September 2009
Morning verse:
In soft morning light, the stars fade away.
The birds soon awake. This is a new day.
Journey dreams of night, they end with the day.
Angels guide us home, for work and for play.
Awake, awake, shine like the sun.
Give light and love to everyone.
Down is the earth, up is the sky.
There are my friends, and here am I.
Good afternoon to you, and good afternoon to me.
Story:
Once upon a time, a mighty lion lived in the jungle. Every day he would go hunting for treasures, and because he was the king of the jungle, he slowly gathered all the treasures from the villages around him. But eventually the lion grew old. Although he did not lose his courage, he began to go blind. When the children of the villages outside the jungle heard this, they began to steal into the jungle, to try and fetch their treasures back. But the old lion could hear very well and still kept some of his old strength in the magic power of his paws. So when he heard a child approaching his cave, he used his magic by pointing at the child. Then the child would have to return the treasure and go back to the village outside the jungle. The blind lion's magic was so strong that even in the villages he could hear the children if they made too much noise, and could make return the treasure if he pointed his magic paws at them.
Poem:
If a task is once begun,
Never leave it until it's done;
Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all.
Poem:
The silver rain, the shining sun, the fields where scarlet poppies run and all the ripples of the wheat are in the bread that we do eat.
So when we sit for every meal and say our grace, we always feel that we are eating rain and sun and fields where scarlet poppies run.
Song:
The river is wide I can not get over.
Neither do I have light wings to fly.
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row my love and I.
Song:
Round and round the earth is turning
Turning always round to morning
And from morning round to night.
Poem:
The moon on the one hand,
The sun on the other.
The moon is my sister,
The sun is my brother.
The moon is on my left,
The sun is on my right.
My brother good morning,
My sister good night.
H. Belloc

October 2009
Story:
The melon was one, so I took my knife
And slowly cut it through.
And what was one and all complete
Before us lay in two.
I cut again, it was plain to see
What had been two appeared as three.
I cut again, and then once more.
And then I cut again
Until I saw before my eyes
The number of pieces was ten.
I cut again, again, again,
And then I saw before my eyes
The pieces were twenty four.
The melon was one, the world is one
The facts are plain to see,
that in and about us all the world
Proceeds with unity.
Poem
Twelve children together are we
Merry and bright as you can see,
Twelve children hand in hand
In one circle here we stand.
... Twelve is six lots of two.
... Twelve is two lots of six.
... Twelve is four lots of three.
... Twelve is three lots of four.
Song:
Clap your hands as slowly as you can.
Clap your hands as fast as you can.
String Game
Here is the dragon. He is watching you carefully, and just because he wags his tail, it doesn't mean that he is friendly.
Don't go near his cave, you won't like what you find there! Don't go near his mouth! He might... spit fire!

Novermber 2009
Story:
Once upon a time there was a cobbler. And he was so wee, that he lived in a hole in a very big tree.
He had a good neighbor, and she was a mouse- She did his wee washing and tidied his house.
Each morning at seven he heard a wee tap, and in came the mouse in her apron and cap.
She lighted his fire and she fetched a wee room, and she swept and she polished his little Tree-room.
To take any wages, she would always refuse, so the cobbler said: "Thank you!" and mended her shoes; and The owl didn't eat her, and even the cat said: "I never would catch a kind mouse like that!"
The Water Bird Game
Standing in a lake is a long, long crane
Little fishes in the water in and out again.
With his feet he gathers all the food for the day
As many little fishes as a tall crane may.
Poem
This is my right hand; I'll raise it up high.
This is my left hand. I'll touch the sky.
Right hand. Left hand. Roll them around.
Left hand. Right hand. Pound, pound, pound.
Song:
The Finger Band has come to town.
The Finger Band can play the drums, flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, trombone, piano, guitar... The Finger Band has gone away...
Song:
Listen to the drum, everybody come
Come to the circle, everybody come
Listen to the drum everybody come
Come to the circle, everybody come

