Water
the kiss of life!
watch Water Cycle Kit Excerpts
Water Water the Lyrics
Springing Water
River Water
Ocean Water
Raining Water
(Chorus) Sparkling Dew Drops
In the Morning Sun
Shimmering Rainbow
A Gift to Everyone…
Water, Water, Water, Water
Rising Water
Falling Water
Quiet Water
Wild Water
(Chorus)
Frozen Water
Cooling Water
Warming Water
Steamy Water
(Chorus)
Nourishing Water
Balancing Water
Healing Water
Wonderful Water
(Chorus)
Watery Facts…
95% of the fertilized human egg is water!
70% of the adult human body is water!
70% of the earth’s surface is water!
In light of these watery facts, the word ‘physical’ has a different connotation. That is, we are more fluid than solid, right? Human physiology is a fluid thing. We are watery beings!
Part 2 – The Process
Take some time to open up these questions with your students. It is meant to be a dynamic, free-flowing brainstorm-style process. Let the process catch on! Here are some starter questions:
HISTORY
What did the founding fathers mean by “We the People”? Why? This will give historical context to the process. It will also show why the process of updating the phrase “We the People” is so important.
WHO ARE “WE THE PEOPLE”?
Ask the students “What do we mean by We the People”? Put all the examples on the board. Don’t edit yet. Let the process catch on! All the examples of who “We the People” are can now be brought into the song. This is where a little editing or trimming may help, because you’re trying to find ways to fit their examples into the meter of the song. It really is a poetic process. After you have several examples – try to sing them without using the recording. (You may end up with 20 lines!)
WHAT DO WE SAY NO TO?
The second verse in the song is to do with what “We the People”, now with new meaning and relevancy, say ‘no’ to, what we stand in defiance to. Ask the students, “What do ‘We the People’ say no to?” “What do ‘We the People’ stand against?” “What does the Constitution stand against?” For example, slavery, oppression, cruelty, discrimination… Repeat the process, as with the first verse, of writing up examples on the board and then fitting the words into the meter of the song. Again practice singing this by itself, without the recording. You may be surprised by the result!
OUR RIGHTS – OUR FREEDOMS
Now ask the students, “What are our basic freedoms in this country?” “What are our rights?” Examples are our right to public education or our right to vote. Go through the same process again, writing examples on the board and choosing some of them to sing.
Part 3 – The Enactment
MOVEMENTS
Review at the lyrics of the song provided. You can either choose a few specific words or you can do this with all the words. Ask the students for their ideas for movements that express those words. Choose one movement that everyone can do together for each word.
Here are some tips to help you with the movement:
*Specify before they start whether you want hand movements only or full body movements.
*Note: Encourage them to keep the movements distinct, clear and simple so that all the participants can follow easily. (For example; if someone is twirling around with wild gestures it won’t help the process.)
*If there is someone in the class that is very natural with movement, you can ask them to come to the front to help lead the movement.
*Try this process without playing the recording. This is a time to research and discover what movements fit with specific words and ideas.
*The person leading will help to remember the sequence of movements.
*Encourage the children to participate without any pressure, judgment or bias because it is important that they feel free to express themselves. The creative process comes from being open and willing.
Part 4 – Bringing it Together
Now we get to the finale of the whole process! It might be good to take a very short break before this last part. If appropriate you can photograph or video this to share.
Set up the class in a performance setting. Have a small group in a formation (in lines, arcs or a clump) to sing the line “We the People”. Have another group in formation to sing the verses. Have a third group in formation (possibly in the middle) to do the movements. All three groups should be facing the front – it could be a semi-circular formation. It would be good to have the words written out large enough for everyone to see, perhaps on a poster board, on an overhead projector or whatever method works best in your performance setting.
Sing the song again with group one singing “We the People”, group two singing the lines (every color, every voice…) and group three doing the movements. If you have a movement leader they can be in the front line of their group, in the middle, so that all the children can see the movements. When you get to the preamble, have one of the groups sing “We the People are One Humanity” – softly, and the other two groups will recite the Preamble along with the song. You can do this once or as many times as feels appropriate. This is something that could be practiced and performed at a school assembly.
Part 5 – Watch the Video
In a nutshell: Constitution Lesson Plan in 5 steps
1. Listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics provided.
2. Sing along with the song (in various groupings) using the lyrics provided.
3. Take some time to open up these questions, the children will give their own examples that can be written on the board:
a.Who are “We the People”? (our true democracy)
b.What do we say no to? (our moral compass)
c.What are we free to do? (our rights)
4. Review at the lyrics of the song and have the children find movements that work with the song. Sing the song again with the added movements.
5. Watch the Talking Hands Talking Feet video of “We the People”.
