Peace, Love and Music for all!

This week we learned about some of my favorite teaching topics: diversity, cultures around the world, peace and music! We learned about the message of Martin Luther King, and went around the circle passing the globe ball and taking a turn to make a wish for people everywhere that started with the words "I have a dream…"

We also learned about kids who live in places where they may eat different foods than we do, wear different clothes and speak in another language, but that they are just like us in many ways-- to borrow  words from one of our favorite books from the week: "same same, but different."

Here are a few books that I highly recommend that teach about diversity, acceptance and the wonder our our great big world with all of its variations and commonalities:

On Wednesday we had a great Show & Share with our musical instruments-- what a jam band!

Ms. Claire sang us a beautiful version of "This Little Light of Mine" and played her ukulele. What a treat!

I borrowed a class set of rhythm sticks and we worked on a little pattern that we played again with our guests the next day.

Ms. Claire has a beautiful singing voice!

We had a BLAST when Miss Helen and Mister Marlon came to share their instruments with us on Thursday. Here's Miss Helen showing the kids how on the Erhu (Chinese violin) the bow is attached to the instrument and can't come off, unlike her violin bow which is separate. 

The kids thought it was fun and silly too when Mister Marlon played "animal music" on the Australian didgeridoo. They also really liked it when he played the tambourine with his foot while playing other instruments with his hands. All the of the children were rather mesmerized and sat with rapt attention throughout the musicians' visit.

The kalimba (from West Africa) is my favorite instrument, so I requested it from Mister Marlon. When he asked the kids what it sounded like, they were able to say that it sounded like a school song "Elephants All Over the World" and they were right--that song features kalimba as well.
Good ears kids!

At the end of their visit, we had a group improvisation jam in which Miss Helen played the Erhu while Mister Marlon played the talking drum. 

Then the kids joined in on the rhythm sticks-- beautiful dissonance!

At the end, Miss Helen switched to harmonica and Mister Marlon to hand drum. We danced and played along with "Little Red Caboose" and everyone participated and had a wonderful time!

In Yoga this week we also learned about peace and how to both draw a peace sign and make one with your body.

In Movement class we jumped over the whole world!

It was a great week to experience all together now that everyone is home from Winter vacation. The kids had a lot of fun playing with all of their friends and rediscovering our classroom toys.

Happy Birthday to Dr. King and best wishes for a wonderful weekend!