“This land is your land. This land is my land.” These lyrics remind me, of what we already know, it’s our land, so we better take care of it. Although we need to treat our world carefully all year long, April 22, 2009, has been designated as the day we celebrate and do something special to make our world better. Even at the youngest age, children can learn to appreciate the earth by doing some of the following:
• Plant a tree and watch it grow over the years.
• If you don’t recycle already, talk to your child about what you, as a family, can do to start. If you already are an avid recycler, point out and discuss how you are helping the earth by doing this.
• Remind your child to turn off the water while brushing teeth.
• Promote good habits like turning off lights when no one is in a room.
• Save your unneeded copies or printouts and your child can use the other side for drawing and writing.
• Rather than buying prepackaged lunch kits, save some money by packing your child’s sliced cold cuts and crackers in a container. He or she will still have fun making their own cracker sandwiches, you will save money and help the environment by creating less trash.
• Have television free time and go outside to enjoy the earth. Your child can have fun and get rid of energy playing in the beautiful fresh air.
• Please add your ideas below on the comments section of this thread.
Earth Day is such a great opportunity to take care of our world because, after all. “This land was made for you and me.”
This Land Is Your Land
Written by: Woody Guthrie –
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California
To the New York island,
From the Redwood Forest,
To the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking,
That ribbon of highway,
I saw above me
That endless skyway,
I saw below me
That golden valley.
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled
And I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
The sun comes shining
As I was strolling
The wheat fields waving
And the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I was walkin'
I saw a sign there
And that sign said no tress passin'
But on the other side
It didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office
I see my people
And some are grumblin'
And some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
Friday, April 03, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
A Smile In Today's Stressful Times
Loss of jobs, foreclosure and low investor confidence are a few of the many stressful headlines that seem to dominate our news. While promises of hope and change loom in our thoughts, adults can’t help but to feel added stress. Unfortunately, that stress tends to affect everyone around us, including our children.
The solutions for many of the problems in today’s world will take time to figure out, however, as a family, we can take a moment to focus on some of the more positive aspects of our day and life in general. In “The Sound of Music,” Julie Andrews starts by singing a list of her favorite things, starting with “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.”
At home and in school, we can set aside a few moments each day to keep a list of some of the simple things that make us smile or like in the movie, a few of our favorite things. I have so many favorite things: the smell of flowers blossoming, receiving a card in the mail, the sound of laughter, my husbands smile, a good book and a piece of chocolate are just a few that bring a smile to my face.
As a family, make a daily or weekly list of things that make you happy. If you keep the lists together, you can compare days and see which days you were happier and look for the changes or additions to your list. Remember… it’s your family’s list, so nothing should be considered silly or insignificant as long as it makes someone in the room smile.
Please share the things that make you smile in the comment section below this thread.
While we may not be able to solve the world’s stress, sharing our happy thoughts with each other will remind us of the little things in life that we can often take for granted… like a child’s laughter or a good piece of Godiva chocolate!
The solutions for many of the problems in today’s world will take time to figure out, however, as a family, we can take a moment to focus on some of the more positive aspects of our day and life in general. In “The Sound of Music,” Julie Andrews starts by singing a list of her favorite things, starting with “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.”
At home and in school, we can set aside a few moments each day to keep a list of some of the simple things that make us smile or like in the movie, a few of our favorite things. I have so many favorite things: the smell of flowers blossoming, receiving a card in the mail, the sound of laughter, my husbands smile, a good book and a piece of chocolate are just a few that bring a smile to my face.
As a family, make a daily or weekly list of things that make you happy. If you keep the lists together, you can compare days and see which days you were happier and look for the changes or additions to your list. Remember… it’s your family’s list, so nothing should be considered silly or insignificant as long as it makes someone in the room smile.
Please share the things that make you smile in the comment section below this thread.
While we may not be able to solve the world’s stress, sharing our happy thoughts with each other will remind us of the little things in life that we can often take for granted… like a child’s laughter or a good piece of Godiva chocolate!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Please CLICK HERE on COMMENTS to Ask Your Question
Hello Everyone!
Please feel free to post your questions on the COMMENTS part of this post. ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO READ WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE WORD COMMENTS BELOW THIS POST.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All good wishes!
Bernadette
PS: To see questons I have answered in the past, you will find them in BLOG ARCHIVES:
October 2007
July 10th 2007
June 19, 2006
Please feel free to post your questions on the COMMENTS part of this post. ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO READ WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE WORD COMMENTS BELOW THIS POST.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All good wishes!