December 2009
Story:
It was six men of Hindustan, who went to see the elephant... though all of them were blind. That each by observation might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the elephant, touched his broad and sturdy side, and said: "Bless me; it seems the elephant is very like a wall."
The second feeling his tusk cried: "Ho! What is so round and smooth and sharp? This wonder of an elephant is very like a spear."
The third came closer and took the trunk within his hands, and boldly spoke: "I see. The elephant is very like a snake."
The fourth stretched his hand and touched the knee. "This is plain to see. It is clear enough this elephant is very like a tree."
The fifth touched the ear and said: "I might be blind, but even the blindest man can tell an elephant is very like a fan."
The sixth begun to seize the swinging tail of the elephant and cried: "I see. The elephant is very like a rope."
And so the six men disputed loud and long... though each was partly in the right, all were in the wrong.
Poem: Moon of Silver
Oh, Moon of Silver, Sun of Gold,
Gentle Lady, Lord so bold!
Guide us ever, failing never,
Lead us in ways of old.
Lord of Darkness, Lord of Light,
Gentle Brother, King of Might,
Praise we sing thee, Love we bring Thee
On this Solstice night.
Song:
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."
Robert Burns
Chant: Spirit of Fire
Spirit of fire come to us
We will kindle the fire
Dance the magic circle 'round
We will kindle the fire

January 2010
Poem
Thirty days have September,
April, June, and November.
All the rest have thirty-one
Excepting February alone.
Which has twenty-eight days clear
And twenty-nine in each leap year.
 Story:
In a far-away land lived two different peoples: those who had fires, and those who had ice. They wished to meet each other and share their fire and ice with one another, but between them lived a giant who didn't want them to work together. When he saw two travelers moving towards each other, he would step between them, and try to catch them by chasing one or the other.
However, if the travelers managed to reach each other and touch, their magic was stronger than the giant, and they were free. The traveler who carried ice then went to the land of fire, and the traveler who carried fire went to the land of ice.
Chant
Round the clock the hours go,
Sometimes fast and sometimes slow,
Tell me what the two hands say,
They will the time of day.
Eight o'clock, it's time for bed.
Come with me, you sleepy one.
Twelve o'clock, it's time to eat,
Come with me, we'll have a treat.
Song:
A hunting we will go,
A hunting we will go
We'll catch a fox and put him in a box
And then we'll let him go
cat/hat, snake/cake, goat/boat...

..

 

Anxinban   School Year 2008 2009  Semester 2

 

 

>>>>>> February 2009

Introduction verse:

The sun is in my heart.

He warms me with his power,

And wakens life and love

In bird and beast and flower.

With joy I greet the morning sun

Who shines with love on every one

Who shines in the sky, on the land and sea,

And who fills me with light

When he shines on me.

Good morning (afternoon) to you

and Good morning (afternoon) to me.

 

Poem:

Ox and cow, Behold them now

Behold what work they do.

Each gives their gifts to help mankind.

Such selfless work they do.

 

Story: 金牛星

Once upon a time, people are very hungry. People are starving. The Jade Emperor looks down and feels sad. He orders 金牛星 to go down to Earth and tell the people:

- If you work hard, you can eat three days a week.

But 金牛星 misunderstands and tells people:

- The Jade Emperor says you can have three meals every day if you work hard.

And the cow returns to the palace. The Jade Emperor is angry.

- Cow, you are wrong. Now, you must go down to help people. You must work hard. You must plant the grains. So people can eat three meals a day, as you promised.

Therefore the cow is punished and stays on Earth to help people.

 

>>>>>> March 2009

Poem:

When March Wind blows, 'Who-oo-oo-oo,'

In a soft and gentle way,
He's saying, 'Take your snowsuit off,

I'm blowing warm today.'

 

Poem: Our Night Visitor by C. Owen

A bunny came to call last night.

I did not see him – That is right.

But he was there; here is how I know –

He nibbled at my carrot row.

 

Riddle:

We are very little creatures,

All of different voices and features;

One of us in glass is set,

One of us you will find in jet.

The other you may see in tin,

And the fourth a box within.

It can never fly from you.

[answer: vowels a,e,i,o,u]

 

Story: Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

 Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were-- Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree.

"Now, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor. Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out."

Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries; But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed under the gate!
 First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes. But round the end of a cucumber frame… Mr. McGregor!
 Mr. McGregor jumped up and ran after Peter.

Peter was frightened; he rushed all over the garden. He lost his two shoes.

Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner, but Peter slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.

 

>>>>>> April 2009

Poem by Eileen Hutchins

The sun says “I glow,”

The wind say “I blow,”

The stream says “I flow,”

The plant says “I grow,”

And man says “I know.”

 

Song:

Come, oh come, ye little gnomes,

Let us leave our mountain homes,

We’ll free the Flower Queen

And make a throne for her meadow green.

Take your hammer, take your sack,

Lift and take it on your back,

We’ll free the Flower Queen

And make a throne on her meadow green.

 

Story The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde

Every afternoon, the children play in the Giant's garden. It is a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there stand beautiful flowers like stars, and there are twelve peach-trees.
 One day the Giant comes back. He sees the children playing in the garden. 'What are you doing here? My garden is my garden.' So he builds a high wall, and puts up a notice-board: TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.

