Making
educational music that actually sticks with kids can be a real challenge.
One of the most successful approaches we've discovered is broadening
the scope of the material (after all, there's only so many ways
of singing: "One plus one equals two..."
On our first album, "Yellowberry Jam", here are some of
the educational gems that kids can absorb as part of learning these
engaging and memorable songs:
SCIENCE
- Lots
of really interesting facts about beetles (including the names
of several specific kinds of beetles, their habitat, their diet,
the fact that fireflies are beetles, and the name of the chemical
that causes firefiles to light up!)
- Facts
about the Galapagos Islands (including several of the species
that live there, the fact that its a pretty scary environment
full of predators and volcanic activity and the fact that the
giant tortoises are as big as rocks!)
SOCIAL
SKILLS
- They
learn the power of projecting positive "vibes" toward
others (that it can diminish negativity and helps to elicit a
warm response)
- Embracing
diversity in a complex world (appearances can be decieving...learning
to treat others as we would want to be treated)
- The
power of touch and hugs (appropriate touch, bonding)
- The
power of laughter (and even tickling!) to disarm arrogance and
tension in some situations
- The
appropriateness and effectiveness of time-outs as a discipline
response to inappropriate behavior
- Social
impacts of eating
READING
- The
mystery, power and adventure of books (how we can live vicariously
through the eyes of authors)
HISTORY
- Who
invented peanut butter
IMAGINATION
& CREATIVITY
- An
imaginary trip down a water slide
- What
if there was a magic sauce that could make even unappealing foods
palatable?
- What
if there was a contest for the best-tasting food in the world?
|
