Links to resources for:
nursery rhymes (2 of 7) 10 min
Aiken Drum (Irish)
humorous "vegetable version" on youtube
groovy version on youtube
folktale to read
background and lyrics
The Ash Grove (Welsh)
background and lyrics
images of ash trees
music only
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (South African-Zulu?)
Lion King clip
Carrickfergus (Irish)
background
virtual tour of town and castle
music only -Chieftans & Van Morrison
tune & lyrics
Now is the Hour (Maori)
background
World Cup singing
The Log Driver's Waltz (Canadian)
background
archival film/animated with song
Captian Tractor version-music only
A Man's A Man For A' That (Scottish)
lyrics and tune
background
bagpipes to show off fingering method
bagpipe group
slower version-music only
Simple Gifts (Shaker Hymn)
lyrics and info and simple tune
music with photos by Ansel Adams
music- Yo-Yo Ma & Alison Krauss with sweet stills
Click Go the Shears (Australian)
Olivia Newton John video with sheep-shearing (needs a bit of prepping)
music only
background
even more background-includes word meanings
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Colonial Days
Around the 4th of July near our stomping grounds, a colonial village of sorts pops up. Time warps and coincedental school subject correlations are something I jump on when the opportunity (or TARDIS) presents itself.
Near the entrance was a wonderful Mayflower replica with all kinds of seaworthy instruments I couldn't figure out how to work--but they were pretty!
Then further in was a traditional oven with colonial treats at practically colonial prices (we each went back for thirds.)
Sauntering in some more we found a large tent lined with replicas
There were plenty of ways for the kids to try-out colonial life; school sessions (Bowery Bird & Mockingbird donned white ruffly caps), rope-making (Kingfisher made 3), water hauling (very time-consuming), and even colonial costumes to try on (so fun for us & generous of them!)
There was a casket maker's tent, pottery, wooden tureen ware, lace-making, preaching, and lots of little white tents for the volunteers to over-night it (a surprised Kingfisher lifted the flap to one.)
But most memorable indeed was the tent filled with military uniforms of various wars--Revolution, Civil, etc. apparently still soiled with blood and worn with wear.
Amazed, I asked the young man standing there, "These are great! Where did you get them from?"
"Get what from?" he responded.
"the costumes--where do they come from?"
"My closet" and he looked me square in the eye.
And if you were fool enough to ask the same question again (I am) a smart aleck would respond the same (he did.)
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Sunday, July 1, 2012
Math Tactics
Mockingbird, making herself a quesadilla with two tortillas and cheese:
"Mom I'm cutting my cheese wheel first in half... then in fourths...then eighths...then spider web!"
Because math comes E-asily to my right-brained, intuitive self...
Because nothing is more relaxing for me than teaching renaming in multiplication while hearing a baby cry herself to sleep in the next room on lawn-mowing day as someone else tells me they are hungry 30 minutes post lunch, and my student at hand is falling over in their chair with whatever sound effects that particular child is known for.
Really. Not only am I the epitome of calm at that time, but it is just at that particular moment I often ponder on the joy and privilege of getting to teach this aspect of knowledge to my dear, dear children.
This would be the sole reason I buy candy now. and potato chips. and am looking forward to Halloween candy now for the first time--E-v-e-r. (We've already got our costumes planned.)
Also silly putty-which worked pretty well with 9dd today. No whining, could do mental math with it, and-did I mention no whining? She was fascinated with it since it was the first time in her life she'd seen the stuff, and played with it the entire time--coming to attention when I hinted it might be too distracting.
And this is hidden for when we hit long division again.
"Mom I'm cutting my cheese wheel first in half... then in fourths...then eighths...then spider web!"
Because math comes E-asily to my right-brained, intuitive self...
Because nothing is more relaxing for me than teaching renaming in multiplication while hearing a baby cry herself to sleep in the next room on lawn-mowing day as someone else tells me they are hungry 30 minutes post lunch, and my student at hand is falling over in their chair with whatever sound effects that particular child is known for.
Really. Not only am I the epitome of calm at that time, but it is just at that particular moment I often ponder on the joy and privilege of getting to teach this aspect of knowledge to my dear, dear children.
This would be the sole reason I buy candy now. and potato chips. and am looking forward to Halloween candy now for the first time--E-v-e-r. (We've already got our costumes planned.)
Also silly putty-which worked pretty well with 9dd today. No whining, could do mental math with it, and-did I mention no whining? She was fascinated with it since it was the first time in her life she'd seen the stuff, and played with it the entire time--coming to attention when I hinted it might be too distracting.
And this is hidden for when we hit long division again.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
I Heart Librarians--I mean, Libraries
This is to you Mr Librarian with the dreamy blue eyes;
I know someone else with gorgeous eyes...What was his name?..
