SONG:
BEING DRIFTEE MCCLOUD

CURRICULAR AREA:
Language Arts

CORRESPONDING VALUE:
Optimism

AIM:
How do you relate to this song? Is it an optimistic or pessimistic song?

MATERIALS:
Writing Paper, Pencils, Drawing Paper, Crayons, Paint, Pastels

PROCEDURE:
Play the song, "Being Driftee McCloud".
Ask the children if they think that this is an optimistic or a pessimistic song.
Discuss the meanings of the words "optimist" and "pessimist".
Write the students' ideas on a chart. Ideas could include:

Driftee McCloud is always on the move, and therefore he is an optimistic adventurer.
Driftee McCloud brings rain and helps the flowers grow.
Driftee McCloud hugs the rainbows and they hug him back.

Do you still think that this is a sad song?

"Sometimes it's hard being a cloud", sings Driftee McCloud.
How do you relate to this line?
Is it sometimes hard to be you?
Did you ever have to move to a new school?
Could moving be a good thing?
How does Driftee McCloud feel about it?

Driftee McCloud sings "Sometimes it's hard being a cloud, alone up in the sky." Then he adds that he gives hugs to rainbows and they hug him back. How does Driftee McCloud find good in his situation? Have you ever changed a bad situation into a good one by looking for the good around you? Does being optimistic help to overcome obstacles?

NEW VOCABULARY:
The following words have been introduced during this lesson:
OPTIMISM
SHADE
NEGATIVE
VIEWPOINT
OPINION
ADVENTURE
EXPLORE
POSITIVE
CHALLENGE
ADMIRE

CREATIVE WRITING:
"Sometimes it's hard being a cloud."
How do you relate to this phrase? Is it difficult to be in your shoes sometimes?

"Clouds bring rain, and rain brings flowers."
What does this mean?

SONG:
I CAN BE ANYTHING

CURRICULAR AREA:
LANGUAGE ARTS/ LITERACY

CORRESPONDING VALUE:
OPTIMISM

AIM:
To motivate children to think and write about what they want to be when they grow up.
Children will gain a greater awareness of the many opportunities available to them.

MATERIALS:
Crayons, pencils, paper, and the song "I CAN BE ANYTHING".

DESCRIPTION:
This song is about viewing the future with optimism. Opportunity is all around-- if you believe in yourself then you can succeed. Children will become excited about thinking about their future, dreaming BIG DREAMS!

PROCEDURE:
Play the song "I Can Be Anything" until the children know the song. Discuss the song and it's themes. Write on the board the career opportunities that are mentioned in the song. Ask the class: "the song states 'I can be anything.' What does that really mean? How does the song make you feel? Is this an optimistic song? Explain. What words in the song give you an optimistic feeling? The song states, 'Girls and boys can do anything...it doesn't matter where you are from.' Explain and discuss this with the class.

Career Opportunities mentioned in the song:
astronaut
teacher
veterinarian
pilot
internet
doctor
artist
writer of magazines
college graduate
truck driver
emcee
person on magazine cover

The song "I Can Be Anything" mentions, 'nothing comes free, you've got to work hard.' Discuss with the class what this means. Ask the class, "Who are the people in your neighborhood that have interesting jobs?"

In Preparation for Writing: Children will write about why they find certain professions to be important and beneficial to the greater good.

Follow Up Activity: Plan a career day in your class. Invite and interview people who can talk about their jobs. Make a list of the most unusual jobs the kids have ever heard of.

SONG:
SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC

LESSON TITLE:
Creating Art Using Music and Feelings

CURRICULAR AREA:
Music Appreciation

DESCRIPTION:
This activity gives the students a chance to become familiar with different types of music, to relate music with feelings and moods, and to express themselves through art.

AIM:
Students will understand that music can evoke emotions and feeling. Also, they will learn that they can use their feelings to express themselves and create art.

OBJECTIVES:
Students will describe the change in their feelings while listening to music, and why they think they felt these emotions. Students will describe the different types of music that they heard. What differentiates one song from the next?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
This activity can be used with students at all levels of artistic and musical ability. The lesson shows how to express feelings and moods in an effective way. Children will be encouraged to bring their favorite music CDs to class.

CONCEPTS:
Students will identify reasons for listening to music while creating art, and how different types of music bring out different moods and feelings.

MATERIALS:
CDS with different types of music
Paper
Crayons
Markers/ other artistic utensils

PROCEDURE:
Explain to the students that they will each need four pieces of paper, and anything they want to use to draw. Tell them to use one piece of paper per song that they hear. Play the song, "Sounds Like Music." When the music starts, encourage the children to draw their feelings, moods, and thoughts.

ASSESSMENT:
Ask students to come to the front of the classroom to describe their art.
Ask the children which sounds, beats, and lyrics were their favorite.
Initiate a discussion about the influence of music and lyrics upon one's mood and feelings.

OVERVIEW:

1. I Can Be Anything is a great way to begin lessons regarding careers. It is also especially optimistic. Have the class listen to the song, think about what they want to be when they grow up, and then write their very own verse.

2. Planet Brooklyn is a great way to begin lessons regarding children and their neighborhoods. Have the class listen to the song, think about their neighborhood, and write a poem or composition about the aspects of their neighborhood that they love.

3. Driftee McCloud is a song about a cloud who is sad that he is constantly moving around in the sky. It is a great way to inspire kids to write about the things that make them sad, or, in fact, the times they have moved into new places.

4. Me and My Guitar is a song about a girl and her close relationship with her guitar. It is a great way to inspire kids to write about their hobbies and if they are musicians, what their instruments mean to them.

More Ideas:
Play the beat of a song and have the class write their own lyrics and poetry.
MeeWee is a great way to introduce poetry to any kindergarten, first, or second graders.
Have students create their own MeeWee characters.