Music Smarties

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Social Studies Songs

I have had much success incorporating music in my social studies classes throughout the past 20 years. For one, the element of surprise keeps the students engaged, especially since they expect to read the text and do a worksheet or the questions at the end of the chapter. Also, music livens up the atmosphere and speaks to emotions and physical senses. One of the highlights of my high school history experience was when the teacher played music from the particular time period in which we were studying. The resources available at http://www.loc.gov/ are simply amazing, since you can hear an actual recording of the song and a plethora of other information on the historical context of the piece.

The January archive shows two songs that I have used numerous times with my elementary students as well as college students. They are "The Body Globe" and "We're Democracy."

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Eight Smarts Song (about Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences)

The Eight Smarts Song
By Ruth Johnston, former Indiana CLASS Cadre Coach
Faculty at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana
Tune: The Brady Bunch theme song

Did you know that every person here is smart?
Intelligence is shown in many ways.
Think of hobbies and what you love to do
And reasons you get praise.

Intelligence, intelligence
There are eight ways to show intelligence.

When you’re WORD SMART it means you’re good at reading
Doing speeches, writing stories, listening.
MATH AND LOGIC people work well with numbers
And problem solving.

The BODY SMART folks love hands-on learning
And move their bodies with skill and control.
If you like rhythm or sing or play piano
MUSIC is in your soul.

Intelligence, intelligence
There are eight ways to show intelligence

PICTURE SMART people create art objects
Or rearrange a room inside their mind.
If animals and plants and bugs keep your attention
Through NATURE you’re defined.

SELF SMART is to know your thoughts and feelings
And enjoy time reflecting all alone.
PEOPLE SMART means working well with others
Or motivating them with a microphone.

Intelligence, intelligence
There are eight ways to show intelligence.

Democracy Song for Upper Elem. and Middle School

We’re Democracy
By Clint Klose and Larry Wolfe
(K-6 Lyrical Lessons are available
From Kagan Cooperative Learning)
Tune: I’ve Been Working on the Railroad

This is a song for 2 voices (or groups). One person (group) sings Part A, then other sings Part B.

A I’m a local politician down at City Hall
B If you have a “public problem” grab the phone and make a call.
A I’m your voice in city council through me you’ll be heard
B We can make the rules together; together we’ll be heard.

Chorus:
(AB throughout)
We’re democracy together you and me
“We the people” govern our country
We can have a voice, we can have a choice
We’re a “peopleocracy.”

A You vote put me here in Congress; Washington, that is.
B All the “Reps” from every state are the House of Representatives
A Some states have more people in them, needing more “Reps,” too
B And the states with fewer people only need a few.

Chorus

B Representatives in congress must live in your state
A We are twenty-five or older (younger “Reps” have to wait)
B We’re elected every two years; we can be replaced
A Must be citizens a long time, and mustn’t be “two-faced!”

Chorus

A I’m a senator in Congress; your vote put me here.
B I’m a senator in Congress; write a letter “bend my ear.”
A It’s my job to represent you, I work many hours
B You can help me make some choices – spending our tax dollars.

Chorus

B Senators work in the Senate; Six-year terms they serve
A Senators are over thirty; some are spenders, some conserve
B Must be citizens for nine years; can’t think out of date
A Senate has a hundred workers – two from every state!

Chorus

Body Globe Song - Elementary Level

Here is a song that I created to offer musical and kinesthetic components to learning the continents as taught in American schools.

Body Globe Song
by Ruth Johnston
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

North Pole, Equator, South Pole, Atlantic
(Point to head, then waist, then toes, wave arms in front of body)

Europe, Asia, Africa
(Left arm 90 up degrees, extend arm making a large circle, then make a large circle below Europe)

North and South America
(Right arm up 90 degrees, arm down 90 degrees)

Pacific Ocean and Australia
(Right arm reaches back in waves, then circle down and behind your body

Don’t forget Antarctica
(Point to below knees near toes)

Body globes are terrific-ah!