Ms. Kathy Giannitsano's third grade class at PS 11 in Woodside, Queens interviewed Clara Lopez, a classroom teacher and Colombian immigrant. Then with the help of teaching artist Leo Schaff the students wrote and recorded this song based on their interview with Clara.  

The students were: students were: Claudia Acosta, Jannath Ahmed, Monica Arora, Agnieszka Nico Boron, Tynell Jarod Brown, Carolann Cely, Anna Chow, Abeda Chowdhury, Dennis Junn Yo Chung, Raphael Do, Ahmed Noor Hasan, Melanie Huerta, Kun Hee Kim, Natalie Kim, Cheyenne Kinder, Raymond Lee, Zubaer Mohsin, Anupama Pilcrow, Kenneth Rios, Destinee Rivera, Patricia Santos, Cathryn Seaman, Jeong Min Shin, Alessa Sikorsky, Kiara Tene, Wesley Ying, Ka Hun Yu.


Clara Saw an Eagle

Clara saw an eagle up in the sky
The wind was blowing in her face 
Causing her to cry
Clara saw an eagle way up high
She thought she saw her father
At the same time

Chorus:
And a tear ran down her lonely eye
She wondered why, she wondered why
It reminded her of when she had
To say goodbye, to say goodbye
Manizales, Colombia – Manizales, Colombia
Manizales, Colombia – Manizales, Colombia

Clara saw an eagle up in the sky
Looking for the river
Where many people died
She thought she saw an angel way up high
And thought about her country
Why must people die?

(Chorus)

Clara saw an eagle up in the sky.

(c) Perfect Kind of Music (ASCAP) words & music: P.S. 11 Class 3-108 (Ms. Giannitsanos) AND Leo Schaff of City Lore -- 2001-02

Clara Saw an Eagle

In City Lore's songwriting artist residency, students write songs inspired by their interviews with family, school, and community members. In 2004, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff worked with two 3rd grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens to write and perform songs about their school and neighborhood. Ms. Bilihoutis' and Mrs. Siegel's classes created songs about their community, including songs about Jovita Inges, the long-time and beloved security guard at P.S. 11.

"Woodside" is written and performed by Mrs. Siegel's class.

Woodside

As part of the songwriting residency, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff taught Ms. Giannitsanos' and Ms. Fotakis' third grade classes critical interviewing skills. These included close listening, open-ended vs. closed questions, follow-up and elaboration, and note-taking. This is an excerpt from an interview conducted by the students with Clara Lopez about her life. With Leo's help students then took what they learned from their interview and crafted it into an original song honoring Clara.

Interview with Clara Lopez questions

Interview excerpt with Clara Lopez - student questions

Founded in 1986, City Lore’s mission is to foster New York City – and America’s – living cultural heritage through education and public programs.  We document, present, and advocate for New York City’s grassroots cultures to ensure their living legacy in stories and histories, places and traditions.  We work in four cultural domains:  urban folklore and history; preservation; arts  education; and grassroots poetry traditions. In each of these realms, we see ourselves as furthering cultural equity and modeling a better world with projects as dynamic and diverse as New York City itself.

Woodside

City Lore

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