My third graders were anticipating a lesson on Martin Luther King, Jr. with the day right around the corner and I was too. I wanted to do something different than the typical “he was a civil rights leader and lets listen to his speech”. The lesson didn’t come to me until early in the morning right before it was time for me to run out of the house.
I would teach them about Freedom Songs and the place music had during this time.
We began by reading I Have a Dream: Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. with paintings by Kadir Nelson.
We pulled out important vocabulary words and spoke about their meanings.
Then we watched parts of the speech on youtube.
Oh my gosh, look how many people there are, Ms. Hurley
Yeah…wow. And notice class, no one has a phone in their hands…why is that?
Next, we spoke about how the speech was planned and how Dr. King and his friends wanted to entertain the people so music was necessary. We spoke about how much money they had to use to set up a system just for it to be destroyed by someone who didn’t agree with Dr. King.
We call those people haters, Ms. Hurley
Thank you, haters then.
Finally, we watched a video of Mahalia Jackson.
You notice how everyone is singing and swaying? You think she’s making the people happy?
We watched Peter Paul and Mary.
Ms. Hurley, which one is Peter?
I am not sure. But at least we know Mary.
Finally, we watched Odetta and lastly, the Freedom Singers.
After that, they were given the following writing prompt: Imagine you are a musician and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked you to sing a song for the March on Washington. What would you sing? Write your own song.
They came up with amazing lyrics and the lesson took more time then I planned because all of them wanted to sing their freedom songs. Below are some of their songs:
Chloe’s Song:
I would sing a song called Blacks and Whites. It would be about how Blacks should be treated. My song would be about Blacks and Whites and how they should be together like brothers and sisters. They should be able to use the same things and be able to be treated the same way.
Blacks and Whites
Blacks Blacks Blacks
should be be be
treated the same way as everybody else they should be
free free free
yes,
Blacks, Blacks, Blacks.
Whites Whites Whites
should be be be
treated the same way as everybody else they should be
free free free
yes,
Whites, Whites, Whites
Kourtney’s Song:
If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked me to sing, I would sing, I will stand up.
I will stand up
I will stand up for Blacks and Let freedom be
We should get the freedom in here
We should get some
So much
So do not get no color and white schoooooooool
And be kinnnnnd
Kylie’s Song
I would sing, Let Freedom Ring. My song means freedom should ring no matter where we are.
Let Freedom Ring
Freedom should ring around the world
Freedom should ring around the world
Even if we’re black or white
We’re all beautiful in sight
No matter were we are freedom should ring
Freedom should ring around the world
O’Launi’s Song
If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked me to sing a song for the March on Washington, I would sing the song I made up called, Our Freedom Must Prevail. My song means everybody should always have freedom and that the freedom must prevail.
Freedom Must Prevail
Our Freedom must prevail in the peace of harmony
Our freedom must prevail in all of liberty
Everyday I think of the slaves on how they were set free
I think of our ancestors and the name of the leaders of our black nation helping us along the way
Our freedom must prevail today, today, today
Our freedom must prevail oooooh oooh
Our freedom must prevail.
Olivia’s Song:
I would sing a song called Freedom. My song Freedom is about honoring slaves and our ancestors.
Verse
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom is the case for every single day
Slaves should be free
Our ancestors should have been free
Freedom, freedom, freedom is the case for every single day
Chorus
La la la we could all be free at once together
We all could fight through this together.
Zyon’s Song
Get Together
Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Black people had to fight for freedom
Black people said something and white people said what?
And hit, hit, hit
Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Black people had to fight for freedom
Black people fought and fought and fought
And won, won, won
Their freedom
Amare’s Song
When Freedom comes, any day, I hope we say, hooray!
Let Black people be free!
Black people should not be killed in a tree.
Black people should not be burnt in a fire.
They are very tired
Because white people treat them like dirt.
They even gave them wrinkled shirts.
Black people know their rights
so why can’t there be light
and when freedom comes any day, I hope we say hooray!!
Parice’s Song
If I was a musician and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked me to sing a song for the March on Washington, I would sing, Lord O Lord.
Lord O Lord
Lord O Lord let freedom come
Save our land
Help people fight for their rights and not judge by skin
Let us be free, be friends, be family
To know make Lord Happy.
Lord let us make you happy
O Lord up Life are heats
Let freedom come
Anuli’s Song
Ring Us Till Freedom
Ring us till freedom so we could stop segregation.
After I say these words, I want everyone to hold hands
Don’t be afraid
Just come on with me
I want you to repeat what I say
Stop segregation!
Come on everybody!
Stop segregation!
Olivia’s Song
The name of my song is March for Freedom. It goes like this:
March for freedom
I want it.
Do you, you, you?
March for freedom
Hundreds of people want it too.
Freedom is spelt F-R-E-E-D-O-M
Freedom is when you are free from segregation.
F-R-E-E-D-O-M. We don’t want segregation to come again.
M-A-R-C-H We are filled with love and not hate.
March for freedom.
I want it.
Do you, you you?
March for freedom
Hundreds of people want it too.