South American Escapade

I always love telling my students that I was from South America. (This joke is from a Bo Diddley record.)

In the chill of winter it was always tempting to have classes sing songs that made you warmer. Maybe some Beach Boys, or summertime songs. Or Summertime from Porgy and Bess. That always led to a unit on George Gershwin. I would proudly point out that his name appears on the list on the board of Great Composers.

In 2005 we created a Spring Show called "South American Escapade". I'll post some of the dialogue here. 

Here' the list of selections from that concert. They were very well received by students & parents and lots of fun to read & sing.

scene1 aboard a blimp on it's way south

Second Grade- Summer Samba  /Tico Tico /Brazil 

scene 2 in the jungles of northern Brasil

Pre-K Catch a Falling Star/ Here Comes the Sun / Bananaphone

scene 3 deeper in the jungle

Kindergarten- Are You Lost? / Peru / Wonderful World

scene 4 at the Hotel California Resort Hotel

First Grade- One Note Samba / El Condor Pasa / Big Yellow Taxi

scene 5 in the grand ballroom of the palace 

Third Grade- The Coffee Song / Girl From Ipanema / Carioca

So you ask, "Jesse, are you really from South America?"  "Sure."  "What part?" "South Long Island". (Snare hit with short crash cymbal, please.)