Talking Hands Talking Feet Blog
Inspired Education Songs In Motion

It is the small, magnified, life focusing moments that seem to have the greatest impact on a child’s life. It is the little big things that make a difference. It may be a moment between a teacher and a child, when that child feels they are recognized, understood and confirmed; and because of that moment [...]

Continue reading “Little Big Heart” »

If ever you get disheartened as a public school teacher, here are some thoughts to re-inspire you. Whenever your “teacher’s hat” is feeling a bit heavy… remember to remember the heartbeat of the future. What is a child? “We are the future!” Children carry the dormant seeds passed on through generations that will become the [...]

Continue reading “The Heartbeat of the Future” »

Have you noticed how children delight in the realm of creatures great and small? Have you ever wondered why? Perhaps you remember what it was like for you as a child – that intense feeling of wonder and communication with the animal world!  There is a love and fascination for all the critters, from the [...]

Continue reading “Animal Pow Wow” »

In 1981 I lived in a small village in the Barlovento region of Venezuela called Caño Negro. It was founded by West African people who had escaped from Spanish slaveholders into the jungle interior of the Venezuelan Amazon. It became a vibrant and thriving community. The rhythms, stories, symbol and song of these proud people [...]

Continue reading “Tres Tamboras – We all need a Center” »

It is so true that language and words are powerful motivators in human life. Words can alter the course of history; can elevate a person to ideas and connections that may inspire generations to come. Words can do harm, but they can also heal. Some of the greatest movers and shakers in world history were [...]

Continue reading “The Wonder of Words” »

Teachers! The most important teaching tool you have is you! Yes, you! It’s true. They don’t teach you this in college, it’s not part of the education curriculum, but if you think about it, it really should be. The most persuasive, effective, efficacious, long lasting, inspiring teaching tool you have is YOU! What does this [...]

Continue reading “Get To Know Yourself” »

The intimate meaning and value of aging and death can be engendered in the young. Most children have a grandparent or an auntie or uncle they can get to know better. Many children know of someone who has died. But how we talk about old age, dying and death with young people can make a [...]

Continue reading “Older Better” »

How we map the world reflects our world view. Introducing geography to elementary age school children is a brilliant opportunity to explore the world through the lens of many world views, many view points. The inspiration behind the song New Geography is to promote exploration of the 21st century ‘human-o-sphere’ through a kaleidoscope of world [...]

Continue reading “New Geography Workshop Primer” »

What better way to engage with the constitution than through a simple, moving and thought-provoking song? Here are constitution lesson plans your students will not soon forget! (By the way – To get all this as a free lesson plan, go here.) The song is ‘We the People’, based on the preamble to the constitution. [...]

Continue reading “Essential Constitution Lesson Plans – Redefining ‘We the People’” »

This is a constitution lesson your students will value for the rest of their lives. The United States Constitution begins with the inspired words – ‘We the People’. Oh yes, let’s re-define who we mean by ‘the People’. But let’s also look at the fact that the pronoun ‘We’ is all-inclusive. It says, hey, there [...]

Continue reading “Constitution Lesson Inspired by Song!” »