February is Black History Month. Several of the music classes have been studying the importance of music during the fight for freedom. Together, we are creating a Freedom Train that will be displayed in the hallway. Here are a few of the projects the classes have completed so far.
5th Grade: On President's Day, we talked about the impact Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. had on the fight for Civil Rights. We learned two freedom songs that would have been sung during the marches and protests led by Dr. King. We also created a Rhythm Train, where we not only practiced our complex rhythms, we also learned about the Underground Railroad and the secret code songs that were used to help slaves escape to freedom. Finally, the 5th graders decorated their boxcar with phrases about what freedom means to them.
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Standing around the rhythm track getting ready to play. Each color represents a different station.
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3rd Grade: The 3rd graders also made a Rhythm Train, they just had easier rhythms to play. Students took turns being the conductor and helped keep the steady beat. Later this week, we will be learning a song titled, "Hallelujah, Get on Board" and read the book "Henry's Freedom Box". Then we will discuss the secret meanings of songs such as "Follow the Drinking Gourd". The 3rd grade boxcars will be decorated with different drawings of the Underground Railroad.
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| Orange Stations playing the maracas. |
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| Chugging along the track. |
Kindergarten: The Kindergarteners talked about what slavery was and learned about Harriet Tubman. We then learned a song about Harriet Tubman and read a book about her. The Kindergarteners thought she was very brave for going back to save people after she had already escaped. Their train cars show pictures of Harriet Tubman escaping to freedom.
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