"When I grow up I want to be an architect"This image is from the Photovoice project.
Music and a Curriculum for Excellence
Themes and Ideas : Values and concepts that can be shared with young people
Themes and Ideas : Values and concepts that can be shared with young people
The ethos and life of the school as a community.
‘Teachers know that positive relationships and the climate for learning in a school – its values, its ethos and its life as a community – are essential starting points for successful learning.
The wider life of the school – activities such as assemblies, community events and school projects – makes an important contribution to the development of the four capacities, helping to enable all young people to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors’ (p. 10).
Scottish Executive (2006) A Curriculum for Excellence: Progress and Proposals
A paper from the Curriculum Review Programme Board. Scottish Executive: Edinburgh
Assembly Project
The following themes might form the basis of a school assembly. Young people could research, plan and prepare a presentation that supports one of these themes. I have collected some ideas that could provide a stimulus for thinking about such an Assembly Project. Thanks to the nice people at Youtube, many of the songs that I have used in presentations in the past can now be viewed and listened to online.
Here are the two themes that I will explore.
The Environment
The protection of vulnerable people / Refugees
The Environment
Listen to the song Fragile by Sting.
What do the words of the song mean to you?
If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fallLike tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
How fragile we are how fragile we are
Perhaps we are being encouraged to think about the ways in which we treat each other as well as our environment. If you feel up to it, you could also watch the very moving version of this song which Sting and friends performed on 11th September, 2001 as the first song in a concert given for invited guests at his home in Tuscany.
‘Pollution’ by Tom Lehrer
In this next song, Tom Lehrer asks us to think about the quality of our air and water in this ironic song, ‘Pollution’. The lyrics are given along with Lehrer’s preamble.
‘Time was when an American about to go abroad would be warned by his friends or the guidebooks not to drink the water. But times have changed and now a foreigner coming to this country might be offered the following advice’.
If you visit American city, you will find it very pretty.
Just two things of which you must beware:
Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air.
Pollution, pollution, they got smog and sewage and mud.
Turn on your tap and get hot and cold running crud.
See the halibuts and the sturgeons
Being wiped out by detergents.
Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly,
But they don't last long if they try.
Pollution, pollution, you can use the latest toothpaste,
And then rinse your mouth with industrial waste.
Just go out for a breath of air, and you'll be ready for Medicare.
The city streets are really quite a thrill. If the hoods don't get you, the monoxide will.
Pollution, pollution, wear a gas mask and a veil.
Then you can breathe, long as you don't inhale.
Lots of things there that you can drink,
But stay away from the kitchen sink.
Throw out your breakfast garbage and I’ve got a hunch
That the folks downstream will drink it for lunch.
So go to the city, see the crazy people there. Like lambs to the slaughter,
They're drinking the water
And breathing……(Coughing!)……………… the air.
Websites of interest
Focus on waste
Climatecare.org This site helps you calculate your CO2 emissions and suggests what you can do to offset this amount.
The Wise group . This web site was under construction last time I checked (3 March, 2008) but it should be up and running soon.
Nature sound studio A rich resource for natural sounds from the environment. Listen to ‘Sora Dawn’ – I’m convinced there is a Bass Xylophone in there!
Websites about reusing and recycling materials for art.
Environmental artists
Randall Cleaver
Creative use of objects
Jack Johnson’s song ‘3Rs’ has the words ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ as its chorus. It is available on iTunes. Here are the details:
3Rs, Jack Johnson
Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies from the film Curious George, 2006 Bushfire Records.
‘Big Yellow Taxi’ by Joni Mitchell
They paved Paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel
A boutique and a swinging hotspot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone
They paved Paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Hey farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
The protection of vulnerable people / Refugees
(All Jock Tamson's Bairns are) Coming Home This is a song by Steven Clarke which uses the very Scottish idea that we are all Jock Tamson’s Bairns. The words alone are quite moving. The following is from Steven Clarke’s website.
Perhaps we are being encouraged to think about the ways in which we treat each other as well as our environment. If you feel up to it, you could also watch the very moving version of this song which Sting and friends performed on 11th September, 2001 as the first song in a concert given for invited guests at his home in Tuscany.
