Green Is Our Garden: Songs Of Nature
Sanford Jones, Green Is Our Garden: twenty four songs about the natural world. 55 pages, soft cover, 2006 edition. Songs are the part of a classroom that has to be carried by whoever is standing there, and most adults will only sing what they can already hold in their head after two readings. Twenty four short pieces on one theme is a supply that lasts a term without anyone needing to be musical. Paper with spiral binding, for teachers.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'”
Green Is Our Garden addresses the child's need to connect with nature through musical expression, a fundamental aspect of the Cultural Studies curriculum.
- Develops musical rhythm and pitch through nature-themed melodies
- Builds vocabulary related to plants, gardens, and natural phenomena
- Strengthens memory through repetitive song structures
- Cultivates environmental awareness and appreciation
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The spiral-bound songbook's flat-laying design allows children to independently access nature-themed songs during work cycles, fostering both musical literacy and environmental awareness. Each watercolor illustration in Green Is Our Garden serves as a visual vocabulary builder, linking musical rhythms to botanical concepts the child encounters in their environment. The songbook's collection of garden and plant songs creates opportunities for seasonal celebrations and outdoor extensions, bringing the natural world into meaningful classroom experiences. By combining visual art, poetry, and melody on each page, Green Is Our Garden engages multiple senses simultaneously, meeting the child's need for rich, integrated learning experiences. The carefully curated nature songs provide language patterns and vocabulary that children internalize through repetition and melody, building both linguistic and musical foundations.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the songbook on a low shelf accessible to children. Create a designated singing area with cushions arranged in a circle. Keep rhythm instruments nearby in a basket.
- 1
Invite 3-4 children to the singing circle
Start with children who show interest in music or nature activities - 2
Open the book to a seasonally appropriate song
Let the book lay flat using the spiral binding - 3
Point to the watercolor illustrations while introducing the song
Connect images to real plants children have observed - 4
Sing the song once through while children listen
Use clear enunciation and moderate tempo - 5
Invite children to join in on repeated phrases or choruses
Add simple hand movements for kinesthetic learners - 6
Encourage children to take turns choosing the next song
Guide them to notice different illustrations and titles
Every Child Is a Little Creator
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