Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) a Japanese Folk Song

Cherry tree!  Cherry tree!

Cherry blossoms everywhere!

These are cherry blossoms, which bloom in the spring.  

Sixth grade is singing a song about Cherry Blossoms for our concert (Thursday, November 5th at 6:30 p.m.).  Here are the English words and the phonetic pronunciation of the Japanese words:

Cherry tree, cherry tree!  Cherry blossoms everywhere.
Far as any eye can see.  Mist and beauty fill the air.
Lovely blossoms scent the breeze. 
Come with me, come with me!  Let us go and see!

Sakura, sakura!  Ya yo i no so ra wa.
Mi watasu kagiri. Kasu mika kumoka.
Nio izo izuru.
Iza ya, iza ya!  Mi ni yu ka N. (hum the "n")

This Land Is Your Land!

OK, 5th Grade!  It's time to practice for our upcoming show!  Below are the lyrics to the opening song, "This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie.  Try to memorize it--challenge yourself to sing it without looking at the lyrics!

This Land Is Your Land

by Woody Guthrie

Refrain

This land is your land.  This land is my land.

From California to the New York island
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me!

Verse 1

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!  (Refrain)

Verse 2

I've roamed and rambled, and I 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!  (Refrain)

Verse 3

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling.
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me!  (Refrain)

Here is a video of an original recording by Woody Guthrie (yes, that's him in the video):

Rocky Mountain Song

My 5th & 6th Grade classes are learning the folk song, "Rocky Mountain," on xylophones and metallophones.  We reviewed proper playing technique and how to accompany the song.

Verse 1

Rocky Mountain, Rocky Mountain, Rocky Mountain High!

When you're on that Rocky Mountain, hang your head and cry.

          Refrain

          Do, do, do, do, do remember me.

          Do, do, do, do, do remember me!

Verse 2

Sunny valley, sunny valley, sunny valley low.

When you're in that sunny valley, sing it soft & slow. (Refrain)

Verse 3

Stormy ocean, stormy ocean, stormy ocean wide.

When you're on that deep blue sea, there's no place you can hide. (Refrain)

They are doing a great job with the verses, and they are playing the correct notes, too!

This is Ms. King's 5th Grade class trying it out.

3rd Graders and "Aiken Drum"

This week, we are creating our own "Aiken Drum" while we sing this song:

"There was a man lived in the moon, lived in the moon, lived in the moon

There was a man lived in the moon and his name was Aiken Drum."

His head was made of ...

HIs body was made of...

His arms were made of...

His legs were made of...

His eyes were made of...

His nose was made of...

His mouth was made of...

His hair was made of...

Can you guess what these classes made his body out of?

Aiken Drum by Room 209

Aiken Drum by Room 210

Aiken Drum by Room 208

(Drawings by Miss Loeffler...do I have a future in drawing? Maybe I'll stick to music!)