Then Spring comes, and all over the country there are little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it is still Winter. The birds do not sing. The trees do not blossom.

'Why is Spring so late?' says the Selfish Giant. But the Spring never comes, nor the Summer and not the Autumn. So it is always Winter.

One morning the Giant is sleeping. He hears some lovely music. It sounds sweet. He sees children in his park. And Spring is here too.

 

>>>>>> May 2009

Poem:

This is the key of the kingdom.

In that kingdom there is a city.

In that city there is a town.

In that town there is a street.

In that street there winds a lane.

In that lane there is a yard.

In that yard there is a house.

In that house there waits a room.

In that room an empty bed.

And on that bed a basket.

A basket of sweet flowers,

Of flowers, of flowers.

A basket of sweet flowers.

 

Song:

Little Sally Walker, sitting on the sand,

Crying and weeping for a young man.

Rise Sally, rise sally, wipe away your tears,

Turn to the east, turn to the west

And turn to the one you love best.

 

Game: Wolf in Sheep’s clothing

The wolf has gone. The wolf has gone.

He’s gone to another place.

He isn’t there. He isn’t there.

He’s gone to America.

 

Story: The Fox and the Crow by Aesop

Once upon a time a Fox sees a Crow with a piece of cheese in her beak. The Fox sits down beneath the tree and calls,

"Good day, Mistress Crow! How well you are looking! How bright your eyes! How glossy your feathers!"
 The Crow is pleased. She loves to be flattered.

"I am sure your voice is even more beautiful than your feathers," says the Fox.  "Won't you sing a song for me, O Queen of Birds?"

The Crow is so pleased she can hardly sit still.
She lifts her head high, closes her eyes. She opens her beak to sing: CAW-C-CAW-W-W
 The cheese falls to the ground, in front of the Fox. "Thank you Mistress Crow," he said to the unhappy bird.

 

>>>>>> June 2009

Poem:

I am the Sun And I bear with my might

The Earth by day, the Earth by night.

I hold her fast, and my gifts I bestow

To everything on her, so that it may grow:

Man and stone, flower and bee

All receive their light from me.

Open your heart, dear child, to me,

That we together one light may be.

 

Song:

I thought I heard an old man say,

O John Kanaka, naka, too-la-ay

Today, today is a sailing day

O John Kanaka, naka, too-la-ay

(variation: Today is a holiday)

 

Chant:

Will you come and walk with me,

Walk with me, walk with me?

Will you come and walk with me,

All around the room?

(skip, run, jump, fly, dance…)

 

Song:

We are one in the infinite sun,

Forever and ever and ever.

 

Story: The Whitsun Daisy Flower.

Once upon a time, there is a little white flower in the meadow. She wants to fly. She wants to run. But she can not. Her roots grow into earth. She can not move.

One day she hears singing. The flower raises her head. She sees a white dove sitting on a branch.
"Bird, bird! How beautiful you are. Look at me.

I have no legs to run with. I have no wings to fly with. I have no friends to play with. I have nothing to do in the world."

“No. You are a flower. You are a child of Father Sun and Mother Earth. You have to hold a gift, a golden treasure, a tiny flame from Father Sun.

Wait for me. I will fetch it and bring it to you.”
The white dove flies into the sky and returns.

He is carrying in his beak a tiny, golden flame from Father Sun himself.

The dove gently lays the tiny flame and the flower opens, shining, sparkling. There appears a heart of brightest gold.

"Bees! Butterflies! Come to me! Come to me!"

 

 

 

 

 

+ ideas for SMZ ES

 

