Songs should not contain offensive language or inappropriate subject matter. Lyrics also can be the starting point for a cross-disciplinary approach that spans history and other subjects. Hinden has designed a rock 'n' roll unit around singer Billy Joel's song We Didn't Start the Fire. Then they write lyrics in a parallel form. For instance, if Billy Joel used metaphors in his stanza, they need to do the same.
Students sing or chant their lyrics during the last class of the unit.
I almost always have someone volunteer to bring in a guitar to play along with the singers, students bring in cupcakes and other kids drop by my class to see what's going on. It's a lot of fun. Hinden's rock 'n' roll English unit workshop was a hit with conference participants. Fellow ETP instructor Donna Wagner of the Harrison Association of Teachers gave high marks to the workshop and conference for the chances it gave teachers to interact. Copyright New York State United Teachers.