I teach 7th and 8th grade history. Here in California that means world history in 7th and US history in 8th. Today, as I was having my students write a story about life in the British Isles following the Battle of Hastings, I played a cd of bagpipes and pennywhistle and bodrhan trad music. Since most of them listen to rap or punk or pop I was quite pleased that they didn't complain loud and long! It was a nice break from the standardized testing that seems to be all the rage here in the states.