As soon as I see you behind the desk I lose all rational thought and go straight to your kiosk--even if I have to wait and there's another librarian open (the one that didn't even know your library had Gregorian Chants).
I ask if you have a certain movie even though I know how to work the Horizon Information Portal--Advanced Searches by Keyword if necessary. And if your library catalog doesn't have it, I even know that now I can request films through Interlibary Loan.
But I ask you anyway.
You don't even have to write the call number down. You are that good.
I follow you down the aisle of Drama and watch you find the case. As you hand it to me I hear you say,
"Good flick--have you seen it before?"
"Oh, no" I gush, "My husband has--My husband! I think I hear him calling me...My husband. On the phone, I mean...I better go. Thanks--"
My husband who doesn't have dreamy blue eyes.
He has dreamy brown eyes--how could I forget?
He is the man who lets me sleep in when he has to get up early, will go to 3 stores to find what I want, can make me laugh when I'd rather cry, and still tells me I'm beautiful on my worst days. Oh yes, and those dreamy brown-eyes.
How could I forget? Just kidding, honey- I never could, but I did forget something else I needed at the library...Don't worry, I'll just pick it up tomorrow.
I know someone else with gorgeous eyes...What was his name?..
As soon as I see you behind the desk I lose all rational thought and go straight to your kiosk--even if I have to wait and there's another librarian open (the one that didn't even know your library had Gregorian Chants).
I ask if you have a certain movie even though I know how to work the Horizon Information Portal--Advanced Searches by Keyword if necessary. And if your library catalog doesn't have it, I even know that now I can request films through Interlibary Loan.
But I ask you anyway.
You don't even have to write the call number down. You are that good.
I follow you down the aisle of Drama and watch you find the case. As you hand it to me I hear you say,
"Good flick--have you seen it before?"
"Oh, no" I gush, "My husband has--My husband! I think I hear him calling me...My husband. On the phone, I mean...I better go. Thanks--"
My husband who doesn't have dreamy blue eyes.
He has dreamy brown eyes--how could I forget?
He is the man who lets me sleep in when he has to get up early, will go to 3 stores to find what I want, can make me laugh when I'd rather cry, and still tells me I'm beautiful on my worst days. Oh yes, and those dreamy brown-eyes.
How could I forget? Just kidding, honey- I never could, but I did forget something else I needed at the library...Don't worry, I'll just pick it up tomorrow.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tomato Garden Notes
We hadn't been to the garden in weeks and discovered a jungle where only sprouts had been late one summer evening.
Children at twilight,
in the garden,
on safari,
lurking in the weeds.
Plants are up,
water's down,
a month ago,
just a seeds.
Tomato Treasure Hunt-
over a hundred
in our bucket.
Baby adds some stones.
Darkness settles,
those with decorum,
would be speaking
in hushed tones.
Tools are discovered,
in an unlocked shed,
guarded by a brown recluse.
Weapons
are handed out-
now they're on the loose!
Boys get shovels
and they dig,
a hole in middle of the path.
At a word ,
it's filled back up-
fearing someones'
wrath.
It's late
I'm tan-or is it dirt?
"You'll have to come back
to finish your work."
"It's time to put on make-up"
(a little boy's quote),
as mud goes up-
from toes to throat.
A train sped past,
8 minutes since
the shudder and the blast.
We know because
they filmed it,
filmed it to the last.
I hear tinkeling-
child-laughter-sounds,
like echoes, where I'm at.
Hide-and-seek is happening,
while
I am deep within
the plant.
I can't help it-
It gets blurry.
Is it now-
Or is it then?
am I ten or-
am I thirty?
It's all so slow-
then-sudd-en.
I hear childhood...
I smell green...
I taste red...
I feel I've been.
Children at twilight,
in the garden,
on safari,
lurking in the weeds.
Plants are up,
water's down,
a month ago,
just a seeds.
Tomato Treasure Hunt-
over a hundred
in our bucket.
Baby adds some stones.
Darkness settles,
those with decorum,
would be speaking
in hushed tones.
Tools are discovered,
in an unlocked shed,
guarded by a brown recluse.
Weapons
are handed out-
now they're on the loose!
Boys get shovels
and they dig,
a hole in middle of the path.
At a word ,
it's filled back up-
fearing someones'
wrath.
It's late
I'm tan-or is it dirt?
"You'll have to come back
to finish your work."
"It's time to put on make-up"
(a little boy's quote),
as mud goes up-
from toes to throat.
A train sped past,
8 minutes since
the shudder and the blast.
We know because
they filmed it,
filmed it to the last.
I hear tinkeling-
child-laughter-sounds,
like echoes, where I'm at.
Hide-and-seek is happening,
while
I am deep within
the plant.
I can't help it-
It gets blurry.
Is it now-
Or is it then?
am I ten or-
am I thirty?
It's all so slow-
then-sudd-en.
I hear childhood...
I smell green...
I taste red...
I feel I've been.