Analyzing The Beatles’ song “Blackbird” with 4th graders…
Us (after listening to the whole song): “The lyrics repeat ‘blackbird fly’ over and over. What do you think this song might be about?”
Kid: “Freedom!”
Us (excited that for once, a kid is inching towards a non-literal interpretation…) “Ohhh, interesting! Explain!”
Kid: “BLACKbird. Like black people. Black people weren’t always free. So it’s saying black people should be free.”
Emily's Posts 
That is what the song is about though!
LikeLike
Yup. It sure is. We just googled it and that is EXACTLY what the song is about (we were just going for a general “overcoming obstacles/being brave” theme but apparently The Beatles meant the blackbird to symbolize a black woman during the civil rights movement.)
#arewesmarterthanafourthgrader #no
LikeLike
And then the teacher becomes the student….. I hate when that happens.
LikeLike