Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jazz at Lincoln Center is an organization with a mission to entertain, enrich, and expand a global community for jazz through performance, education, and advocacy.
Discover a one-of-a-kind, youth-tested and approved curriculum filled with interdisciplinary learning experiences that meld music and arts with literacy, STEM, and social studies. The collection series begins with "I'm Beginning to See the Light," which ignites youth creativity and voice as youth learn about the roots and history of jazz. The second collection, "Fascinating Rhythm," equips youth to explore sounds and patterns, and express the rhythms of their own lives. The grand finale of the series, “The Big Easy,” brings youth into the creative process, inviting them to explore the emotions of storytelling and learn about how places and experiences help inspire their own unique art forms. For the most impactful learning, we recommend following the scaffolded collections in order.
Categories
Duration
Grades
Learning Standards
Quick Search
Activities
Generational Angst
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Generational Angst
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
2 Hours
Discover Activity
A Musical Comic Book
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
A Musical Comic Book
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Rhythm and Language
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Rhythm and Language
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Strut Like an Animal
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Strut Like an Animal
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
2 Hours
Discover Activity
Weather Patterns
Arts in Action, Digital Voices
Weather Patterns
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
3 Hours
Discover Activity
The Big Easy: Day 11 Lesson
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
The Big Easy: Day 11 Lesson
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
The Bees Knees
Arts in Action, Leadership and Teamwork
The Bees Knees
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Space and Time
STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action
Space and Time
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
The Swings
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
The Swings
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Catch that Firefly
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Catch that Firefly
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Generational Angst
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Generational Angst
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
2 Hours
Discover Activity
A Musical Comic Book
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
A Musical Comic Book
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Rhythm and Language
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Rhythm and Language
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Strut Like an Animal
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Strut Like an Animal
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
2 Hours
Discover Activity
Weather Patterns
Arts in Action, Digital Voices
Weather Patterns
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
3 Hours
Discover Activity
The Big Easy: Day 11 Lesson
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
The Big Easy: Day 11 Lesson
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
The Bees Knees
Arts in Action, Leadership and Teamwork
The Bees Knees
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Space and Time
STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action
Space and Time
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
The Swings
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
The Swings
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Catch that Firefly
Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives
Catch that Firefly
Jazz at Lincoln Center
3 - 8
1 Hour
Discover Activity
Featured in These Collections
Leadership and Team Building
Leadership and Teamwork
23 Activities
Leadership and Team Building
K - 12
14 Hours 55 Minutes
Great things happen when leadership and teamwork come together! This collection of engaging K-12 activities help youth awaken their inner leader while strengthening the skills that make collaboration meaningful. Through playful challenges, cooperative tasks, and reflective moments, learners build communication, problem-solving, and shared responsibility. Whether someone is stepping into leadership for the first time or refining their strengths, each experience encourages confidence, connection, and positive group dynamics.
Discover Collection
23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December
Belonging and Community, Whole Body, Whole Self
25 Activities
23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December
K - 12
20 Hours 35 Minutes
Discover Collection
The Big Easy
Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action
15 Activities
The Big Easy
3 - 8
20 Hours
Discover Collection
American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)
Leadership and Teamwork, Stories and Perspectives, We The People
13 Activities
American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)
3 - 5
9 Hours 10 Minutes
This Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaboration, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens reading comprehension, evidence-based thinking, creativity, and teamwork, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through discussion, design, and gameplay. Designed for flexible facilitation and active learning, this playlist shows that innovation happens in many ways—and that elevating diverse voices deepens our understanding of history.
For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.
