Lesson Overview:
In this lesson students will listen to "Guantanamera," a Cuban folk song made famous by Pete Seeger with lyrics from a poem by Jose Marti. They will discover that these two men shared more than a song.
Length of Lesson:
Two 45-minute periods
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- listen to and discuss the song "Guantanamera."
- compare revolutionary activities of Jose Marti and Pete Seeger.
Supplies:
- CD or tape player
- Recording of "Guantanamera" (available on Pete Seeger’s Greatest Hits. Colombia/Legacy. Common Chord. CK 65711)
Instructional Plan:
Day One
Play a recording of “Guantanamera." Ask the students if anyone has heard this song before. Ask what languages they hear (Spanish and English). Display the lyrics to "Guantanamera" (available online on Lyrics Connection) and go over the lyrics with students. Have the students read the lyrics along with you. Play the song again. Give the students a copy of the Student Vocabulary List, and go over the words with the students.
Explain that the song was made famous by Pete Seeger and that the words come from a poem by Jose Marti. Note that these two men lived in different times in two different countries, but that their lives had many similarities.
Note: For background on Jose Marti, see http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/jmarti.html.
Give students a copy of the Jose Marti Biography handout. Read it with students, making sure they understand everything. Distribute the handout with the Marti Biography Questions. Have students complete the handout and turn in their work.
Day Two
Have a recording of "Guantanamera" playing as the students enter. Explain to the students that this song brings together several traditions. Mr. Seeger writes that in 1961 a young Cuban was working at a children’s summer camp in the Catskill Mountains when he read some simple verses by Jose Marti. He found that the verses could be fitted to an old popular song of Havana that was used to sing any verse one wished. He combined Marti’s patriotic verses with a chorus addressed to a country girl. This combination ennobled the old street melody. Later that summer, while Mr. Seeger was singing for the children, they taught him the song they had learned from their Cuban counselor. Now the song is an international favorite.
Give students a copy of the Pete Seeger Biography handout. Read it with the students, making sure they understand everything. Distribute the handout with the Seeger Biography Questions. Have students complete the handout and turn in their work.
(Note: For further information on Pete Seeger, see the resources listed in the Sources section.)
Have students create a Venn diagram comparing Jose Marti and Pete Seeger.
Assessment:
Assess the students' responses to the worksheet questions using the accompanying Answer Sheet.
Extensions:
Extensions to this lesson could include:
- a more extensive study of the poetry and other writings of Jose Marti.
- a deeper look at the McCarthy era and how it affected the arts.
- a broader look at Pete Seeger’s other songs.
Sources:
Web:
Authors:
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Phyllis Gron, ESL Teacher
Fairfax County Public Schools
Alexandria, VA
