Adult
Development Activity
Paul Simon: His Life and Lyrics
Teaching and Learning Plans
The
purpose of this activity is to consider adult development issues as portrayed in
the lyrics and life of Paul Simon. Students will identify major themes and
issues dealt with by the singer/songwriter and connect those with specific
events in his life or the lives of his contemporaries. They will then create an
original artwork based on an analysis of one of these themes.
TEACHING
ACTIVITIES
Activity
One
Class/Group Activity
-
Your
role is one of facilitator.
-
Significant
Question: How do experiences in early adulthood impact perceptions, ideas,
values, and goals?
-
To
assist in asking questions during the class discussion the following links will
help to formulate questions using Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Effective
questioning techniques
-
St
Edwards University, Center for teaching excellence.
http://www.stedwards.edu/cte/content/category/13/27/51
http://www.stedwards.edu/cte/content/category/13/27/51/#techniques
Major
Categories in the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives
(Bloom 1956)
-
The
teaching activity will focus on a song/poem concerning Paul Simon's desired
activities or lifestyle in middle adulthood -- The
Sound of Silence.
-
Students
will research the biographical information on Paul Simon, listened to and read
the lyrics to The Sound of Silence
-
Students
will write a one to two page summary
their
interpretation of the song
The Sound of Silence in
preparation for the class/group discussion.
-
Lead
a discussion on how Paul Simon’s early adulthood impacted his
perceptions, ideas, values and goal as expressed in the song.
Activity
Two
Small Group or with a Partner
-
Your
role is one of observer.
-
Significant
Question: How do experiences in early adulthood impact perceptions, ideas,
values, and goals?
-
The
guided practice activity will focus on a song/poem concerning Paul Simon's
desired activities or lifestyle in early adulthood --
Diamonds
on the Soles of Her Shoes
-
Students
will discuss their interpretation of the song and the connection to adult
development issues. Students will write a one to two page summary of their
discussions.
Activity
Three
Working individually you will explore
how experiences in older adulthood impact perceptions, ideas, values, and goals.
-
Listen to
and read the lyrics to You’re the One.
-
Read about Paul Simon’s life in the previous two to five years before writing
these songs.
-
Interpret/Reflect on overall feelings evoked by the songs.
-
Summarize and write a one to two page paper on how Paul
Simon’s older adulthood impacted his perceptions, ideas, values, and goals
as expressed in You’re the One.
Final
Activity
Individual
-
The
independent activity will focus on adult development issues and the songs of
Paul Simon that express these themes. The first part will require the student to
analysis a group of songs that deal with particular theme. Then the student will
take part in a creative activity producing an original artwork that address the
chosen theme.
Step
One: Analysis/Critical Thinking Activity
The
summative evaluation activity will have students complete the analysis/critical
thinking process using set of songs concerning one of a variety of themes below.
-
Disdain
for
authority
-
Rebellion
-
Retrospect
Step
Two: Synthesis/Creative Thinking Activity
For
the expansion or creative activity students will produce an original artwork
addressing the theme they discussed in the critical thinking activity.
A Sample
Interpretation of Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
Written in 1986, “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” can have two completely
different meanings. First, during this time in his career Simon was
working in South Africa alongside the very rich and very poor. The diamond
trade in Africa was creating two very distinct classes of people in the region
resulting in Apartheid. The resulting lyrics can reference the stark
differences between the two groups at the time. Second, I believe that the
lyrics can point to love between two people of very different socio-economic
classes. The girl in the song can be “hiding” her wealth in the “soles of
her shoes” to determine whether true love is eminent, while the poor boy is
“empty as a pocket.”
(a-wa) o kodwa u
zo-nge li-sa namhlange
(African singing)
(a-wa a-wa) si-bona kwenze ka kanjani (African singing)
(a-wa a-wa) amanto mbazane ayeza (African singing)
Shes a rich girl (a rich female, or the region of South Africa)
She dont try to hide it (proud of her
wealth, or proud minority of wealthy people)
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes (an odd
place to show your wealth, or reference to Johannesburg as being the bottom of
the country)
Hes a poor boy (a poor male)
Empty as a pocket (no money or wealth)
Empty as a pocket with nothing to lose (no money, no worries)
Sing ta na na (African singing)
Ta na na na (African singing)
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes (an odd place to show
your wealth, or reference to Johannesburg as being the bottom of the country)
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes (same)
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes (same)
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes (same)
People say shes crazy (she is crazy for displaying her wealth like
this)
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes (an odd place to show
your wealth, or reference to Johannesburg as being the bottom of the country)
Well thats one way to lose these (wealth can have a positive impact
on your outlook)
Walking blues
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes (an odd place to show your
wealth, or reference to Johannesburg as being the bottom of the country)
She was physically forgotten (the girl was gone)
Then she slipped into my pocket (he was reminded of the girl, or of
the actual diamond)
With my car keys (he was reminded of the girl, or of the actual
diamond)
She said youve taken me for granted (he takes her wealth for
granted)
Because I please you (he takes her wealth for granted)
Wearing these diamonds (he takes her wealth for granted)
And I could say oo oo oo (he wonders if everyone understands the
symbol of wealth)
As if everybody knows (same)
What Im talking about (same)
As if everybody would know (same)
Exactly what I was talking about (same)
Talking about diamonds on the soles of her shoes (repeat)
She makes the sign of a teaspoon (teaspoon meaning wealth)
He makes the sign of a wave (wave meaning changes in social classes)
The poor boy changes clothes (he attempts to make up for his lower
social class)
And puts on after-shave (same)
To compensate for his ordinary shoes (same)
And she said honey take me dancing (she wanted to show off her
wealth)
But they ended up by sleeping (instead they chose sleeping next to a
liquor store)
In a doorway (same)
By the bodegas and the lights on (same)
Upper broadway (same)
Wearing diamonds on the soles of their shoes (repeat)
And I could say oo oo oo (repeat)
As if everybody here would know (repeat)
What I was talking about (repeat)
I mean everybody here would know exactly (repeat)
What I was talking about (repeat)
Talking about diamonds (repeat)
People say Im crazy (somehow he now has diamonds)
I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes (same)
Well thats one way to lose (his life now has taken a different turn)
These walking blues (his life now has taken a different turn)
Diamonds on the soles of your shoes (repeat)
Last Revised: February 2009