A community-based songwriting exercise.

While teaching in the public school system, I did an Earth Day unit with my students. I asked them to make suggestions about how we can save the planet. I then took the suggestions and arranged them into lyrics for a song that the class then learned. Here are the lyrics (recording to come soon):

Verse 1:
I’m gonna go outside and plant some plants today,
They breathe carbon dioxide and release oxygen,
Oh yeah,we’re gonna clean the air

Verse 2:
I’m gonna carpool to school and save some gas today,
‘Cause fuel comes from natural resources that might go away,
Oh yeah, we’ll save our resources.

Chorus:
‘Cause the Earth is the place where we live,
And everybody has to give it a little bit of TLC,
Recycle, save some energy,
‘Cause the Earth is the place that we all call home.

Verse 3:
I’m gonna go outside and pick up some litter today,
So its runoff doesn’t contaminate our soil and rivers and streams,
Oh yeah, we’re gonna save our land.

(sing chorus again)