Inspired by Greta Thunberg and the recent climate change protests by students across the world, Year 6 decided to play their part.
As teachers we are always trying to think of ways to make sure our students are writing for a purpose and, if possible, link what they are learning to current, ‘real world’ events. It was for this reason that we decided to get the children to write protest songs as part of their persuasive writing unit.
Songs have a unique way for sending powerful messages that are easily accessible for all and so we tasked our Year 6’s to take old protest songs and give them an update for 2019.
After listening, (mostly) enjoying and analysing famous songs by Billy Bragg, Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan, children used what they had learnt in our IPC unit ‘Climate Control’ to change words, lines or whole verses so that their new songs focused on the current climate change debate.
Sonia, from 6 Spindle said “Writing a song is tricky but fun, and if we can make people think about our planet then that can make a real difference,” while Laure and Mara told us that although finding words to rhyme was hard, once you worked out the rhythm, it wasn’t so difficult to write what you want to tell people.
Using their IT skills, students then used these songs to create lyric videos with powerful images to help make their message clear.
Below are a selection of some of their efforts, from raging versions in the style of Billy Bragg or Dylan, soulful crooning just like Sam Cooke or even a William Shatner-esque take on Dylan’s classic ‘The Times They Are A-Changin'.
I am sure their songs can persuade you to make some changes!
Some of the videos were released in last week's newsletter, below we have more.
Thomas Holmes
Year 6 Learning Leader