Our celebration uses stories and songs to create landscapes of imagination and joy with the children that come for a full day at Nature School, or for those who choose a celebration option along with a single program.
The celebration is a wonderful way to refresh the students’ interest in learning and prepare them for an active afternoon. This is an opportunity for teachers and students to enjoy a different kind of teaching as they relax, have fun, and sing and dance together.
The celebration is a half hour participatory program comprised of folksongs and folklore of the earth. Many of the stories and songs in our celebration have their roots in the history of the Piedmont. Others are Schoolhouse of Wonder originals, designed to highlight the lessons of the day. Every day, our celebration is different as we tailor our stories and songs to the classes we are teaching and to the needs of each group of students.
Concert Favorites
My Two Hands Hold The Earth
sung by Sarah Pirtle
A cappella - remember to start low!
My head is in the sky, sky sky
My feet are on the ground, ground, ground
What about my blood - it’s from the sea
What about my bones - from the mountains be
And my hands, oh my hands
I believe with my hands I can hold this land
My two hands hold the earth
My two hands hold the earth
Good with hand motions; can be sung with kids sitting or standing.
Six Plant Parts
As Performed by the Bannana Slug String Band, On the Dirt Made my Lunch CD
Roots stems leaves flowers fruits and seeds - x 4
CHORUS:
Six parts
Six parts
Six plant parts that plants and people need
Roots hold plants in the ground
They drink up the water that falls around
And there’s a root inside of me
Cuz carrots are a root - that I eat
(Chorus)
A stem is an elevator up from the ground
The water goes up and the sugar back down
And there’s a stem inside of me
Cuz celery is a stem - that I eat
(Chorus)
The leaves are the kitchens where the food is done
They breathe the air, catch rays of the sun
And there’s a leaf inside of me
Cuz lettuce is a leaf - that I eat
(Chorus)
The flowers are dressed so colorfully
They hold the pollen and attract a bee
And there’s a flower inside of me
Cuz broccoli is a flower - that I eat
(Chorus)
Fruit gets ripe and it falls on down
It holds the seeds and it feeds the ground
And there’s a fruit inside of me
Cuz an apple is a fruit - that I eat
(Chorus)
Seeds gets buried in the earth
The cycle starts again with a new plant’s birth
And there’s a seed inside of me
Cuz sunflower is a seed that I eat
When The Rain Comes Down
a cappella with hand motions and some ASL
Melody goes an octave above the starting note, so start a little to the low end of your range.
When the rain comes down
It comes down on everyone
When the rain comes down
It comes down on everyone
No matter if you’re rich or poor
No matter if you’re great or small
When the rain comes down
It comes down on us all
When the baby smiles
She smiles for everyone
When the baby smiles
He smiles for everyone
No matter if you’re rich or poor
No matter if you’re great or small
When the baby smiles
She smiles for us all
When the flower blooms…
When the sun shines…
It’s nice to do the first verse with motions only the last time through.
What’s the Matter With The Mill?
rec. by Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys
new verses by Anna Lena Phillips, 10/4/02, with help from Schoolhouse of Wonder staff
I had a load of grain
Put it in a sack
Took it to the mill, but it come right back!
CHORUS: What’s the matter with the mill?
It’s done broke down!
What’s the matter with the mill?
It’s done broke down!
Can’t get no grindin’
Tell me what’s the matter with the mill.
Out in the field
With a sack of seed
Planting corn and pulling weeds
(Chorus)
Summer’s gone
And the corn is here
Get out in the field and pick those ears
(Chorus)
Don’t care if you’re tired
Weak and worn
You better sit right down, and shell that corn
(Chorus)
Every morning
I have a fit
If I don’t get my eggs and grits
(Chorus)
I had a load of grain
Put it in a sack
Took it to the mill, but it come right back
(Chorus)
Canoe Round
Margaret Embers McGee
My paddles keen and bright / flashing like silver
Follow the wild goose flight / dip, dip and swing
Dip, dip and swing my paddle / flashing like silver
Follow the wild goose flight / dip, dip and swing