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Monday, November 30, 2009

7 Days in a Week



Things sure seem to stay busy this time of the year!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and the count down to the holidays has begun. While we're all hustling and bustling around, sometimes it seems that time goes so fast!

Whether this seems true or not for you, there are still seven days in a week and that is the song that I'd like to share today!

There are a variety of ways you can use this song. Visuals for each day of the week (Days typed out) would be great and also counting the days, 7 in all. I tried to be sure to leave appropriate space when singing the individual days so that verbal students can sing along via "call and response" style. Nonverbal students can participate by holding up a day of the week when it is sung and/or using a switch (pre-programed to sing the chorus)to sing along with the chorus.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and look forward to sharing more songs soon!
<a href="http://morewithmusic.bandcamp.com/track/7-days-in-a-week">7 Days in a Week by More with Music</a>



Chorus:
There are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days in a week. (Repeat)

Now let's name them all,
7 days in a row.
Can you help me name them all?
Ready, here we go!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
(Chorus)

We go to school on the weekdays,
5 days in a row.
We have fun on the weekends,
Saturday and Sunday, you know.
(Chorus)

© 2010 Amanda Ellis

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Recycling Song



A Recycling song!
I have looked in many places for a recycling song to use with students and (no offense to anyone out there), but I have yet to find one that I really, really like and want to brag about.

I probably haven't looked hard enough. In the midst of my search, I went ahead and wrote a song about recycling and the different materials that one can recycle. I can't say it's my favorite and I probably won't brag about it, but it will work for now. :)

<a href="http://morewithmusic.bandcamp.com/track/recycling-song">Recycling Song by More with Music</a>

Here are the lyrics:

Chorus
Paper, Plastic, Glass bottles and Cans.
These are all materials
that can be recycled and used again.

Paper from schoolwork, newspapers and magazines,
recycle them when you can
and help keep the earth green.
(Chorus)

Plastic from water and soda bottles too,
Shampoo and lotion containers,
Recycle them when you can.
It's good for me and you.
(Chorus)

Glass bottles and jars,
contain different things.
Vegetables, sauces, jellies and beverages too.
When they're recycled, it saves money and the environment too.
(Chorus)

Cans from sodas and food cans too,
they can be recycled after they're used.
Recycling cans saves money and the natural resources of our land.
(Chorusx2)

© 2010 Amanda Ellis

Saturday, November 21, 2009

This is the Turkey



Here's a song I wrote to compliment a book that a teacher read to her class this week. The book is called "This is the Turkey" and it is written by Abby Levine. It is a beautifully illustrated book centering around the theme of the foods we eat at Thanksgiving and of course, family.

In the story, a quite unusual accident happens with the Thanksgiving turkey...it slips out of the mother's hands and lands in an aquarium! Of course, the story then concentrates on the abundance of foods left for the feast and family surrounding us being the most important thing.

<a href="http://morewithmusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-turkey-flew">The Turkey Flew! by More with Music</a>


In using this song after students have read the book, one could program a voice output device (such as a big mac) to say, "Oh Dear, Oh me, what will we eat?" or you could print out pictures of the foods in the song and allow students to choose "What will you eat?" via picture. Incorporating a GoTalk4 or GoTalk9 so that nonverbal students can choose which foods they will eat would also work well with this song.

What are your favorite books for a Thanksgiving theme?

Paper CD Cases

I stumbled across this while online this morning and just had to share!

This might be time consuming and involve more work than putting a CD in a normal CD sleeve or case, but for special occasions/holidays with decoarative paper, I think these could be really cute!

What do you think?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I am Thankful

Here's a song that I love to use during this time of the year.
It is titled, "I am Thankful" and it is written by by Hap Palmer. He's been around for awhile and has many great songs and CDs. You can check him out on his site here. On his site, you can find his CDs and also the lyrics and free activity ideas to go along with his songs.
His song, "I am Thankful" is a great one to use for a Thanksgiving theme. I like it especially because you can ask students what they are thankful for and insert their responses right into the song. I have recorded it with answers in the song just so you can get the idea of how this song sounds/works, etc. I only use this song for educational purposes as well.

<a href="http://morewithmusic.bandcamp.com/track/i-am-thankful">I am Thankful by More with Music</a>

Isn't it awesome when a song naturally targets a goal? (i.e. answering Wh questions: "What are you thankful for?") :)

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Food



Several of the classrooms I am work within are studying the 5 food groups this month and talking about energy, balanced diet, etc. (as a way to lead right into the Thanksgiving feast, I'm sure!).

I wrote this song as an introduction to a five food groups unit. I also have separate songs about each food group. If you haven't checked it out yet, go to the Dole website (here) and (among others), listen to their fruits and vegetable song, "SuperKids Song". It's hip, fun, and can be appropriate for elementary through high school age classes to sing!



(Chorus)
Apples, Oranges, Corn and Broccoli,
Food is good for you and me!
Milk and Eggs, Yogurt and Cheese,
Food is good for you and me!

Food is made up of nutrients that help
our bodies to grow.
Food gives us energy everyday to get up, and go!

(Repeat Chorus)

*I hope you are having a great weekend and looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday coming up! I'm looking forward to a few days off!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Ted the Turkey



Hello!
Here's a song you can use for "turkey" season with students. I think it has the possibilities of being a really fun and cute song! :)

I found lyrics to the first part of this song on the internet and it us usually sung to the tune of "I'm a little teapot". I added the additional lyrics and changed the tune so that I can use this song with younger and older students. I will use this song for educational purposes only.

Some of the ways you might use this song include asking "Wh" questions (i.e. What is the turkey's name? What does a turkey say?) and then with the second half of the song, ask students, Where could the turkey hide?" You can have pictures printed representing choices of where the turkey could hide and let students pick one of the pictures, or for more advanced students, let them draw the place where the turkey could hide. I'm sure you will get some very creative answers!
<a href="http://morewithmusic.bandcamp.com/track/ted-the-turkey">Ted the Turkey by More with Music</a>

I'm a little turkey.
My name is Ted.
Here are my feathers,
And here is my head.
Gobble, gobble, gobble
is what I say
and I'm running away on Thanksgiving day, Yes!
I'm running away on Thanksgiving Day!

Where should I go? Where should I hide?
Should I stay inside? Or should I run outside?
Where should I go? Where should I stay?
Cause I'm running away on Thanksgiving Day, Yes
I'm running away, on Thanksgiving Day!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Rett Syndrome

Please take 90 seconds and watch this Rett Syndrome Public Service Announcement! Help us spread the word by sharing it with others too!