SMZ AnXinBan February 2009

STORY

The Spring Beauty shortened
by Henry R. Schoolcraft (Adapted and Shortened)
An old man is sitting in his lodge, by the side of a frozen stream.
It is the end of winter, the air is not so cold, and his fire is nearly out. He is old and alone. His locks are white with age.
One day while his fire is dying, a handsome young man approaches and enters the lodge.
His cheeks are red, his eyes sparkle. He walks with a quick, light step. He carries a bunch of flowers in his hand.
"Ah, my son," says the old man, "I am happy to see you. Come in! Tell me your adventures, and what strange lands you have seen.
I will tell you of my wonderful deeds, and what I can perform."
"I am Peboan, the Spirit of Winter," says the old man. "I blow my breath, and the streams stand still. The water becomes stiff and hard as clear stone."
"I am Seegwun, the Spirit of Spring," answers the young man. "I breathe, and flowers spring up in the meadows and woods."
"I shake my locks," says the old man, "and snow covers the land. The leaves fall from the trees, and my breath blows them away.
The birds fly to a distant land, and the animals hide themselves from the cold."
"I shake my ringlets," says the young man, "and warm showers of soft rain fall upon the earth.
The flowers lift their heads from the ground, the grass grows thick and green. My voice recalls the birds, and they come flying joyfully from the Southland.
The warmth of my breath unbinds the streams, and they sing the songs of spring. Music fills the groves whereever I walk, and all nature rejoices."
And while they are talking, a wonderful change takes place. The sun begins to rise. A gentle warmth steals over the place.
Peboan, the Spirit of Winter, becomes silent. Seegwun, the Spirit of Spring, grows more radiant, and rises joyfully to his feet.
The robin and the bluebird begin to sing on the top of the lodge. The stream begins to murmur at the door, and the fragrance of opening flowers comes softly on the breeze.
Then the Spirit of Winter departs, and where he has melted away, there the Indian children gather the first blossoms, fragrant and delicately pink - the modest Spring Beauty.

Poem

What the Robin Told Bethany Roberts

The wind told the grasses,
And the grasses told the trees.
The trees told the bushes,
And the bushes told the bees.
The bees told the robin,
And the robin sang out clear:
Wake up! Wake up!

Spring is here!

Song Spring 18

Winter's past, now at last flowers all are waking.

Let us sing, welcome spring, showers and sunshine making.

RRGSLS 8

What does it mean when the blackbird comes

And builds its nest singing sweet and clear?

When violets peep through the blades of green?

These are the signs that Spring is here.

 

 

SMZ AnXinBan March 2009

STORY

The Selfish Giant's Garden

Every afternoon, the children play in the Giant's garden.
It is a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there stand beautiful flowers like stars, and there are twelve peach-trees. The birds sit on the trees and sing so sweetly that the children stop their games to listen to them.
'How happy we are here!' they cry to each other.
One day the Giant comes back. When he arrives he sees the children playing in the garden. 'What are you doing here?' The children run away. 'My own garden is my own garden. I will allow nobody to play in it but myself.' So he builds a high wall all round it, and puts up a notice-board: TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.
The children are very poor and sad. They have now nowhere to play.
Then Spring comes, and all over the country there are little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it is still Winter. The birds do not sing. The trees do not blossom.

 

SMZ AnXinBan April 2009

STORY

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were-- Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree. "Now, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor." "Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out."
Then old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, and went through the wood to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries; But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed under the gate!
First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes; And then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley. But round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!
Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, "Stop thief." Peter was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate. He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.
Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner, but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden. Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds. Peter never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir-tree.
He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole, and shut his eyes.

 

SMZ AnXinBan May 2009

STORY

 

Poem

Seeds

A little seed for me to sow
A little earth to make it grow
A little hole, a little pat,
A little wish, and that is that,
A little sun, a little shower.
A little while -
And then, a flower!

Chant

Five Little Flowers

Five Little Flowers Standing in the sun
[Hold up 5 fingers.]
See their heads nodding, Bowing one by one
[Bend fingers several times.]
Down, down, down Comes the gentle rain
[Raise hands, wiggle fingers and lower hands.]
And the 5 little flowers Lift up their heads again
[Hold up 5 fingers.]

One little flower growing just for you.
[Hold up 1 finger.]
Up came another and then there were two.
[Hold up 2 fingers.]
Two little flowers growing near a tree.
Up came another and then there were three.
[Hold up 3 fingers.]
Three little flowers growing more and more.
[Move hand up.]
Up came another and then there were four
[Hold up 4 fingers.]
Four little flowers growing side by side.
Up came another and then there were five.

Poem

My Garden

This is my garden
[Extend palm.]
I rake it with care
[Pretend to rake with three fingers.]
And then I plant flower seeds in there
[Pretend to plant.]
The sun will shine
[Hold arms in circle over head.]
And the rain will fall
[Wiggle fingers on both hands as move downwards.]
And my garden will blossom
[Cup hands.]
And grow straight and tall
[Stretch arms/hands up slowly.]

 

 

 

 

 

SMZ AnXinBan June 2009

STORY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMZ AnXinBan September 2008

 

RRGSLS #14 Poem

The wind sang to the cornfields

A happy little song

And this is what he whispered:

"The harvest won't be long!"

The wind sang to the windmill

A merry little tune.

The windmill answered happily:

"The harvest is coming soon."

 

Autumn 31 Poem