Bernadette
PS: To see questons I have answered in the past, you will find them in BLOG ARCHIVES:
October 2007
July 10th 2007
June 19, 2006
Manners, Please!!
BOOK REVIEW FOR:
The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
By: Stan & Jan Berenstain
Poor Mama Bear was fed up. What started out as simply forgetting a please or thank you had escalated into an utterly rude home. Finally, Mama put her paw down and made up “The Bear Family Politeness Plan.” In one column, Mama listed all the rude behaviors she had witnessed from not saying please or thank you to name-calling. In the other column, Mama listed a penalty for each behavior ranging in realistic chores from sweeping to dusting.
By the end of the story, Brother and Sister learn that through practice, good manners become a common activity. Even Papa learns that when he is especially polite in a very difficult situation, others respond similarly.
It’s never too early or too late to work on manners. As with the whole Bear family forgetting manners, everyone makes mistakes. However a politeness plan is a simple reminder that good manners are one of the keys to a successful day and a happy home or classroom environment.
After reading a story like The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners, families can discuss the importance of good manners and what happens when everyone forgets them. Together come up with a list of things that you agree are rude and a realistic chore/penalty for each behavior.
Place your politeness plan in a well-traveled location as a reminder for good manners and review the rules daily until proper manners become regular practice. Hopefully you will be as happy with the outcome as Mama was.
The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners
By: Stan & Jan Berenstain
Poor Mama Bear was fed up. What started out as simply forgetting a please or thank you had escalated into an utterly rude home. Finally, Mama put her paw down and made up “The Bear Family Politeness Plan.” In one column, Mama listed all the rude behaviors she had witnessed from not saying please or thank you to name-calling. In the other column, Mama listed a penalty for each behavior ranging in realistic chores from sweeping to dusting.
By the end of the story, Brother and Sister learn that through practice, good manners become a common activity. Even Papa learns that when he is especially polite in a very difficult situation, others respond similarly.
It’s never too early or too late to work on manners. As with the whole Bear family forgetting manners, everyone makes mistakes. However a politeness plan is a simple reminder that good manners are one of the keys to a successful day and a happy home or classroom environment.
After reading a story like The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners, families can discuss the importance of good manners and what happens when everyone forgets them. Together come up with a list of things that you agree are rude and a realistic chore/penalty for each behavior.
Place your politeness plan in a well-traveled location as a reminder for good manners and review the rules daily until proper manners become regular practice. Hopefully you will be as happy with the outcome as Mama was.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Proud to be American
In the blink of an eye, I can be transported to that awful day, September 11, 2001, but hope and pray to never relive it. Many of our classes had just begun or were starting circle time, children were in the final phases of being dropped off for the day and some of the staff were starting their shifts when that first plane hit The World Trade Center. I’ll never forget the look of horror and sadness when I saw two of the teachers standing in faraway corner hugging each other with tears in their eyes.
As we tried to learn what was going on, our priority was to keep the children innocent and shelter them from the knowledge that such evil could strike our country. Seven years later, I still believe young children should be sheltered from what we can hardly understand ourselves.
However, while many of us(adults) will be attending church services or watching the memorial on television, it is always important to foster pride and love for the USA in our children. Being patriotic Americans starts at the earliest age and continues to grow throughout our lifetime.
Each year, I send out a list of activities that you can do regularly to honor the USA and promote your love and pride for our country. In case you have missed them in the past, they are at the bottom of this article. My latest suggestion, however, is a healthy recipe:
Patriotic Parfait
Ingredients:
Red- Strawberries
White- Yogurt or Cool Whip
Blue- Blueberries
In a clear cup layer each item so it makes a pretty red, white and blue stripe design.
To connect this to learning, count and sort the berries for math. Discuss how they taste, smell and feel for science and for language, write a story a few sentences about the activity you just did. Your social portion has been family togetherness to make a healthy and delicious treat. And while speaking of healthy don’t forget to wash hands before you start cooking/ preparing food. ☺
While can never and should never forget the horror of 9/11, we can, like all days, have it be a day to reinforce pride in our country and good citizenship.
May God continue to bless America!
Below are some PREVIOUS ideas, songs and links, which can help build and foster proud American families:
∗ Share your love of the USA with your child in conversation.
∗ Make cupcakes and decorate red, white and blue with white frosting, strawberries and blueberries.
∗ Hang an American flag at home.
∗ Point out the American flag to your child each time you see it when you are out.
∗ Have a red, white and blue parade. The leader can carry the American flag, while others carry drums and red, white and blue streamers.
