This Little Light of Mine Activity

Activity Overview

The song “This Little Light of Mine" is a gospel song that was originally written in the 1920s. Over time, versus have been added and changed, and it became one of the official songs of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Its lyrics brought people together as they fought for the equal rights of everyone, regardless of skin color.

This song can be used in a number of ways as an activity for younger kids, or older elementary aged students.

A suggestion for grades K-2 would be to listen to the song as a class and sing it together, memorizing the words. Discuss the meaning of the lyrics as a class, and have the students create a cell that highlights their favorite part of the song.

For grades 3-5, teachers could hand out a copy of the lyrics and discuss the meaning as a whole group or in small groups. Be sure to pay attention to how the song relates to the Civil Rights Movement, and why it is pertinent to that time in history. Students would then create a cell that illustrates a part of the song and its meaning.

*Please Note: this song is written as a gospel song, and references Satan.*

”This Little Light of Mine” Lyrics

Template and Class Instructions

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