Scott Joplin-Making Music in Missouri

Being from Missouri I always like to incorporate Missouri trivia into my class when possible. This bulletin board was made with several rainbow keyboard pictures. You could use one big keyboard (or create your own with black and white construction paper) and then write the Joplin facts one on each key. I created a timeline of facts about Joplins life. Some of the facts I used:

-One of the most important developers of ragtime music

-born in Texarkana, Texas

-wrote a ragtime opera that bombed in 1917 but skyrocketed in 1975

-moved to Sedalia, Missouri in 1894

-moved to St. Louis in 1885

Variations: You could use the state of Missouri map as a background for this bulletin board. You could also use pictures of Scott Joplin at various stages of his life. I had trouble finding a variety of pictures so I chose not to do this. If you know of a few Joplin resources let me know.