∗ Make up chants and cheers like, “Red, white, blue… We love you!” and “USA, Hooray!”
∗ Play patriotic music and teach your child songs like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle.”
∗ Make American flags with precut red strips of paper, a blue rectangle and star stickers your child can glue on to a white paper. To add a “flagpole,” you can tape on an empty roll from wrapping paper.
Songs:
God Bless America
Written by: Irving Berlin
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America.
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home.
Yankee Doodle
Written by: Richard Shuckburgh
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion
A-giving orders to his men
I guess there was a million.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
This Land Is Your Land
Written by: Woody Guthrie -
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California
To the New York island,
From the Redwood Forest,
To the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking,
That ribbon of highway,
I saw above me
That endless skyway,
I saw below me
That golden valley.
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled
And I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
The sun comes shining
As I was strolling
The wheat fields waving
And the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I was walkin'
I saw a sign there
And that sign said no tress passin'
But on the other side
It didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office
I see my people
And some are grumblin'
And some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
http://www.wesign.com/ProductsPatriotic.htm
All songs on We Sign Patriotic Songs were designed specifically for young children and preschoolers. Signing both words and phrases are made by kids for kids. Some of the many words include:
This
Went
Town
Riding
Stuck
Feather
Cap
And many more!
As we tried to learn what was going on, our priority was to keep the children innocent and shelter them from the knowledge that such evil could strike our country. Seven years later, I still believe young children should be sheltered from what we can hardly understand ourselves.
However, while many of us(adults) will be attending church services or watching the memorial on television, it is always important to foster pride and love for the USA in our children. Being patriotic Americans starts at the earliest age and continues to grow throughout our lifetime.
Each year, I send out a list of activities that you can do regularly to honor the USA and promote your love and pride for our country. In case you have missed them in the past, they are at the bottom of this article. My latest suggestion, however, is a healthy recipe:
Patriotic Parfait
Ingredients:
Red- Strawberries
White- Yogurt or Cool Whip
Blue- Blueberries
In a clear cup layer each item so it makes a pretty red, white and blue stripe design.
To connect this to learning, count and sort the berries for math. Discuss how they taste, smell and feel for science and for language, write a story a few sentences about the activity you just did. Your social portion has been family togetherness to make a healthy and delicious treat. And while speaking of healthy don’t forget to wash hands before you start cooking/ preparing food. ☺
While can never and should never forget the horror of 9/11, we can, like all days, have it be a day to reinforce pride in our country and good citizenship.
May God continue to bless America!
Below are some PREVIOUS ideas, songs and links, which can help build and foster proud American families:
∗ Share your love of the USA with your child in conversation.
∗ Make cupcakes and decorate red, white and blue with white frosting, strawberries and blueberries.
∗ Hang an American flag at home.
∗ Point out the American flag to your child each time you see it when you are out.
∗ Have a red, white and blue parade. The leader can carry the American flag, while others carry drums and red, white and blue streamers.
∗ Make up chants and cheers like, “Red, white, blue… We love you!” and “USA, Hooray!”
∗ Play patriotic music and teach your child songs like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle.”
∗ Make American flags with precut red strips of paper, a blue rectangle and star stickers your child can glue on to a white paper. To add a “flagpole,” you can tape on an empty roll from wrapping paper.
Songs:
God Bless America
Written by: Irving Berlin
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America.
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home.
Yankee Doodle
Written by: Richard Shuckburgh
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion
A-giving orders to his men
I guess there was a million.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
This Land Is Your Land
Written by: Woody Guthrie -
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California
To the New York island,
From the Redwood Forest,
To the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking,
That ribbon of highway,
I saw above me
That endless skyway,
I saw below me
That golden valley.
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled
And I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
The sun comes shining
As I was strolling
The wheat fields waving
And the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I was walkin'
I saw a sign there
And that sign said no tress passin'
But on the other side
It didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office
I see my people
And some are grumblin'
And some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
http://www.wesign.com/ProductsPatriotic.htm
All songs on We Sign Patriotic Songs were designed specifically for young children and preschoolers. Signing both words and phrases are made by kids for kids. Some of the many words include:
This
Went
Town
Riding
Stuck
Feather
Cap
And many more!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Exercise to Jump Start the Brain and Promote Healthy Habits
As adults, we know all the benefits regular exercise provides the brain. Exercise helps us to reduce stress levels, build stamina and promote energy, all while helping to maintain a healthy body and weight. As all the wonders of technology advance, many children are losing the drive to play outdoors and get good healthy exercise in favor of watching television, playing video games and other sedentary activity.
