I searched and couldnt find a thread for this although I feel like I have seen one in the past-please direct me to it if it has already been discussed too much-thanks!
I recently started a composer of the month program in my studio and am looking for advice. Some things that I am doing already are: having the students learn pieces or excerpts by the composer, playing excerpts for them myself, online listening assignments and questions, reading handouts together (and some at home) I create about fun facts, quotes, and their life, and for 4th-8th graders, I am using a book (I am out of town right now so cant remember what the cover says) that has biographies, crosswords, and word searches designed for the age group.
I would like help and advice with the following things:
1. spending 5 minutes or less per lesson on the composer but still teaching something memorable and valuable. An example of something I have done so far but need more ideas....I played a few excerpts of Mozart's Twinkle Twinkle variations and asked the students what the variation is for each, and then-to my students really into composing -assigned that they create some Twinkle variations...looking for more suggestions/ideas like this, but fun and creative...something they can remember the composer by.
2. I feel like so far I have been wanting to teach the students age appropriate info from the composer's whole life...and of course this takes too long in the 4 lessons in a month...and when I assign home reading of my handouts some parents complain that the student's already have enough school reading...so should I just adapt my handouts for these families...or maybe just not do handouts at all?
So, long story short, advice for short, fun, memorable ways to teach about composers! Thank you everyone!

I have done this using the "Piano Explorer" student magazines affiliated with the Clavier magazine. Each week I asked the students to come in with a fact about the composer of the month. If it was a "new" fact, it was added to the listing of facts I had posted and they got points for it. If it was already on the list it got an additional check mark and the student received fewer points. They also got points for playing an assigned piece by that composer, or listening, whatever I might have requested for that week, etc. The winner with the most points received a composer statue. It was fun and they got a real kick telling me their fact for the week.

If you don't already know about www.ClassicsforKids.com be sure to go there. It is my all time favorite composer website for students. They not only have the audio clips students can listen to about the composers, their music, etc... but many of the composers have activity sheets included as well that the students can do. It's an awesome resource!

Thank you Lilla for the piano explorer idea. I love the idea of points! So did you require all of your students to subscribe to piano explorer to take part?
And thank you Jennifer, I do know about classics for kids...havent yet incorporated it but plan on working it in somehow! My biggest challenge is the time-I give 40 minute lessons and still it seems impossible to fit everything in and learn about the composers too, but I really want to include them!

I provided the Piano Explorer to each student - it's covered in their annual materials fee.