The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame web site has a "for teachers" area that's full of interesting lesson ideas.
"Langston Hughes and the Blues," "Pink Floyd and the Carpe Diem Theme," "Using Hip Hop to Introduce Allusion," and "Getting Inside The Outsiders Through Music," are just four of the over 75 lesson plans available. All were created by teachers at the Hall of Fame's Summer Institute. They're available here.