Here are interactive Dolly Parton music lesson plans for K-5 using body percussion, instruments, an art activity, and even a fun quiz. No prep and ready to teach!
From the joyful groove of “9 to 5” to the self-affirming message of “A Coat of Many Colors,” these activities give students multiple ways to experience the life and music of Dolly Parton. Pick and choose from the activities for a short class starter, a full lesson, or a multi-lesson unit.
By focusing on rhythm, musical form, movement, listening, and student choices, these lessons can support National Core Arts Standards in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting.
By RCA Records – eBayfrontback, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54429601
Originally published August 26, 2026
Latest Update August 26, 2026
How to Use This Interactive Page
Pick and choose from the activities for a quick class starter, full-period lesson, or multi-lesson unit. For a written version of the activities on this page, see the Dolly Parton Music Lesson Plans Guide at the bottom of the page.
Activity Length Guide
🟢 Quick (3–5 min)
🔵 Focused (5–10 min)
🟣 Extended (10+ min)
Table of Contents
🟣 Quick Facts – Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is loved worldwide not only for her music but her giving, intelligence, and humor. She went from an early life of poverty to being one of the most successful musicians of all time. Dolly may be best known for her positive attitude about life. She said,
“If you see someone without a smile today, give ’em yours.”
Dolly Parton
Click to open each blue heading.
Dolly’s Early Life
❤️ Dolly (1946-2026) was born in a one-room cabin in Tennessee. She was one of 12 children.
❤️ Her family was very poor but had a lot of love and music in their family life.
❤️ Dolly wrote her first song when she was six years old and started performing on TV by age 10.
By Eagledj – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82080747
Dolly’s Music
❤️ Dolly mainly sang country and bluegrass music but eventually crossed over into other genres, including pop, with songs like “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
❤️ She wrote more than 3,000 songs.
❤️ She wrote songs about growing up poor and other experiences in her life.
By Kristopher Harris – https://www.flickr.com/photos/thekrisharris/27439232701/in/album-72157666811492574/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88752054
Musical Instruments
❤️ Besides singing, Dolly could play many instruments, including: dulcimer, autoharp, banjo, guitar, electric guitar, fiddle, piano, harmonica, and saxophone
❤️ Dolly loved long fingernails and figured out how to play instruments with those nails.
Dollywood & Giving Back
❤️ Dolly opened Dollywood, a theme park near where she grew up in Tennessee.
❤️ The park includes rides, shows, music, and celebrations of the culture of the Smoky Mountains.
Giving Back
❤️ Dolly started life very poor but became one of the wealthiest performers in the world.
❤️ She was known for sharing what she earned.
❤️ She donated to healthcare, medical research, disaster relief related to wildfires, animal welfare, and conservation.
❤️ Imagination Library-This book program gives a new book every month to any child until they get to kindergarten.
❤️ By 2025, she had donated over 304 million books.
“9 to 5” Music Activities
Most kids will recognize this song. The images and video of Dolly make these play alongs special too.
🔵 “9 to 5” Easy Rhythm Play Along (Grades 2-5)
🔵 “9 to 5” Intermediate Rhythm Play Along (Grades 3-5)
I’d have students clap the rhythms with no audio to get used to following the music and the different rhythms.
Teaching ideas:
- Clap the rhythms
- Play the rhythms on sticks or other classroom percussion
- Divide the notes among instruments-quarters (sticks), barred eighths (shakers), whole notes (tambourine tremolo), etc.
“Coat of Many Colors” Music Activities
🟢 “Coat of Many Colors” Lyric Video
This is a lovely introduction to Dolly’s song, book, and story.
🟣 “Coat of Many Colors” Art Project
As you listen to the song again, color in your “coat of many colors.”
The PDF is an 8.5 x 11 with 2 options: one and two to a page.
Lesson 1: Use the FACE note positions with body percussion.
🟢 Interactive Dolly Parton Music Quiz (Grades K-6)
Let’s see what we’ve learned about Dolly Parton. Good luck!
Question 1: Where was Dolly born?
Question 2: What was Dolly’s coat of many colors made from?
Question 3: What is Dolly’s theme park called?
Question 4: What song genres did Dolly perform?
Question 5: Dolly loved giving to people. What’s her book for every child program called?
Reload the page to take the quiz again.
Dolly Parton Music Lesson Plans PDF
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