The Power of Music for Social Movements

Grade Levels: 3 5

Subject: Music

In this unit, The Power of Music for Social Movements, students in grades three through five will analyze activist songs with a focus on their expressive qualities, such as mood, tempo, lyrics, and instruments used to better understand the intent of the song. As a class, students will examine what constitutes an injustice and identify injustices in their classroom, school, and/or community. In small groups, students will modify the lyrics of an existing activist song to communicate actions they wish to take in response to an injustice. Through this experience, students begin to develop an understanding of how music is an effective tool for bringing awareness to injustices and encouraging collective action. This integrated unit meets core content requirements for Music.