This is the second of three episodes on songwriting. This week, we’ll learn about how songs help us celebrate special occasions (hint: it involves cake and candles) and also how songs can make us feel strong in the face of hard times. We’ll hear some examples about songs that bring people together, and we’ll write our own verse to a well-known call-and-response song.

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Featured music:
B.B. King: Why I Sing the Blues
Aretha Franklin: A Change Is Gonna Come
Pete Seeger & the Song Swappers: We Shall Not Be Moved

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National standards incorporated:
Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 
Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

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Additional resources:
Songwriting With Kids
How To Teach Children to Write Songs
Sing Me A Story - Songs and Stories for Kids in Need

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Resources for discussing current events with your kids:

Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations About Race and Racism (Anti-Defamation League)

75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice (Medium)

How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids (Common Sense Media)

Resources for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racialized Violence With Kids (Center for Racial Justice in Education)

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