This activity can be used as a follow-up to or in conjunction with the “Influences on Jazz” activity and is meant to strengthen students’ knowledge of the styles of music that influenced jazz and highlight how they came together to create jazz.

Materials: Influences on Jazz Cards (click to download) – to prep, print out and cut along the dotted lines; A bucket, pot, or cauldron, labeled with the word “JAZZ.”

1.  Start by reviewing the concept that jazz was created through influences from many other styles of music. Discuss other processes where different ingredients or influences come together to create something new and unique. Examples could include ingredients coming together in a recipe, colors combining to make a brand new color, or even your students coming together to make your unique classroom.
2. Break the class up into groups. You can either split them into small groups and hand each group a set of cards or have 12 pairs/small groups that each have one card.
3. Have the students work together to match each genre card with the card that has the characteristics of that genre. Attach matching cards together with a paperclip or rubber band.
4. When each pair are put together, have the students put them into the “cauldron” labeled “JAZZ,” symbolizing the combining of different genres to create jazz.