Week 1: Storytelling and Voice
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
Word Detectives
What is that Tone
Rhythm and Language
Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars
Arm and Belt Accessories
Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)
Week 3: Creativity and Expression
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
The Animal Spin
Create and Perform a Scene from a Book
Clay Pinch Pot
Week 4: Leadership and Change
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
More Tools Are Better Than One
Build Your Own Obstacle Course
Discover Collection
Mizzen Summer Sizzle
Digital Voices, Arts in Action
16 Activities
Mizzen Summer Sizzle
K - 12
2 Hours
Discover Collection
I'm Beginning to See the Light
STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action
14 Activities
I'm Beginning to See the Light
3 - 8
14 Hours
Discover Collection
Fascinating Rhythm
Digital Voices, Arts in Action
15 Activities
Fascinating Rhythm
3 - 8
10 Hours
Discover Collection
Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder
Whole Body, Whole Self, Belonging and Community
12 Activities
Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder
K - 12
Like learning algebra or how to ride a bike, social and emotional learning (SEL) calls for patience, compassion, and everyday practice. That’s what brain science and experience say, and it’s at the core of this playlist. Through activities that teach mindfulness meditation, how to identify your strengths and talents, and cultivating compassion through service, you’ll find practical experiences, resources, and tips for empowering youth while helping them navigate stress and build healthy relationships.
“I often wonder how much different my life would look if I was offered support earlier. Before I was struggling, before I withdrew, before I exhibited all sorts of behavioral health issues. The power of prevention is something we can’t waste. We need to use our own hindsight into what would have helped us when we were young to set this next generation up for the success we never had.” — Johnny Crowder
Johnny Crowder is a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to youth and adults in nearly 100 countries around the world.
Discover Collection
Leadership and Team Building
Leadership and Teamwork
23 Activities
Leadership and Team Building
K - 12
14 Hours 55 Minutes
Great things happen when leadership and teamwork come together! This collection of engaging K-12 activities help youth awaken their inner leader while strengthening the skills that make collaboration meaningful. Through playful challenges, cooperative tasks, and reflective moments, learners build communication, problem-solving, and shared responsibility. Whether someone is stepping into leadership for the first time or refining their strengths, each experience encourages confidence, connection, and positive group dynamics.
Discover Collection
23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December
Belonging and Community, Whole Body, Whole Self
25 Activities
23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December
K - 12
20 Hours 35 Minutes
Discover Collection
The Big Easy
Stories and Perspectives, Arts in Action
15 Activities
The Big Easy
3 - 8
20 Hours
Discover Collection
American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)
Leadership and Teamwork, Stories and Perspectives, We The People
13 Activities
American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)
3 - 5
9 Hours 10 Minutes
This Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaboration, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens reading comprehension, evidence-based thinking, creativity, and teamwork, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through discussion, design, and gameplay. Designed for flexible facilitation and active learning, this playlist shows that innovation happens in many ways—and that elevating diverse voices deepens our understanding of history.
For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.
Week 1: Storytelling and Voice
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
Word Detectives
What is that Tone
Rhythm and Language
Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars
Arm and Belt Accessories
Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)
Week 3: Creativity and Expression
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
The Animal Spin
Create and Perform a Scene from a Book
Clay Pinch Pot
Week 4: Leadership and Change
Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)
More Tools Are Better Than One
Build Your Own Obstacle Course
Discover Collection
Mizzen Summer Sizzle
Digital Voices, Arts in Action
16 Activities
Mizzen Summer Sizzle
K - 12
2 Hours
Discover Collection
I'm Beginning to See the Light
STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action
14 Activities
I'm Beginning to See the Light
3 - 8
14 Hours
Discover Collection
Fascinating Rhythm
Digital Voices, Arts in Action
15 Activities
Fascinating Rhythm
3 - 8
10 Hours
Discover Collection
Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder
Whole Body, Whole Self, Belonging and Community
12 Activities
Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder
K - 12
Like learning algebra or how to ride a bike, social and emotional learning (SEL) calls for patience, compassion, and everyday practice. That’s what brain science and experience say, and it’s at the core of this playlist. Through activities that teach mindfulness meditation, how to identify your strengths and talents, and cultivating compassion through service, you’ll find practical experiences, resources, and tips for empowering youth while helping them navigate stress and build healthy relationships.
“I often wonder how much different my life would look if I was offered support earlier. Before I was struggling, before I withdrew, before I exhibited all sorts of behavioral health issues. The power of prevention is something we can’t waste. We need to use our own hindsight into what would have helped us when we were young to set this next generation up for the success we never had.” — Johnny Crowder
Johnny Crowder is a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to youth and adults in nearly 100 countries around the world.
Discover Collection
Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.
Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.