Introduction to African Storytelling
This week in music class we said hello to West Africa! Comprised of many different countries from Ghana to the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), West Africa offers a rich tapestry of culture and beautiful geography, including everything from deserts to grasslands to rain forests.
The three year old class is pictured above moving their bodies to a large motor poem that I put together to help us remember some of those amazing African details. We learned it today through "echoing" or "call and response", and we will continue to work on it throughout the month of November. All of the students learned the poem this week, and also looked at pictures of African dress and
Watch the blog throughout the month for more neat storytelling videos to be posted!
I Want to go to Africa
I want to go to Africa (point to self)
Where the elephant trunks swing (swing arm in front of nose like an elephant trunk and trumpet like an elephant)
Where the land is so big (Arms stretched overhead as if holding a globe)
There are rainforests (Fingers and hands "raining down")
And grasslands (Hands wave from side to side, making a "shhhh" sound as the grass waves in the wind)
Tall mountains (Hands overhead to form a peak)
And HOT sand! ("Phew" for hot weather with hand to forehead)
We also had fun with the lollipop drum and I told the children a funny story about a princess and a magic frog--it doesn't turn out the way you think!
Additionally, because of this BEAUTIFUL fall weather we've had this week, I had to throw "Mr.Sun" in to our song rotation this week with the ukulele. Students had fun trying to whistle.
Check out an mp3 of us singing it in the infant room HERE: Mr. Sun.
Overall we really enjoyed our introduction to Africa and storytelling. Make sure to read the extender questions below, and have a great week!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD
1) What new place are you learning about right now? Africa!
2) Did you learn a poem about Africa? Can you tell me about it?
3) Can you tell me a story about a princess and a frog? This could be fun! What will your child come up with? It may be their own version. ;)