Yankee Doodle - Lynette Winterton

(Post by Lynette Winterton)

 I had a really fun week with Yankee Doodle. I teach the history of the song, how it was meant to be a ridicule or put down song about Americans, sung by the British AT us during the Revolutionary War. We internalized the song, and used it to rally and shoved it right back at them, so to speak. The word MACARONI is especially fun to talk about, as they were teasing us about our clothing, horses, "going to town" etc. in general our country bumpkin life style as compared to what we had left behind in England's class society.

I have always taught it but found a song in the Making Music CD's called Souvenir of America by Henri Vieuxtemps that used string instruments.  I learned the history of the composition and didn't tell the kids what melody they would hear but asked them to listen for the souvenir Henri took home from America.  It was an opportunity to talk about history, instruments, dynamics, emotion created by music, an element of surprise and a very enjoyable CLASSIC piece of music.  It really added something to the lesson to incorporate this new piece of music.  

THEN, one class a student commented about a book they had read in SEM called Abigail's Drum. I borrowed the book, very short, and read it over the weekend.  Yankee Doodle Fife and Drum adventure.   

https://www.amazon.com/Houghton-Mifflin-Reading-Paperbacks-Above-Level/dp/0618062181

Lynette, Thank you for sharing!!!