Whether it’s the soulful strum of an acoustic ballad or the electrifying riff of a rock anthem, the guitar has shaped the sound of music for generations—and it’s time your students get in tune with its legacy!

This engaging, hands-on lesson will take your grade 7–12 music students on a journey through the guitar’s rich history, the craftsmanship behind its design, and the basics of how to play it. But this isn’t your typical music theory class—students will get to see, strum, and show what they know in a Goosechase scavenger hunt that puts their learning into action.

By the end, they’ll not only understand what makes a guitar tick—they’ll be ready to rock. (Sort of.)

Grade: 7 - 12

Subject: Music

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
  • Describe the history and cultural significance of the guitar
  • Identify the parts of a guitar and understand how it is constructed
  • Demonstrate basic guitar-playing techniques
  • Apply knowledge creatively in a scavenger hunt format

Materials:

• Mobile devices (tablets, phones, or laptops) with the Goosechase app installed
• Access to guitars (acoustic or electric, real or classroom models)
• Audio/visual resources (YouTube clips, images of guitars through history)
• Whiteboard or chart paper
• Handouts or slides on guitar anatomy

Preparation:

• Create an Experience on the Goosechase app with a series of Missions focussed on music and guitars.
• Develop Missions that require students to demonstrate their understanding of what they have learned. Example Missions:
  • String Theory: Take a photo of your labeled diagram of a guitar.
  • Rock & Learn: In your own words, describe one way the electric guitar changed music history.
  • Chord Captains: Record a teammate playing the chords they just learned. Make sure they name the chords in the video. 
  • Pick a Legend: Share a fun fact about a famous guitarist. Extra points if you include a picture or fun quote from them.
  • Build-a-Guitar Challenge: No guitar? No problem! Create a “guitar” using classroom items, or sketch your own model. Show us your creativity while making sure all parts of the instrument are represented!
  • Tone Talk: What’s the difference between acoustic and electric guitars in terms of sound? Give an example of a genre for each.

Find Example Missions in the Goosechase Templates below

• Adapt the difficulty of the Missions based on the proficiency levels of your students to keep the activity inclusive and engaging for everyone.
• Prepare hints or resources that might help students solve the Missions if needed.
• Divide students into teams and assign each team a mobile device with the app, or have students complete the scavenger hunt individually.
• Run your Experience during one class period or longer.
• App Set-Up 
  • Dedicate time to ensuring all students have the Goosechase app downloaded and joined to the Experience to avoid any tech issues.

Lesson Outline:

• Introduction to Guitars: Discussion + Mini Lecture
  • Ask: What do you know about guitars?
  • Introduce a brief history of guitars (origins from the oud and lute, evolution into classical, acoustic, and electric guitars)
  • Highlight influential guitarists from different genres (e.g., Andrés Segovia, Jimi Hendrix, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Taylor Swift, John Mayer)
• Anatomy of a Guitar: Visual Presentation + Labeling Activity
  • Teach key parts: body, neck, fretboard, strings, headstock, tuning pegs, bridge, pickups (electric)
  • Optional: Distribute labeled diagram for students to annotate
  • Show differences between acoustic and electric guitars
• How Guitars Are Made: Video + Q&A
  • Show a short behind-the-scenes video (e.g., factory tour or luthier at work)
  • Discuss materials used (woods, strings, electronics) and craftsmanship
  • Optional: Compare handmade vs. factory guitars
• Guitar Basics: How to Play Hands-On Practice
  • Demonstrate how to hold a guitar, proper posture
  • Teach how to strum and play a basic chord or riff (e.g., E minor, G major)
  • Group students to practice simple chord progressions or create a short rhythm pattern
• Goosechase Scavenger Hunt
  • Read through Missions with students, encouraging them to showcase their creativity, musical knowledge, and performance skills in each response
  • Monitor progress and provide assistance as necessary.
  • If working in teams, encourage them to strategize and collaborate to solve the Missions.
  • Sit back and enjoy watching your students collaborate and demonstrate their learning.
• Debrief and Reflection
  • Review the activity, discussing which missions were the most challenging or fun.
  • Discuss how teams collaborated and solved problems together.
  • Optionally, award prizes to the team(s) with the highest score.

Optional Post-Experience Activities:

• Guest Speaker 
  • Invite a local guitarist to visit the class and speak about their music and guitar journey. 
• Melody Creation
  • Have students compose short melodies 
• Personal Reflection 
  • Students write personal reflection pieces on what they learned
• Classroom Concert
  • Invite students to volunteer their favorite songs. As the class listens to each song, have them identify when they hear a guitar

Assessment

• Participation and teamwork during activities.
• Engagement with Goosechase missions.
• Assessment of any assignments, such as their Melody or Reflection Piece. 

Ready Made Experiences

Guitar Challenge

A fun, engaging way for students to brush up on guitar history and basic skills. Check out the feed to see what submissions your classmates are posting!

Get your own copy!

Guitar Quest

Plug in, tune up, and rock out! Show off your guitar knowledge, creativity, and strumming skills in this jam-packed scavenger hunt.

Get your own copy!

Want a copy of this lesson plan to use with your class?

What is Goosechase EDU?

Goosechase is an online platform that helps educators create and run interactive learning experiences in their classrooms and beyond. Sign up and try creating an Experience, or contact us to learn more about our school and district-wide solutions!