Young learners are at such a fun and interesting time in their lives! Every day there are new and exciting learning opportunities for them. I believe these early years are foundational to the young men and women they will one day become. If they can learn early to enjoy reading, writing and thinking about their world, the possibilities will be endless!
But, just like the garden that yields amazing things must be tended well, we must nurture every child's learning carefully so they can do great things when they are ready. It's important to give them what they need when they need it to continue to foster positive growth. It's also important that they are able to explore their world and discover many things on their own.
In our classroom, we will be learning and using a theme song called, "The Garden". This song was performed by Peter, Paul and Mary in the 60's and 70's. On this page, you can find John Denver performing it on The Muppet Show in the mid 70's.
It really sums up how this Kindergarten year will be for all of us. The lyrics are printed for you below.
The Garden Song
by David Mallett CHORUS: Inch by inch, row by row Gonna make this garden grow All it takes is a rake and a hoe And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row Someone bless these seeds I sow Someone warm them from below 'Till the rain comes tumbling down
Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones We are made of dreams and bones Feel the need to grow my own 'Cause the time is close at hand
Grain for grain, sun and rain Find my way in nature's chain Till my body and my brain
To the music of the land
Plant your rows straight and long
Temper them with prayer and song Mother Earth will make you strong If you give her love and care
Old crow watching hungrily From his perch in yonder tree In my garden I'm as free As that feathered thief up there.
CHORUS: Inch by inch, row by row Gonna make this garden grow All it takes is a rake and a hoe And a piece of fertile ground
"Inch by Inch--Row by Row"
Here is a video of John Denver performing "The Garden Song" on The Muppet Show in the 70's. Below the video is the book we'll be using to learn the song. This book includes the lyrics with illustrations to match.
Arts Integration in the Garden
We will also spend time looking at this print by artist Claude Monet, "The Artist's Family in the Garden" as we think and learn about our year in the "Learning Garden".
Finally, we will practice some movement to show how things grow in a garden and how our brains grow as we learn new things. Then we'll talk about the learning garden that we all belong to in this room and the exciting things that will be happening all year long.
This whole experience is part of the arts integration we will use throughout the year to help us understand new reading, writing, and thinking skills and concepts even better!