I talked to Esther (the ESL-teacher heroine in the movie of the life of APIS) and we agreed that when you're dealing with a foreign language (which we are; 1/2 of my kids are taking English) things are much easier to memorize in song format. What I would like to do is get songs that address the topics of the day in Social Studies and use them to help make the information "stickier" for the kids. Esther has offered to use her Friday class specifically on Social Studies (didn't I tell you she was a heroine?) and could make the song lyrics her translation project.
The question is, what songs?
And this is where you come in.
My topics include :
US History, Native Americans - 1900 (although primarily through Civil War)
the Ancient World (Egypt, Sumer, Indus Valley, ancient China, mesoamerica)
the Classical world (Greece, Rome)
Medieval Middle East ("Golden Age of Islam")
Medieval China
Medieval Europe
Medieval Africa (Mali, Ghana)
Medieval Japan
"Medieval" America (Incas, Aztecs Maya - societies existant during the Age of Discovery)
The Renaissance
The Reformation
The Age of Discovery
The Scientific Revolution
The Enlightenment
Culture of the Pacific/Asia (
Yes, it's going to be a full year!
So in any case, what have you got? I've got a couple of Civil War songs, songs from 1776, "Madame Guillotine" from The Scarlet Pimpernel if we make it to the French Revolution, "The Impossible Dream" from Man of la Mancha to teach chivalry, and Pharoah's song from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat if I really can't think of anything better. So please, send me ideas!
And anybody who can come up with a song about Medieval Africa gets my undying respect (whatever that's worth!)
5 comments:
Maybe "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by They Might Be Giants? Not a lot of actual information in the lyrics, but a fun song nonetheless.
You mentioned Civil War songs already, but in case you didn't think of it, African-American spirituals ("Follow the Drinking Gourd," etc.) can be good for talking about slavery and the Underground Railroad.
Something from History of the World would be very helpful and memorable, but might also cause them to become horrible horrible people.
Jackie
Oh yeah and Pocahontas! "In 1607 we sailed the open sea, for glory god and gold and the Virginia company!"
Jackie
"Knights of the Round Table" from Monty Python for the medieval period. Very educational.
By the way, have you checked youtube for Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain songs? Some are quite educational. Fast-paced even for English speakers, perhaps. But very educational.
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