Ms. P's Social Studies Podcast

Welcome students to our very first podcast! In this lesson, we will be studying the great depression and the migrant worker through the art of Woody Gurthrie and John Steinbeck. Throught their work, they attempted to use symbolism, irony, and the attitude of the common man to get their message out. While you listen, I want you to try to recognize thematic parallels between Woody Guthrie's music and The Grapes of Wrath and take notes of the similarities. Hopefully you will develop an appreciation for a time when American life looked very different than what most of you know today. As you will hear me say in the podcast, the song "This Land is Your Land" had three more verses that were left out of the studio recording. Those lyrics are written below, and so please follow along as I read them in the podcast. These relatively unknown lyrics will be part of our analysis in class, and will most likely give you a lot to think about regarding "patriotic" music. As I went walking I saw a sign there And on the sign it said "No Tresspassing." But on the other side it didn't say nothing, That side was made for you and me. In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people, By the relief office I seen my people; As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking Is this land made for you and me? Nobody living can ever stop me, As I go walking that freedom highway; Nobody living can ever make me turn back This land was made for you and me. Throughout the podcast are several questions that you should note, which may require you to listen several times. Please come to class Monday with your responses to the song in relation to John Steinbeck's novel and any questions you may have. Have a great weekend!