Objectives:
The students will…
• Identify the major historical and cultural figures in Billy Joel’s song “We Didn’t Start
the Fire”
• Understand the major events of the Cold War
• Place the Cold War chronologically in American History
• Conduct further research on issues and topics from the era 1949-1989
Introduction:
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning,
Since the world's been turning.
We didn't start the fire
Well, we didn't light it,
But we tried to fight it.
- Billy Joel
The above stanza is from the song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. What in the world is he talking about? That will be your task to discover. In this hit song from 1989, Joel names key historical events from 1949-1989. By examining the events in the song, you and your classmates will be be searching for the answer to the question at the top of this page: "Who started the fire?" You will also be answering what he means by "fire."
Listen to the Song:
Hear the song and View the lyrics
The Task
Your group's task in this assignment is to research a section of the song and then present to the class in news show format an analysis of that section. Your individual task in this assignment is to answer a series of questions following the class presentations
The Research Process
You will be assigned to a team and your team will be assigned a group of years to research. Within your team you will assume the following roles:
Cultural Reporter: Your job is to research and analyze the events within your years that deal with sports, literature, entertainment, or anything not political.
Political Reporter: Your job is to research and analyze the events within your years
that deal with politics and government. This includes leaders of countries, wars, and political events.
Geography Reporter: Your job is to plot items on the map from your groups’ years. Your
Role is similar to a weather reporter, but you give locations of
Events, people, etc. You should plot these events on the world
Map and then we will scan these maps to put into your
presentation.
The Presentation:
Once your research is compiled, your team will begin working on the presentation. You will give your
presentation in the style of a news show, but you can use a google doc presentation to help you. DO
NOT READ THE PRESENTATION! Feel free to use props and be creative! Your presentation should follow the order of the role descriptions. The final part of your presentation will include an original stanza from events from 2010 to 1013. You may choose to perform your lyrics or just list them at the end.
Sample Presentation: Click here
Rubric for Presentation: Click here
Sample Lyrics:
Oil spill in the gulf, health care, Time Square scare
Blagojevich, Big Ben, Conan’s gone then back again
Wikileaks, iPads, Lindsay’s back in rehab
Bristol’s dancing with the stars, Tiger’s bustin’ up his car
Rhyming Scheme:
The rhyming scheme is:
A
A
B
B
This means that the first two lines rhyme and the last two rhyme. This is an example of a couplet or a clerihew.
Concluding Activity:
Open and answer the concluding questions.