NJ Family has written a wonderful article, The Body Brain Connection by Tanya Kessler: http://www.njfamily.com/en/news/The_Body_Brain_Connection.aspx?cat=7&news=532&user=820
which provides great links that promote an easy understanding of the benefits of exercise in school aged children and adolescents and skills to keep them sharp.
At Rainbow Academy, we have always found that active exercise, combined with fresh air enhances the well being of the whole young child. All of our centers provide a playground with space for the children to explore, run, jump, dig and quite simply be children, while at the same time a space to do a large enough empty space to do class activities and games. Many days, you will see children enjoying a game of Duck, Duck, Goose, playing Follow the Leader or some other organized physical activity.
On the days weather hinders outdoor play, many of our centers offer indoor gyms and ALL of our centers have space in every classroom to provide room for and encourage regular exercise. We play many games and have compact disks which focus on and enhance large motor skills, movement in the arms and legs.
Below are some simple physical activities children enjoy:
1. Stretching… stretch out those silly bones from your neck to your toes.
2. Dancing
3. Movement/music with scarves. Dance looks so pretty when you add a scarf or ribbon.
4. Play Follow the Leader. Change movements and leaders often. Leaders jump, skip, hop, swirl, fly like an airplane and do anything creative. This will also enhance leadership and following direction skills.
5. Mimic. Take turns mimicking each other’s actions. For example, you clap three times, pat your knees three times and stamp your feet three times. Your child will mimic your movements. Start simple with one action for very young children.
6. Sit on the floor and roll a ball back and forth. This will promote hand eye coordination and taking turns.
7. Please feel free to add your ideas to the comments link directly below this thread.
Good exercise has more rewards than we can count. Starting young children off early, on the right foot, will hopefully enhance brain power while at the same time reducing anxiety, childhood obesity and the desire to always want a sedentary activity and promote healthy living
NJ Family has written a wonderful article, The Body Brain Connection by Tanya Kessler: http://www.njfamily.com/en/news/The_Body_Brain_Connection.aspx?cat=7&news=532&user=820
which provides great links that promote an easy understanding of the benefits of exercise in school aged children and adolescents and skills to keep them sharp.
At Rainbow Academy, we have always found that active exercise, combined with fresh air enhances the well being of the whole young child. All of our centers provide a playground with space for the children to explore, run, jump, dig and quite simply be children, while at the same time a space to do a large enough empty space to do class activities and games. Many days, you will see children enjoying a game of Duck, Duck, Goose, playing Follow the Leader or some other organized physical activity.
On the days weather hinders outdoor play, many of our centers offer indoor gyms and ALL of our centers have space in every classroom to provide room for and encourage regular exercise. We play many games and have compact disks which focus on and enhance large motor skills, movement in the arms and legs.
Below are some simple physical activities children enjoy:
1. Stretching… stretch out those silly bones from your neck to your toes.
2. Dancing
3. Movement/music with scarves. Dance looks so pretty when you add a scarf or ribbon.
4. Play Follow the Leader. Change movements and leaders often. Leaders jump, skip, hop, swirl, fly like an airplane and do anything creative. This will also enhance leadership and following direction skills.
5. Mimic. Take turns mimicking each other’s actions. For example, you clap three times, pat your knees three times and stamp your feet three times. Your child will mimic your movements. Start simple with one action for very young children.
6. Sit on the floor and roll a ball back and forth. This will promote hand eye coordination and taking turns.
7. Please feel free to add your ideas to the comments link directly below this thread.
Good exercise has more rewards than we can count. Starting young children off early, on the right foot, will hopefully enhance brain power while at the same time reducing anxiety, childhood obesity and the desire to always want a sedentary activity and promote healthy living
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Please CLICK HERE on COMMENTS to Ask Your Question
Hello Everyone!
Please feel free to post your questions on the COMMENTS part of this post. ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO READ WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE WORD COMMENTS BELOW THIS POST.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All good wishes!
Bernadette
PS: To see questons I have answered in the past, you will find them in BLOG ARCHIVES:
October 2007
July 10th 2007
June 19, 2006
Please feel free to post your questions on the COMMENTS part of this post. ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO READ WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE WORD COMMENTS BELOW THIS POST.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All good wishes!
