Spirit of the 60's: Hippies & The Music of Counter Culture Movement
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What educators are saying
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Turn your classroom into Woodstock (minus the drugs)! This is the type of activity that students talk about and always remember! The only downside to this activity is that students love it so much that it is hard to go back to a normal lesson the next day! I look forward to this one every year.
Included here are notes (capture sheet for students and teacher copy with visuals and links to use) that set up context for the late 60's, rebel baby boomers turning into hippies, Woodstock, and the clash between "hawks" and "doves" over Vietnam. But the heart and soul of the activity is the music! I have the lyrics to 6 popular protest songs of the era, as well as links to play the songs with videos featuring photos from the time period. I ask students to push the desks to the side and sit on the floor, Woodstock style, as we jam out and follow along with the lyrics. Students analyze the lyrics together and write down what message the artist is conveying. We have great, animated discussions after each song, before students complete the activity with their own opinions.
I also included some links and suggestions to additional songs in case you want to pursue the activity further or give students more options. I highly suggest using my "1968: Worst Year in US History? Vietnam War, Counter Culture, Civil Rights" the day before this lesson in order to establish greater context for the anger, frustration and causes of the Counter Culture Movement.