‘Pollution’ by Tom Lehrer
In this next song, Tom Lehrer asks us to think about the quality of our air and water in this ironic song, ‘Pollution’. The lyrics are given along with Lehrer’s preamble.
‘Time was when an American about to go abroad would be warned by his friends or the guidebooks not to drink the water. But times have changed and now a foreigner coming to this country might be offered the following advice’.
If you visit American city, you will find it very pretty.
Just two things of which you must beware:
Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air.
Pollution, pollution, they got smog and sewage and mud.
Turn on your tap and get hot and cold running crud.
See the halibuts and the sturgeons
Being wiped out by detergents.
Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly,
But they don't last long if they try.
Pollution, pollution, you can use the latest toothpaste,
And then rinse your mouth with industrial waste.
Just go out for a breath of air, and you'll be ready for Medicare.
The city streets are really quite a thrill. If the hoods don't get you, the monoxide will.
Pollution, pollution, wear a gas mask and a veil.
Then you can breathe, long as you don't inhale.
Lots of things there that you can drink,
But stay away from the kitchen sink.
Throw out your breakfast garbage and I’ve got a hunch
That the folks downstream will drink it for lunch.
So go to the city, see the crazy people there. Like lambs to the slaughter,
They're drinking the water
And breathing……(Coughing!)……………… the air.
Websites of interest
Focus on waste
Climatecare.org This site helps you calculate your CO2 emissions and suggests what you can do to offset this amount.
The Wise group . This web site was under construction last time I checked (3 March, 2008) but it should be up and running soon.
Nature sound studio A rich resource for natural sounds from the environment. Listen to ‘Sora Dawn’ – I’m convinced there is a Bass Xylophone in there!
Websites about reusing and recycling materials for art.
Environmental artists
Randall Cleaver
Creative use of objects
Jack Johnson’s song ‘3Rs’ has the words ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ as its chorus. It is available on iTunes. Here are the details:
3Rs, Jack Johnson
Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies from the film Curious George, 2006 Bushfire Records.
‘Big Yellow Taxi’ by Joni Mitchell
They paved Paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel
A boutique and a swinging hotspot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone
They paved Paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Hey farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
The protection of vulnerable people / Refugees
(All Jock Tamson's Bairns are) Coming Home This is a song by Steven Clarke which uses the very Scottish idea that we are all Jock Tamson’s Bairns. The words alone are quite moving. The following is from Steven Clarke’s website.
Put a light in the window
Your brother's coming home
Set a meal on the table
Your brother's coming home
He'll be tired and weary
After all these years alone
He's coming home, your brother's coming home
Take the chain from the door
Your sister's coming home
Open wide your arms
Your sister's coming home
Don't leave her standing there
After all the pain she's known
She's coming home, your sister's coming home
Chorus:Coming home to a place they've never been
Coming home to a land they've never seen
Coming home to a family they have never know
A' Jock Tamson's bairnsAre coming home
He's been angry and afraid
Your father's coming home
He's been hounded and betrayed
Your father's coming homeAnd with every act of kindness
A seed of hope is sown
He's coming home.
Your father's coming home
Chorus
Bring her in from the cold
Your mother's coming home
Sit her down by the fire
Your mother's coming home
Make her warm, make her welcome
Before the chance is gone
She's coming home.
Your mother's coming home
Chorus
From Iraq and Zimbabwe
Your family's coming home
And from Turkey and Somalia
Your family's coming home
Seeking rest and refuge
They have never known
They're coming home.
Your family's coming home
Copyright 2004 Steven Clarkhttp://www.stevenclarksongs.50megs.com/
"All Jock Tamson's Bairns is an expression widely used in Scotland to signify 'The Family of Mankind'. And yet it seems that some branches of the family are getting a distinctly frosty welcome. The countries named in the last verse can, regrettably, be updated on an almost weekly basis."
This section makes use of songs from the book ‘SINGBOOK’ published by Youth Music. The University of Strathclyde Library has 3 copies of this book. It is available to buy from Youth Music’s website. It would represent a good investment as it contains full backing tracks with and without voices as well as rehearsal marks embedded within the CDs.
