"Nosotros venceremos" ("We Shall Overcome") Elementary Lesson Plan

 

 "Nosotros venceremos"

A new recording of a classic anthem for civil rights struggles

 

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"Nosotros venceremos" is the Spanish Language version of "We Shall Overcome" which was been widely known as a hymn that became associated with labor movements and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.  It was adapted by members of Teatro Campesino to help bring folks together for protest efforts led by Cesar E. Chavez during the United Farm Workers struggle for better working conditions and wages. 

 

This cheerful new recording by Miss Cosquilla which includes two verses in Spanish and one in English will inspire your students to sing along, make cultural connections that support their self-esteem / social-emotional learning, and embrace related core subject lessons and activities.  With the help of the lyric video and lyric sheets provided below, elementary teachers can prepare their class to sing this song as part of a school or community performance.

 

click to download lyrics PDF 

 "Nosotros venceremos" Lesson Plan Ideas

Here are a variety of great ways to use with "Nosotros venceremos" in your lessons:

• History / Social Science: 
•  use a a supplementary tool to connect concepts of non-violent protest, community, brotherhood, and religion connecting the Civil Rights with the UFW and Chicano Movement efforts of the 1960's-1980's. 
• use to supplement a lesson about Dr. Martin Luther King and Cesar E. Chavez 
• VTS - Image of Coretta Scott King Singing "We Shall Overcome" with Cesar E. Chavez

  

• Hispanic Heritage Month / Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) / Dolores Huerta Birthday (April 10): Share a class performance of this song as an alternative or supplement to visual art.  The lyric video can be played on a projector to invite audience members to also sing along.

 

• English Language Arts: use as an introduction to a related piece of literature such as Child of the Civil Rights Movement or Harvesting Hope.

• Spanish Language Arts: ask students to write out the lyrics to "Nosotros venceremos" to practice their Spanish language reading, writing, speaking and singing!

 

Did you use Miss Cosquilla's version of "Nosotros venceremos" with your class?  Let us know how it went!