Explorers and Trailblazers Drama 9/16/2014

It was a joy to finally be able to meet all the students and see how they connected with Drama activities.  Every class has its own personality and creativity, and they were delightful to work with.

Once again our focus was on practicing skills.  We spent time working on the vocal skills of projection and articulation with the first phrases of The Pledge of Allegiance.  Then we worked on movement and creative thinking with pantomime activities and character walking.

Treasure Hunters 9/16/2014

Focus: The Erie Canal

Explore table: Which items sink or float?
Literature/Listen:
We read the Amazing Impossible Erie Canal by Cheryl Harness.
We discussed how the canal was dug and what it did for trade. In addition the children dug their own canal using sand and toothpicks as shovels- hard work!
Music:
We continued learning about rhythms through words and clapping. This week
we learned a new note- three eighths note ( silly word- pineapple). The children listened to the song "Erie Canal" and continued learning their special song.

Questions to ask this week: What was the Erie Canal? A long pathway of water that was dug from Buffalo to Albany, NY.  Why was it built? To help the trade and selling of goods

Jacksonian Democracy - History 1&2

Andrew Jackson, our 7th president, grew up as a common rural boy.  He warned that the nation had been corrupted by "special privilege.”  At that time the US was a deferential society, submitting to the wealthy to make decisions for the country.  The proper road to reform, according to Jackson, lay in an absolute acceptance of egalitarianism, majority rule. 

Jackson believed in offering access to  affordable western land to ordinary white Americans (unfortunately, Jackson took racism for granted). At the same time, industrialization was coming to America.  To facilitate the movement of raw resources, people, and supplies, the Erie Canal was built linking Buffalo to New York City, decreasing freight costs significantly. The canal boats were slow, but could pull thousands of passengers each year with the help of mules who pulled the boats along a towpath. With increased population, better health, and new technology, a market revolution arose, leading to a boom in cash-crop agriculture, capitalist manufacturing, and westward expansion. 

In class activities:

• discussed beginning of industrialization and the change to steam power
• built our own  mill wheels
• learned about Andrew Jackson and democracy
• discussed the difference between deferential and egalitarian leadership
• made a list of changes caused by the building of the Erie Canal

Optional lesson extension activities:

• Watch a video of what it is like to travel through the locks of the Erie Canal - look for the rising water
• Travel in the Erie Canal Time Machine online
• Listen to 15 Miles on the Erie Canal by Thomas S. Allen (1876-1919)  This song is about the time when mule powered boats were common along the canal.  Listen for the "low bridge" warning in the song - Travelers would typically ride on the roof of boats when the conditions allowed, but low bridges along the route would require that they either duck down or get off the roof for the boat to fit under bridges.  

I've got an old mule and her name is Sal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
We've hauled some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
And every inch of the way we know
From Albany to Buffalo
Chorus:Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge for we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal
We'd better look 'round for a job old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
'Cause you bet your life I'd never part with Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Git up there mule, here comes a lock
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
One more trip and back we'll go
Right back home to Buffalo
ChorusOh, where would I be if I lost my pal?
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Oh, I'd like to see a mule as good as Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he's got a busted jaw,
'Cause she let fly with her iron toe,
And kicked him in to Buffalo.
ChorusDon't have to call when I want my Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She trots from her stall like a good old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
I eat my meals with Sal each day
I eat beef and she eats hay
And she ain't so slow if you want to know
She put the "Buff" in Buffalo
Chorus

In preparation for next week's class please:

• read history cards #4&5
• practice your timeline

Music - Pathfinders/Navigators

Chopin's signature
Public Domain - author passed away 1847

Today we took our first look into some music from the "Romantic Period". We studied the very famous Polish composer, Frederic Chopin. He was truly an amazing pianist with a most interesting personality as well. Unfortunately he died at age 39 from tuberculosis, despite that, he still accomplished quite a bit in that short period of time. In class we listened to several pieces that he wrote, one(Polonaise in G minor) he wrote when he was only 8 years old!
At the same time that Chopin was writing and performing music in France(where he settled in the later part of his life), here in our homeland a very familiar song was written. "My Country, Tis of Thee" was written in 1831. And we'll be taking a closer look at that next week...

Music - Explorers/Trailblazers

Camille Saint-SaensUS Library of Congress ID ggbain.19050
Public Domain - first publication prior to January 1, 1923

Today we studied a Classical Composer from France. His name is Camille Saint-Saens (make sure you ask your children how to pronounce that). Camille Saint-Saens was a child prodigy who started writing music when he was just 4 years old. He wrote many, many pieces right into his later years, and he also conducted and played both piano and organ. In class we got to experience a piece that he wrote for children when he was actually 51, "The Carnival of the Animals". The children got to listen to the story and the music. The Explorers got to act out each part, and the Trailblazers drew their own pictures to go along with the music.

Drama - All Classes 9/9/2014

Our goals for the first few weeks of Drama classes are to practice the basics of drama (Vocalization, Stage Presence, Characterization and Presentation) for each level.  We are starting with Drama games and exercises that allow the students to practice these skills in addition to building teamwork.  The kids have amazing creativity (sometimes they don't even know it) and pick up the skills quickly; especially when we begin to work on them as a group.  I am very excited to see what they will produce in weeks to come.

     

History Navigators/Pathfinders

Today we tackled the most difficult topic we will handle all year - American Exceptionalism. The class became acquainted with the idea that God created the USA to show the world what true freedom, religious, economic, political can look like - when the country is living up to its ideals. We considered the four sides to Civic Culture - Industriousness, Community life, Egalitarianism and Religion - and how these four American values helped us to achieve what other nations have not.