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In Tune, In Texas
Wartime Blues | The Great Dust Storm
Lesson Links
Blind Lemon Jefferson on Texas Online Handbook
Deep Ellum on Texas Online Handbook
Teaching Woody
This unit examines Texas from World War I to the present. Emphasis is placed on social, economic, and political issues such as the oil crisis, urbanization, the environment and cultural diversities as they relate on a national and international level. A special focus on social and cultural history will be stressed as the students examine key Texans, their leadership abilities, and key events that shaped our world in the twentieth century. Issues explored will include economics, science and technology. (Community of Learners, CFB-ISD)
Lesson: Wartime Blues (Celebrating Texas: Chapter 22)
Song: Wartime Blues
Artist: Blind Lemon Jefferson
CD Title: The Best of Blind Lemon Jefferson
TEKS
Social Studies
(7.7). History.
(D). analyze the political, economic, and social impact of major wars, including World War I and World War II, on the history of Texas;
(7.19). Culture
(B). describe how people from selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups attempt to maintain their cultural heritage while adapting to the larger Texas culture
Language Arts
(7.8) Reading/variety of texts.
(B) select varied sources such as plays, anthologies, novels, textbooks, poetry, newspapers, manuals, and electronic texts when reading for information or pleasure
(7.9) Reading/vocabulary development.
(B) draw on experiences to bring meanings to words in context such as interpreting figurative language idioms, multiple-meaning words, and analogies (6-8);Materials:
- Wartime Blues song and lyrics
- Wartime Blues Lyrics Analysis (see downloads below)
Procedures:
- Discuss the meaning of the word blues.
- Ask students to generate a list of reasons for feeling blue.
- Share information about Blind Lemon Jefferson and blues music in Dallas. (See Lesson Links on the left.) You may choose to discuss "Deep Ellum" at this time.
- Listen to Wartime Blues.
- Respond to Wartime Blues Analysis Sheet.
- EXTENSION: Draw a scene based on the lyrics of Mr. Lemon's Wartime Blues.
Downloads:
Lesson: Drought & Dust (Celebrating
Texas page 479)
Song: The Great Dust Storm
Artist: Woody Guthrie
CD Title: Dust Bowl Ballads
TEKS
Social Studies
(7.21) Social studies skills.
(D) identify points of view from the historical context surrounding an event and the frame of reference that influenced the participants;
(7.22) Social studies skills.
(B) use standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation;
(7.9) Geography.
(C) analyze the effects of physical and human factors such as climate, weather, landforms, irrigation, transportation, and communication on major events in Texas.
(7.8) Geography.
(A) create thematic maps, graphs, charts, models, and databases representing various aspects of Texas during the 19th and 20th centuries; and
Language Arts
(7.8) Reading/variety of texts.
(C) read for varied purposes such as to be informed, to be entertained, to appreciate the writer's craft, and to discover models for his/her own writing (4-8)
(7.10) Reading/comprehension.
(D) describe mental images that text descriptions evoke (4-8);
(7.11) Reading/literary response.
(A) offer observations, make connections, react, speculate, interpret, and raise questions in response to texts (4-8)Materials:
The Great Dust Storm lyrics & song
Copy of Woody Guthrie's original lyrics (see downloads)
USA outline map
Dust Bowl Times template (see downloads)
TPCASTT lyric analysis sheet (see downloads)
Procedures:
Read and discuss Celebrating Texas, Chapter 23, Section 1.
Complete a TPCASTT lyric analysis sheet with a partners.
Play and listen to The Great Dust Storm. Discuss feeling and tone of song.
Display and discuss Woody Guthrie's drawings of the storm and use the OPTIC strategy in partners to analyze the artwork.
Assume the role of newspaper reporters and write stories about the Great Dust Storm. (See downloads for template.)
Extensions:
Write and original poem about the dust storm or a natural disaster you have witnessed.
Create a drawing to accompany your poem.
Create a map for the Dust Bowl
TPCASTT lyric analysis sheet (doc)
OPTIC graphic analysis sheet (doc)
Dust Bowl Times template (doc)The following original lyrics and drawings are provided by The Official Woody Guthrie Homepage and may only be reproduced for classroom use.
Woody's original lyrics (jpg)
Woody's drawing 1 (doc or jpg)
Woody's drawing 2 (doc or jpg)
