Preserving The Blues hones in on Mississippi’s blues legacy, not only teaching about its past, but teaching its present and the importance of saving its future.

OVERVIEW: Shares a bit of Blues History by playing songs of the greats: Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, B. B. King, and sharing some the history of cotton fields and sharecropping and hard living that made one “want to sing the blues.”

By taking familiar songs and nursery rhymes and changing the words a bit, children of all ages can develop their own blues. Also, by using word pictures, children can create their own stories, thereby improving their critical thinking, creative development, and communication skills. As children brainstorm together on story and music ideas, they improve their abilities in working as a team.

RATIONALE:

Many students are unable to connect with Mississippi history and understand how history has paved the road to our present and how our present must pave the road to the future. In learning to preserve and keep cultural history alive, students pave roads to new and exciting music creations, but also realize that these new roads are only extensions from ancient roads paved from our heritage long ago.

Creating music from history provides opportunities for students to assess history and its historical characters.

Blues history provides ways for students to explore, analyze, and understand “why” history happened and how characters handled perplexing and difficult situations through music and writing.

Learning Activity:

MUSIC:

As students enter room, have Blues music softly playing in the background. As they take their places in the classroom, begin clapping your hands to the music. Don’t say a word, just clap your hands. Students will follow. They love music. Then, tap your foot to the music. Students will follow suit. Begin to sing along with the CD. (Blues songs are very easy to learn because of begin repetitive. Students will catch on very fast.) Share a little history about the blues, how the slaves sang in the fields about their hard work and hard life. This help to pass the time. Share also how the blues is about emotion and dealing with hard times. That all blues song sing out being blue. That’s why they’re called the blues. Then, create your own song for the children, something like:

I had to get up and get myself off to school

I had to get up and get myself off to school

Got to read to my students while sittin’ on that teacher stool.

Now, take a nursery rhyme the children know and change it into the blues.

EXAMPLE:

The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout

The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout

I sure hope the water don’t wash that spider out.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

Jack and Jill went up that great big hill

Jack and Jill went up that great big hill

Jack fell down and behind him came Miss Jill.

AND ANOTHER:

Mary lost her lamb, her fleece was white as snow

Mary lost her lamb, her fleece was white as snow

Now the lamb can’t follow wherever Mary will go

ANOTHER:

This little piggy went to market, this one stayed home

This little piggy went to market, this one stayed home

This little piggy had roast beef, but this poor piggy had none