Even Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and the other brilliant artists that came together originally to record the song would be blown away hearing these elementary school students sing their “We Are The World” cover.

“We Are the World” was recorded by USA for Africa in 1985 as a charity single to raise money for food and relief aid for the starving in Africa. The song’s chorus begins with the following three lines:

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving

Emmy Bodner is a music teacher at Clarksville Elementary School in Clarksville, Indiana. Ms. Bodner, whom we see primarily in short glimpses in the video, arranged and directed her students in this heart-stopping and inspiring video.

The video opens with four separate solos by four precious elementary girls of different ages. And, boy, do they show talent and heart! Next, we see a whole crew of students scattered across red gymnasium bleachers. They sing the chorus, and it’s lovely to see kids as varied and unique as the face masks they wear.

Three gentlemen take the lead on the next verse, and we are back in the gym for the second chorus. A boy with blond-tipped hair, a sweetheart with glasses, and a little guy with a few missing teeth belt out the bridge. Spine-tingling!

The video continues in classrooms where kids sway and dance and exude true joy! And, just when it appears the closing is near, we are on the playground with three young rappers delivering an updated addendum to the classic. One of them wears a pink heart on her chest, and it just fits—literally and figuratively.

As the rap ends, a quintet of adorable singers sing a verse in Spanish, and their smiling faces need no translation! The song ends with students playing, jumping, dancing, and, finally, with one little lady singing the last lines.

Ms. Bodner collected clips of her students performing “We Are the World” throughout the year, and they came together to create this beautiful video. What a gift she gave her students throughout that process! What a gift she gave those of us watching!

By the way, Ms. Bodner is a former American Idol contestant and currently performs as part of the music duo, Southern Sirens.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6