This project has been done in most grades all over the country since virtually the moment this song was released.
In fact, Billy Joel wanted to be a History Teacher before he realized he did not like school enough to go to college and teach.
He wrote this song because young people had mentioned to him how he was lucky growing up when he did since there was nothing
going on and it was such an innocent time. He wrote this to prove them wrong and to educate them on just how much can
happen even if it does not seem like it.
That is the point of this project...to help the students to appreciate the past and at the same time, to think of how
the future will think of the events that are happening right now.
The project is very applicable to grades 4-12, and even beyond. It was designed to use 1 week of computer lab time
for beginner to moderate computer users. If the skill level increases...so can the project. Below are some extra
pieces that can be added...
- Have the students create a timeline of the song...showing the events they covered...the entire class's timelines can be
connected to make a giant one of the last half of the 20th Century.
- Have the students mark on a large map in the front of the class the locations of the events...or where the people they
are studying were born or lived.
- Increase the single paragraph per event to 2 or 3 with each event being scrutinized more with more sources being required.
- Have the students interview parents, relatives, etc...who were alive during the times they are studying and ask them on
their feelings and reactions.
The above should be used for the appropriate skill level. Be aware that in a computer lab...if the students are expected
to complete it in a certain time...that even College Seniors may still have limited Internet Research Skills, as well as low
typing.
The best choice...allow the students to be creative. There is the possiblity of a Presentation on a specific event
or time period. Also, a Newspaper or even VideoTaped News Show as if it was during that time period can be done with
great effect.
This project is wide open...allow the students to explore this little piece of our History...