Think about the words of the song, ‘Refuge’ by Howard Goodall
There’s always someone standing on their own outside the crowd
who looks bewildered and confused.
They try to make some sense of all the jostling and the jokes
but still they don’t look that amused.
What place, what life, what did they leave behind?
What sights, what sounds, what thoughts are on their mind?
I’ve noticed that your accent has an unfamiliar sound;
sometimes it seems you hate us all.
In silence you retreat into a closed and private world
behind your own protective wall.
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams were left when you arrived?
Who’ll be your refuge, your shelter, your fortress?
Who’ll be your champion?
Who’ll be your refuge, your pilot, your brother,
your northern star?
Who will be your second sight;
the light that guides your way at night?
Don’t be down-hearted.
I’ll be your refuge, I’ll be your refuge.
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams were left when you arrived?
Who’ll be your refuge, your shelter, your fortress?
Who’ll be your champion?
Who’ll be your refuge, your pilot, your brother,
your northern star?
Who will be your second sight;
the light that guides your way at night?
Don’t be down-hearted.
I’ll be your refuge, I’ll be your refuge.
There’s nothing wrong with being shy and ev’rybody knows
that fools speak louder than the rest.
… that fools speak louder than the rest.
Let no-one tell you how to think or what is right or true:
you are not weak or second best.
… you are not weak or second best.
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams were left when you arrived?
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams
were left when you arrived?
The accompanying website for the songs gives plenty of information and suggestions for further activity.
Context of the songs.
Refugee Council including ‘Myth Buster’ section.
QCA
Respect for All : valuing diversity and challenging racism through the curriculum
Drama activities
Art and design activities
Physical education
The International Theatre of the Oppressed Organisation
Banner Theatre Company
UN Refugee Agency list of resources for teachers – ‘How can you help?’
Amnesty
Focus on refugees - stories and related activities
This section makes use of songs from the book ‘SINGBOOK’ published by Youth Music. The University of Strathclyde Library has 3 copies of this book. It is available to buy from Youth Music’s website. It would represent a good investment as it contains full backing tracks with and without voices as well as rehearsal marks embedded within the CDs.
Think about the words of the song, ‘Refuge’ by Howard Goodall
There’s always someone standing on their own outside the crowd
who looks bewildered and confused.
They try to make some sense of all the jostling and the jokes
but still they don’t look that amused.
What place, what life, what did they leave behind?
What sights, what sounds, what thoughts are on their mind?
I’ve noticed that your accent has an unfamiliar sound;
sometimes it seems you hate us all.
In silence you retreat into a closed and private world
behind your own protective wall.
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams were left when you arrived?
Who’ll be your refuge, your shelter, your fortress?
Who’ll be your champion?
Who’ll be your refuge, your pilot, your brother,
your northern star?
Who will be your second sight;
the light that guides your way at night?
Don’t be down-hearted.
I’ll be your refuge, I’ll be your refuge.
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams were left when you arrived?
Who’ll be your refuge, your shelter, your fortress?
Who’ll be your champion?
Who’ll be your refuge, your pilot, your brother,
your northern star?
Who will be your second sight;
the light that guides your way at night?
Don’t be down-hearted.
I’ll be your refuge, I’ll be your refuge.
There’s nothing wrong with being shy and ev’rybody knows
that fools speak louder than the rest.
… that fools speak louder than the rest.
Let no-one tell you how to think or what is right or true:
you are not weak or second best.
… you are not weak or second best.
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams were left when you arrived?
What crimes, what hurt, what wars have you survived?
What hopes, what dreams
were left when you arrived?
The accompanying website for the songs gives plenty of information and suggestions for further activity.
Context of the songs.
Refugee Council including ‘Myth Buster’ section.
QCA
Respect for All : valuing diversity and challenging racism through the curriculum
Drama activities
Art and design activities
Physical education
The International Theatre of the Oppressed Organisation
Banner Theatre Company
UN Refugee Agency list of resources for teachers – ‘How can you help?’
Amnesty
Focus on refugees - stories and related activities
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