“Such an excellent role model for children who today are in need of a good, positive image.
You confirmed just how proud and privileged I am to be a Canadian.”
-- John XXIII Catholic School, Arnprior, ON
This Michael Mitchell – Canada Is For Kids school Teaching Kit provides you with:
- Tools and guidelines that will help any school that books a Canada Is For Kids school concert to most effectively prepare the students, staff and parents for the performance, and;
- Entertaining and educational Canadiana resources that can be used year-round by any school or home schooling family.
There are four main elements to this Teaching Kit:
1. The Teachers’ Guide;
2. The Resources package;
3. Song Tracks for 25 of the most popular songs from the Canada Is For Kids CD collection; and,
4. Instrumental Song Tracks for the same 25 songs.
TEACHERS’ GUIDE
This has tips for both teachers and the show coordinator to help staff, students and parents prepare to join in on this celebration of songs and stories of Canada’s heritage. Most of these pages are designed for you to print out and distribute as you see fit. Feel free to edit some of them, such as the suggested media release announcing the upcoming show, to personalize them for your school. Topics include:
1. What is the Show About?
2. Michael Mitchell – Facts and Figures
3. Tips for Staff Concert Coordinator
4. Concert Tips for Teachers
5. Concert Preparation Checklist
6. Concert Song Selection Sheet
7. Poster
8. Parent Invitation
9. Notifying the Media
10. Buying CDs and Other Products
11. Suggested Gym Layout
12. Suggested Introduction
13. Performance Evaluation
RESOURCES
REPRODUCIBLE LYRIC SHEET
The 1-page, two-sided 8.5” x 14” reproducible lyric sheet includes the words for the 25 select songs included in this package. Feel free to reproduce them so any student can have their own collection of Canadiana songs for use in the classroom, at home or even at the concert.
O CANADA
A short history of Canada’s national anthem plus printable posters with the lyrics in English and French, a music chart and four recordings of the anthem in English, French, bilingual and instrumental versions. A great classroom tool.
BIG CANADIAN MUSIC BOOK
Music charts and background information for all 40 songs in the complete Canada Is For Kids – Volumes 1, 2 and 3 CD collection
COLOURING BOOK
Reproducible Canadiana colouring images that relate to many themes from the songs. There are also electronic colouring images that can be coloured on your computer.
ANIMATED CARTOON – CANADA IN MY POCKET
One of Michael Mitchell’s most popular children’s songs is crafted into an animated cartoon that helps kids learn about the significance of the images found on the most common Canadian coins.
LECTURE NOTES - FOLK MUSIC AND FOLK LIFE IN CANADA
Use these student notes in conjunction with the songs to teach older students about the history and significance of folk music in Canada.
GAMES & PUZZLES
Electronic and printable Canadiana games and puzzles for people of all ages.
MUSIC FILES
We have enclosed 25 of the most popular songs from the 40-song Canada Is For Kids music collection (sold separately as Canada Is for Kids, Volumes 1, 2, and 3).
Music charts and lyrics for all songs can be found in the enclosed Big Canadian Music Book and on the Lyric Sheet. Music files contained in this package include:
1. SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT - Oscar Brand - Travel from coast to coast with this famous ballad
2. LITTLE TREES - Michael Mitchell - Michael wrote this song for Sesame Street. It tells about the important job each of us has, to give young trees a chance to grow up to be big trees.
3. I'SE THE B'Y - Traditional - The people of Newfoundland are fun-loving people who create wonderful songs about their everyday life. One of their most famous songs tells the story of a fisherman who goes out to catch fish and take them home to his wife, Liza. They have a unique way of talking in Newfoundland and sometimes use words and phrases that you would never hear anywhere else in the world.
4. FAREWELL NOVA SCOTIA - Traditional - Written just after the First World War, this is a song about being prepared to defend our country. It is the official song of Nova Scotia.
5. V'LA L'BON VENT - Traditional - This song is over 300 years old and was sung by the Voyageurs and Coureurs de Bois who roamed throughout Canada when it was a new nation. Such songs kept up their spirits when they had to paddle for up to 18 hours a day, and it also helped them to keep the oars working in rhythm, making everyone's work easier.