Bernadette
PS: To see questons I have answered in the past, you will find them in BLOG ARCHIVES:
October 2007
July 10th 2007
June 19, 2006
Monday, June 09, 2008
Celebrate Flag Day June 14
America’s birthday celebrates our Independence as a nation. Flag Day however was started by a teacher, BJ Cigrand and Wisconsin public school children in 1885 in order to celebrate the 108th anniversary of the adoption of the stars and stripes. Cigrand publicly encouraged June 14th to be celebrated as “Flag Birthday” or “Flag Day” from that point forward. For more detailed history, go to http://www.usflag.org/history/flagday.html
I find it so humbling that such an important day was started in a classroom with a teacher many children sharing their love for their country. Because patriotism and good citizenship start at the very earliest age, it is as important now as it ever has been to introduce and encourage pride and love of country. Below are some ideas, songs and links, which can help build and foster proud American families:
∗ Share your love of the USA with your child in conversation.
∗ Make cupcakes and decorate red, white and blue with white frosting, strawberries and blueberries.
∗ Hang an American flag at home.
∗ Point out the American flag to your child each time you see it when you are out.
∗ Have a red, white and blue parade. The leader can carry the American flag, while others carry drums and red, white and blue streamers.
∗ Make up chants and cheers like, “Red, white, blue… We love you!” and “USA, Hooray!”
∗ Play patriotic music and teach your child songs like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle.”
∗ Make American flags with precut red strips of paper, a blue rectangle and star stickers your child can glue on to a white paper. To add a “flagpole,” you can tape on an empty roll from wrapping paper.
Links with patriotic trivia and songs:
http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/index.html
http://www.usresolve.org/patriotic-songs-with-lyrics.php
Songs:
God Bless America
Written by: Irving Berlin
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America.
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home.
Yankee Doodle
Written by: Richard Shuckburgh
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion
A-giving orders to his men
I guess there was a million.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
This Land Is Your Land
Written by: Woody Guthrie -
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California
To the New York island,
From the Redwood Forest,
To the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking,
That ribbon of highway,
I saw above me
That endless skyway,
I saw below me
That golden valley.
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled
And I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
The sun comes shining
As I was strolling
The wheat fields waving
And the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I was walkin'
I saw a sign there
And that sign said no tress passin'
But on the other side
It didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office
I see my people
And some are grumblin'
And some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
http://www.wesign.com/ProductsPatriotic.htm
All songs on We Sign Patriotic Songs were designed specifically for young children and preschoolers. Signing both words and phrases are made by kids for kids. Some of the many words include:
This
Went
Town
Riding
Stuck
Feather
Cap
And many more!
I find it so humbling that such an important day was started in a classroom with a teacher many children sharing their love for their country. Because patriotism and good citizenship start at the very earliest age, it is as important now as it ever has been to introduce and encourage pride and love of country. Below are some ideas, songs and links, which can help build and foster proud American families:
∗ Share your love of the USA with your child in conversation.
∗ Make cupcakes and decorate red, white and blue with white frosting, strawberries and blueberries.
∗ Hang an American flag at home.
∗ Point out the American flag to your child each time you see it when you are out.
∗ Have a red, white and blue parade. The leader can carry the American flag, while others carry drums and red, white and blue streamers.
∗ Make up chants and cheers like, “Red, white, blue… We love you!” and “USA, Hooray!”
∗ Play patriotic music and teach your child songs like “The Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle.”
∗ Make American flags with precut red strips of paper, a blue rectangle and star stickers your child can glue on to a white paper. To add a “flagpole,” you can tape on an empty roll from wrapping paper.
Links with patriotic trivia and songs:
http://www.ushistory.org/BETSY/index.html
http://www.usresolve.org/patriotic-songs-with-lyrics.php
Songs:
God Bless America
Written by: Irving Berlin
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America.
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home.
Yankee Doodle
Written by: Richard Shuckburgh
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp
Along with Captain Gooding
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
There was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion
A-giving orders to his men
I guess there was a million.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
This Land Is Your Land
Written by: Woody Guthrie -
This land is your land,
This land is my land,
From California
To the New York island,
From the Redwood Forest,
To the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking,
That ribbon of highway,
I saw above me
That endless skyway,
I saw below me
That golden valley.
This land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled
And I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
The sun comes shining
As I was strolling
The wheat fields waving
And the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
As I was walkin'
I saw a sign there
And that sign said no tress passin'
But on the other side
It didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
In the squares of the city
In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office
I see my people
And some are grumblin'
And some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking
That freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me
http://www.wesign.com/ProductsPatriotic.htm
All songs on We Sign Patriotic Songs were designed specifically for young children and preschoolers. Signing both words and phrases are made by kids for kids. Some of the many words include:
This
Went
Town
Riding
Stuck
Feather
Cap
And many more!
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