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14. Share a song

True or false: you can still remember the lyrics of the songs you loved in your teens but you can’t remember algebra or history with the same ease.

Sare a song

That’s because it’s easier to learn and remember when we learn through song. Scientists say that singing can also be used to teach challenging concepts and develop language, while our brain is fooled into thinking that we’re having fun rather than learning.

This is why sharing a song with a refugee is such a good idea – we learn something of their culture, they learn something of ours and we all get to have a little bit of fun along the way.

Of course, if you don’t know anyone from another culture you don’t have to miss out on the fun. You can always start sharing music written by refugees with your mates – get them listening to Wyclef Jean, M.I.A, Gloria Estefan, Bob Marley, K’naan or Mika to name a few.

Simple Act of the Month


The Year Five Choir at Godwin Junior School, London, have written and shared a song!

The song is written and produced by Jenny Beaching, inspired by the poems written by children in Newham; ‘Teachers Association Refugee Poetry Competition 2004'.It is performed by The Year Five Choir at Godwin Junior School, Forest Gate. Add you action to the Action Counter

And class 6KS of Weddington Primary School in Nuneaton have also shared a song – by creating their own take on ‘Consider yourself’:

Completed Actions

Listened to a song by an African band at glastonbury about child soldiers

Liz Webster
London
01 July 2010 10:22 AM

SHARE A SONG

simon
worthing
30 June 2010 01:24 PM

we done a song called smile

simon
worthing
30 June 2010 01:20 PM

are class made up a song for refugeea

lewis sharp
worthing
30 June 2010 01:05 PM

we wrote a song

lauren
worthing
30 June 2010 01:04 PM

we turned the song sout into a refugee song called smile and put it on you tube

georgia
worthing
30 June 2010 01:04 PM

song

hi hi hi
brighton
30 June 2010 01:04 PM

we found lyrics for a song from football and we made some new lyrics for the same song and we sang it

samantha puttock
worthing
30 June 2010 01:03 PM

We made up our own lyrics from shout and we sung it

Bronte Trotman
Worthing
30 June 2010 01:03 PM

we turned shout into smile

aleysha way
worthing
30 June 2010 01:03 PM

We made a song

fariha ahmed
worthing
30 June 2010 01:02 PM

we made up a song for refuges

emily cuckney
worthing
30 June 2010 01:02 PM

we made a song called smile

Aimee
worthing
30 June 2010 01:01 PM

we made up a song about Refugees

Ashley long
worthing
30 June 2010 01:01 PM

we wrote a song with our class called smile

brooke snowsill
worthing
30 June 2010 01:00 PM

we made a sond

reece judge rules
jamaca
30 June 2010 01:00 PM

we made up a song about refugees

miss henley
worthing
30 June 2010 12:50 PM

The Tricycle's singing group sang songs written by refugee Bob Marley to an audience.

Anna
London
22 June 2010 09:13 AM

We held a refugee event in Barnsley where people sang all different ranges of songs

Yasmin Henstock
Barnsley
21 June 2010 02:09 PM

We created our own version of consider yourself at home...

Katie Simpson
Nuneaton
18 June 2010 11:00 AM

18 members of class shared a song

Robert Andrews
N W London
18 June 2010 09:42 AM

We sang a song about refugees

Roshni
salusbury primary school
18 June 2010 09:28 AM

everyone sang

Ermira
Salusbury Primary School
18 June 2010 09:08 AM

I put a refuee song on my laptop and my friend came to my house and we both singed the song togeher.

mia
salusbury school 3H
17 June 2010 06:19 PM

I sang a song and i danced to it with my family and we put the music really high.

Angelina Wilson 3A
Salusbury Primary School London
17 June 2010 05:11 PM

loved learning and singing a new song it was amazing !!!!!!!!!!
Also well done to the people who have done a simple act !!!!!!!!! I love refugee week and all my friends to at my school including my teacher ms McCue

alice c
orchards middle school
17 June 2010 02:18 PM

This wass fantastic! We all enjoyed it!!!! We love Refugee week! Well done to everyone who has done a simple act, every little simple act helps!

Chloe Milner in 5 Yew class!!!! In ICT Right now!! At school!!!
Worthing West Sussex Orchards Middle School!!
17 June 2010 02:14 PM

I absolutely loved learnnig a song. soo did dylan !! :) lol

Nahida
Worthing
17 June 2010 01:25 PM

Here is one of my favourite songs about refugees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WHOF8wuUl0

Almir
London
17 June 2010 11:40 AM

We listened to music by refugee artists, Gloria Estefan and Shakira. We danced a Conga around the classroom!

We considered how easy it was to help those less forunate than us. We made a list of 'things' we could give others that cost us nothing more than our time.
London
17 June 2010 11:21 AM

i listened and sang a song with my best friend which i always do

fatima ahmed
st georges catholic school
16 June 2010 01:54 PM

It was a nice song to help refugees out

Albiona and Ermira
Salubury Primary School
16 June 2010 01:49 PM

I have share my song to my friend it is call Lean On Me.

nawal
salusbury primary school 5R
16 June 2010 01:48 PM

We all sang Gloria Estefan's song 'Conga' and danced to the beat!

Amra Smiley 3A class teacher Salusbury School
Salusbury School London
15 June 2010 01:46 PM

We sang Little Jack Horner in Hindi and Enlish

Meena Sharda
Salusbury Primary
15 June 2010 01:27 PM

Sang in English and Hindi 'Little Jack Horner'

Meena Sharda
Salusbury Primary
15 June 2010 12:54 PM

I shared a refugee song with to people

eliot latham 3a
london
15 June 2010 06:59 AM

SINGSTAR!!! and we shared it with my mum who is now part deaf :-)

Chloe and Minnie
London
14 June 2010 06:06 PM

It went well

Ermira
Salusbury Primary School
14 June 2010 04:20 PM

At Celebrating Sanctuary 2010

Liz Webster
London
14 June 2010 01:40 PM

One of your volunteers, Jaz, commented on my blog and told me about this site. Her comment prompted me to reflect on some of the many songwriting projects I've led over the years, for performance during Refugee Week in Australia. The children I work with are all newly-arrived in Australia - many are refugees. If you're interested in stories from outside the UK, then it might be of interest. If it is, I'd be delighted! I think that your site is a great initiative.

http://musicwork.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/thoughts-about-refugee-week-compositions/

Gillian Howell
Australia
14 June 2010 12:01 PM

Well. All the children in our assembly (aged 5-7) listened to a song in another language...and tried to join in!

Ali Storrie
Brent
14 June 2010 11:55 AM

I went to the festival at Southbank in aid of Refugee Week. We sang and danced to some great music.

Sean MacMillan
Clapton
14 June 2010 10:59 AM

I went to the festival in aid of Refugee Week. We sang and danced to some fantastic musicians

Rosanne Goode
Hackney
14 June 2010 10:57 AM

I shared lots of songs on the main stage of Celebrating sanctuary! It was wicked!

Nana
London
14 June 2010 08:09 AM

Held a fantastic event of songs and dances from a variety of musical cultures accompanied with live music. Involving three classes of primary school age children.

Caroline Anne McCluskey
York
19 May 2010 04:41 PM