Group+E+5-A-1+discussion


 * Describe your reasons for selecting this particular recording. Explain why you believe this recording could be effective with students.

One of the reasons for selecting this video would be its relevance to the economy and the feelings toward immagration by the Americans. The use of comedy will increase the interest level for a topic that may not hold much interest to the students. The song has a number of different parts of the song that talk about different aspects of life at the time period. (John 2-15-12)

By looking at the comedy of the day we get a rare view of people’s true opinions. People say things as jokes that they would never talk about in regular conversation and then often brush it off as “just a joke.” However, we would not find jokes funny if we did not also find them to be true. This song would allow students a glimpse at both the acceptable and unacceptable culture of the day.-R


 * Describe at least 5 ways the recording you selected could be used in the classroom. Try to expand ideas for different subject areas and/or grade levels. For each lesson idea, include a brief description of how this activity could help promote critical thinking skills in students.

11th grade American Literature students will evaluate the recording using a NARA audio worksheet in preparation for a unit of literature on from the 1920’s, in particular before we read "A Worn Path” by Eudora Welty. Students will be asked to look at the song from the perspective of both someone who is affluent and someone who is a recent immigrant. What elements would one group find funny? What does that tell you about them? Who do you think the intended audience was? Do you think anyone would have been offended by this song?-R

Music 1 Students will look at this piece of music as a study of call and response. How does the melody create a question and answer? Does the melody change with a new speaker? How does the music inform us of author’s intent? -R

Grade 8 Physical education students will examine the music verse about golf and research how the game was played in the 1920's and what the average person who played golf was like. They will use the song verse to describe what the attitude toward golf was then and compare it to the attitude now. - J

Grade 11 American History students can use the song to look at the immigrants from Europe during the 1920's. They will compare the attitude of the lyrycs of the song about immigrants to research that they will do on the actual attitudes of the Americans during this period. The students can compare the attitudes toward immigrants from different time periods to the song lyrics. - J

Grade 6 History students will use the song to research the influence of vaudeville on the entertainment industry. They will find examples of vaudeville acts and list the common traits. They will use the song to come up with what elements of the song are common in vaudeville acts. They will then analyze a rap song to see if there are any elements in common with the song.