Teaching American History through the Arts motivates and challenges students to better understand American history by singing and analyzing music and lyrics from the past. The songs incorporated into the program are primarily folk songs which were sung by people of various ethnic backgrounds in different parts of the country. Studying and singing songs as primary source material increases students’ depth of understanding of history, enhancing their abilities to empathize and connect with the thoughts and emotions of people who participated in and contributed to events and trends throughout America’s past. Understanding the past is central to students' abilities to understand themselves and the world around them.
By utilizing music, something that is of great interest to most students, Teaching American History through the Arts has the capacity to create a real sense of excitement about learning history, thereby improving student performance. By integrating concepts of historical chronology, perspective, and folk life and music, students develop a better understanding of the relationship between disciplines. This strengthens teaching and learning in multiple subject areas, including Social Studies, the Arts, and Language Arts.
Teaching American History through the Arts is a work-in-progress. A Visual Arts component is planned which will incorporate primary source visual material, including art and architecture, to facilitate the use of visual thinking strategies in the study of American History. Lessons for the Music classroom are in development to get the students singing and exploring musical instruments and styles.
As a result of participating in Teaching American History through the Arts, students will have a solid understanding of the people and events that shaped the United States. They will be able to examine songs as primary source documents to understand why, where, when, and how they came about and what they can tell us about the people who made and sang them. They will also be able think creatively and independently about American history. By being exposed to the stories that exemplify what America is and has been about, students may develop a lifelong interest in history and a willingness to engage in civic life.
