Deirks Bentley's Home Video
I show this video a number of times leading up to the end of the year. I also provide the students with a copy of the lyrics. Each time I show it we discuss different aspects of the song:
The words used in the song and the emotion they are meant to evoke
The symbolism in the video and why the different images are placed where they are
How the modern symbols have historical significance
The use of wording similar to other patriotic songs (This Land is your Land, America the Beautiful)
The inspiration for the song (Gabriel Gifford shooting)
The student's are given an open ended quiz over the material and are asked to formulate an opinion of the song.
As part of the Student's Semester Final they watch the video again. The students are asked to discuss the lyrics of the song and the images in the video. They must include: whether they believe the song is patriotic, how and what symbolism is used in the video and what the events, places and people they have studied during the year are represented in the video.
While the majority of the images relate to modern events in US History, by discussing them in the context of the history we have learned throughout the year the kids are better able to see the continuum of History and how the events of yesterday are similar to the the history being made around them. We discuss the issues of immigration, race relations, manufacturing, farming, expansionist policies, and war among others.