The Story and Composer of Autumn Leaves

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Objective

I can describe the story behind the song "Autumn Leaves" and identify its composer.

Part 1 of 4

Warm-up video

Prairie Public · 5:16

We don't generate video — this one is by Prairie Public on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.

Part 2 of 4

Key concepts

3 concepts

  1. 1

    The beloved song "Autumn Leaves" originated in France, and its beautiful melody was composed by Joseph Kosma in 1945.

  2. 2

    The original French lyrics were written by Jacques Prévert, and the song was first known as "Les Feuilles Mortes", meaning "The Dead Leaves".

  3. 3

    American songwriter Johnny Mercer wrote the new English lyrics in 1947, helping "Autumn Leaves" become a timeless jazz standard.

Part 3 of 4

Practice

7 questions

1

Who composed the music for the classic song "Autumn Leaves"?

2

What was the original French title of the song commonly known as 'Autumn Leaves,' and what is its English translation?

Part 4 of 4

Exit ticket

Quick comprehension check

“Who composed the song "Autumn Leaves"? Describe the original story and theme conveyed by its lyrics, as detailed in the reading passage.”

Sample answer included in the free materials

Get the materials

Teacher guide, student handout, and slides — free, in Google Docs format

  • Teacher Guide

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    Printable worksheet

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