack the words "leading" and "love".
  • Lesson Plan: Learning the Song "Lead with Love" by Melanie DeMore

    This lesson introduces students to the song "Lead with Love" by Melanie DeMore, and includes opportunities to listen and respond to recordings, as well as learning to sing and create movement sequences to the song.

    Includes copy of sheet music from Justice Choir Songbook.
  • Lesson Plan: The Message in the Lyrics

    In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to use metaphors to further understand Melanie's lyrics and to come up with their own ideas for HOW they can lead with love in their own lives and communities. Extension activities allow for a wide variety of student creativity.
  • Lesson Plan: Leaders of Love - Connecting with your Commnunity

    In this lesson, students will participate in a research project to learn more about who the leaders of love are in their community, through identifying individuals and organizations whose products, services, programs and care for the community reflect the values of "leading with love".

  • VocalEssence WITNESS Classroom Resource Hub – 2023-2024

    2023-2024 WITNESS Resources Thank you for being a WITNESS Partner School!  Enjoy these free resources funded by institutions and individual donors. Scroll down to view…

    VocalEssence WITNESS Classroom Resource Hub – 2023-2024