Thank you for joining The Robin Song mini-video series!
This is an online inquiry for all of us! For you, as an adult working with children, for the children in your life, and for me, as I explore sharing songs and stories in this way.
For children… If children watching the video have predictions, connections and/or wonderings about the stories shared this week, please share them! You can do that here, or where the video is posted on YouTube, Instagram or FB. I will use their thoughts to help guide next week’s episode.
For the adults… Check out the resources and notes below. It will give you some insight into my thinking behind why and how I approach things the way I do. You will also find a lyrics sheet, and chords! If you have any thoughts, connections and/or wonderings from an adult lens about the video, please also share your thinking. I will also use your thoughts to help guide this mini-video series!
For me… Your feedback is greatly appreciated! I am committed to anti-racism, and to advocating for all humans to have access, support, safety and opportunity to develop a meaningful relationship with the natural world. If you have feedback to support this work, you may feel comfortable sharing feedback in a comment, however, you can also email me directly, or consider using the anonymous feedback form on my website. You can find that form HERE.
Okay- video notes below for the first video in the series. Thank you for joining me, and see you next Thursday! 🙂
VIDEO NOTES
Songs can be a spark
Songs can capture a child’s heart and attention like no other! A song can invite children to look more closely in the land, to make predictions, and to start to think about questions they have. From here, a whole learning journey can start to unfold!
Songs can be integrated
Singing a song doesn’t need to be a separate event or something separated from the rest of your time together. A song, or a part of a song, can be just one part of a whole experience.
Acknowledging the land
In this video, I shared with you how I feel best sharing my understanding of the land I live in and my personal relationship with this beautiful land. I have shared it in a way that I think young children will understand and connect with. How I acknowledge the land is an ever-changing task, depending on why I am doing it, with whom and for what purpose. It also changes as I learn more about the history of this land, build deeper relationships with Indigenous community members and colleagues, and reflect more deeply on my relationship with the land. Doing a land acknowledgement is really important when engaging children with the land. I have written about this previously, including resources to support you in learning about the land you live in and about acknowledging the land. You can find those resources HERE.
The tree that knows you best
This statement is a nod to Haley Higdon, Programming Director at Natural Curiosity. I’ve learned so much from Natural Curiosity that has supported me in exploring an inquiry stance when engaging children in learning in the land. I’ve written more about ‘the tree that knows you best’ in a previous post, and you can find out more about this HERE.
Land Heart Song 
Hi Mrs. Strutt! Ms. Chiarot’s grade 2/3 class here. We loved your song and sang along with it, thank you for sharing the lyrics. Some connections we made: “I have seen a bird’s nest before! I think it was a robin”. “My aunt has birds in her house” “I have seen a robin outside my window.” Predictions we made: Eggs in the nest – numbers ranged from 1 – 6 eggs. A few thought there will be baby birds in the nest. One friend thought maybe more sticks will be added. Wonderings: “Is she (you) in Newmarket?” “I wonder if there is a dad bird?”I wonder if there is baby birds when do they fly away?”
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Thanks so much for sharing, Jen! I’m so glad to hear that your class enjoyed singing along 🙂 These are wonderful connections, predictions and wonderings. I will use all of this amazing thinking to help shape episode 2! Stay tuned 🙂
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