6. CANADA IN MY POCKET - Michael Mitchell - This song describes the significance of the symbols found on some of our Canadian coins.
7. THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND - Woody Guthrie - Many of us think that this is an original Canadian song. The truth is that this is an American song which described the things that made the writer proud of his country. About 20 years ago, a Canadian singer discovered the song, changed some of the words to describe Canadian places and we have been singing it here ever since.
8. LOG DRIVERS WALTZ - Wade Hemsworth - This song, which you might have seen on a TV music video, tells the story about the fine dancing skills which loggers were supposed to have as a result of their need to be light-footed when working logs down Canadian rivers to saw mills or to open water.
9. ALBERTA BOUND - Gordon Lightfoot - Here’s a song which is popular among cowboys, cowgirls and other Albertans.
10. THE BLUENOSE - Michael Stanbury - Several years ago, the famous schooner Bluenose sank in the Caribbean. The people of the Maritimes thought that she deserved to be remembered so they built the Bluenose II. Today, she takes visitors to Nova Scotia on sailing trips.
11. FLY HIGH - Michael Mitchell - During the early 1900’s, bush pilots were the lifeline that kept many northern communities alive during times of bad weather or illness. The spirit of the early Canadian aviators lives on today in those who travel into space.
12. CANADA IS - Steve Hyde & Eric Robertson - This song tells about what this country stands for, our hopes for the future, and the way we welcome people from all parts of the world to share this land with us.
13. WE’RE ALL LOOKING FOR A DINOSAUR - Michael Mitchell - Michael wrote this song for a segment of the children's TV program Sesame Street. The dinosaur bones that are constantly being found in and around Drumheller, Alberta inspired it.
14. BLACK FLY SONG - Wade Hemsworth - The folks who live in North Ontario dread the time of year when those pesky black flies begin to swarm.
15. LAND OF THE SILVER BIRCH - Traditional - A paddling song with a more aboriginal perspective.
16. AU CHANTE DE L’ALOUETTE - Traditional - This Acadian version of a traditional song tells about talking birds, able to communicate with humans, especially girls.
17. MAPLE SUGAR TIME - Michael Mitchell - Michael wrote this about a favourite Eastern Canadian pastime - gathering up the maple syrup and having fun at a traditional cabane a sucre.
18. JACK WAS EVERY INCH A SAILOR - Traditional - Newfoundland people know how to tell a tall tale, especially when it comes to fishing stories. This is one of their more famous ones.
19. WATER - Michael Mitchell - There is more fresh water in Canada than in any other country. But we should never take it for granted.
20. WHERE THE COHO FLASH SILVER - Lloyd Arntzen - Each morning, west coast fishers head out in search of those famous silver fish, the Coho salmon.
21. I LIKE WALKING IN THE WOODS - Michael Mitchell - Woods are a great place to escape to and let both your feet and imagination wander.
22. DONKEY RIDING - Traditional / Additional lyrics by Michael Mitchell - The 'donkey' referred to in the song is not of the animal variety but rather refers to the crane or mechanical system used to hoist cargo between a ship and the dock
23. BIG WET RODENT DAY - Michael Becker / John Acorn - A tribute to our most revered rodent and national symbol.
24. AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER - Traditional - The title is a play on words. “Moine” means both a spinning top and a monk. To encourage him to dance, the monk is offered, in fun, first a hood or cap, then a rosary, etc.
25. WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL - Michael Mitchell - Living in Canada, you never get bored with the weather. So, why not dedicate a song to our ever changing seasons?
ADDED BONUS: We’ve also included the Instrumental Versions of these 25 songs. They are ideal as accompaniment for school choirs and for use at music festivals or any other situation where you want the kids’ voices ‘up front’ rather than simply singing along with Michael.
NOTE: Every school that hosts a Canada Is For Kids concert receives ONE FREE COPY of this new product with every concert they book.
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