What is in the Teaching Kit?

Canada Is For Kids Teaching Kit - 3rd Edition (2011)

(Schools that book shows can download it from the internet)

There are three components to the Teaching Kit:

1.  The Tool Kit - packed with a wide variety of Teaching Resources and Concert Tools  in a combination of formats (.pdf, .doc and html) so that some can be accessed through the internet while others can be printed for distribution to staff and students.

2.  Song Tracks - for 25 of the most popular songs from the Canada Is For Kids CD collection; and

3.  O Canada Song Tracks - with English, French, bilingual and instrumental versions of our national anthem which you can use for morning exercises or in conjunction with the O Canada Tutorial tool.

 NOTE:  Feel free to share all of the resources, including the music files, with staff and students WITHIN your school only please.

SHOW TOOLS

This has tips for both teachers and the show coordinator to help staff, students and parents prepare to join in on this celebration of songs and stories of Canada’s heritage.  Most of these pages are designed for you to print out and distribute as you see fit.  Feel free to edit some of them, such as the suggested media release announcing the upcoming show, to personalize them for your school.

Show tools are free for anyone to download CLICK HERE

TEACHING RESOURCES

REPRODUCIBLE LYRIC SHEET  -- The 4-page, 8.5” x 11” reproducible lyric sheet includes the words for the 25 songs included in this package. Feel free to reproduce them so any student can have their own collection of Canadiana songs for use in the classroom or at home.

  O CANADA  -- A short history of Canada’s national anthem plus printable posters with the lyrics in English and French, a music chart and four recordings of the anthem in English, French, bilingual and instrumental versions.  A great classroom tool. 

BIG CANADIAN MUSIC BOOK  -- Music charts and background information for all 40 songs in the complete Canada Is For Kids – Volumes 1, 2 and 3 CD collection.  Music teachers can print individual pages to support the use of these songs in music class or to compile their own song book for the kids.

COLOURING BOOK  -- Reproducible Canadiana colouring images that relate to many themes from the songs.  There are also electronic colouring images that can be filled in on your computer.

ANIMATED CARTOON – CANADA IN MY POCKET  -- One of Michael Mitchell’s most popular children’s songs is crafted into an animated cartoon that helps kids learn about the significance of the images found on the most common Canadian coins.

TUTORIAL - FOLK MUSIC AND FOLK LIFE IN CANADA  -- Use these student notes in conjunction with selected songs to teach older students about the history and significance of folk music in Canada.

GAMES & PUZZLES  -- Electronic and printable Canadiana games and puzzles for people of all ages

MUSIC FILES

We have enclosed 25 of the most popular songs from the 40-song Canada Is For Kids music collection You can burn or email copies of any or all of the songs that you would like to distribute to classrooms to help them prepare for the concert.  Music charts and lyric sheets for these songs are included in the Kit.

Special Feature:  you get to pick your favourite songs from the list below to include in your concert.

   1. SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT - Oscar Brand - Travel from coast to coast with this famous ballad
   2. LITTLE TREES - Michael Mitchell - Michael wrote this song for Sesame Street.  It tells about the important job each of us has, to give young trees a chance to grow up to be big trees.
   3. I'SE THE B'Y - Traditional - The people of Newfoundland are fun-loving people who create wonderful songs about their everyday life.  One of their most famous songs tells the story of a fisherman who goes out to catch fish and take them home to his wife, Liza.  They have a unique way of talking in Newfoundland and sometimes use words and phrases that you would never hear anywhere else in the world.
   4. FAREWELL NOVA SCOTIA - Traditional - Written just after the First World War, this is a song about being prepared to defend our country.  It is the official song of Nova Scotia.
   5. V'LA L'BON VENT - Traditional - This song is over 300 years old and was sung by the Voyageurs and Coureurs de Bois who roamed throughout Canada when it was a new nation.  Such songs kept up their spirits when they had to paddle for up to 18 hours a day, and it also helped them to keep the oars working in rhythm, making everyone's work easier.
   6. CANADA IN MY POCKET - Michael Mitchell - This song describes the significance of the symbols found on some of our Canadian coins.
   7. THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND - Woody Guthrie - Many of us think that this is an original Canadian song.  The truth is that this is an American song which described the things that made the writer proud of his country.  About 20 years ago, a Canadian singer discovered the song, changed some of the words to describe Canadian places and we have been singing it here ever since.
   8. LOG DRIVERS WALTZ - Wade Hemsworth - This song, which you might have seen on a TV  music video, tells the story about the fine dancing skills which loggers were supposed to have as a result of their need to be light-footed when working logs down Canadian rivers to saw mills or to open water.
   9. ALBERTA BOUND - Gordon Lightfoot - Here’s a song which is popular among cowboys, cowgirls and other Albertans.
  10. THE BLUENOSE - Michael Stanbury - Several years ago, the famous schooner Bluenose sank in the Caribbean.  The people of the Maritimes thought that she deserved to be remembered so they built the Bluenose II.  Today, she takes visitors to Nova Scotia on sailing trips.
  11. FLY HIGH - Michael Mitchell - During the early 1900’s, bush pilots were the lifeline that kept many northern communities alive during times of bad weather or illness.  The spirit of the early Canadian aviators lives on today in those who travel into space.
  12. CANADA IS - Steve Hyde & Eric Robertson - This song tells about what this country stands for, our hopes for the future, and the way we welcome people from all parts of the world to share this land with us.
  13. WE’RE ALL LOOKING FOR A DINOSAUR -  Michael Mitchell - Michael wrote this song for a segment of the children's TV program Sesame Street.  The dinosaur bones that are constantly being found in and around Drumheller, Alberta inspired it.
  14. BLACK FLY SONG - Wade Hemsworth - The folks who live in North Ontario dread the time of year when those pesky black flies begin to swarm.
  15. LAND OF THE SILVER BIRCH - Traditional - A paddling song with a more aboriginal perspective.
  16. AU CHANTE DE L’ALOUETTE - Traditional - This Acadian version of a traditional song tells about talking birds, able to communicate with humans, especially girls.
  17. MAPLE SUGAR TIME - Michael Mitchell - Michael wrote this about a favourite Eastern Canadian pastime - gathering up the maple syrup and having fun at a traditional cabane a sucre.
  18. JACK WAS EVERY INCH A SAILOR - Traditional - Newfoundland people know how to tell a tall tale, especially when it comes to fishing stories.  This is one of their more famous ones.
  19. WATER - Michael Mitchell - There is more fresh water in Canada than in any other country.  But we should never take it for granted.
  20. WHERE THE COHO FLASH SILVER - Lloyd Arntzen - Each morning, west coast fishers head out in search of those famous silver fish, the Coho salmon.
  21. I LIKE WALKING IN THE WOODS - Michael Mitchell - Woods are a great place to escape to and let both your feet and imagination wander.
  22. DONKEY RIDING - Traditional / Additional lyrics by Michael Mitchell - The 'donkey' referred to in the song is not of the animal variety but rather refers to the crane or mechanical system used to hoist cargo between a ship and the dock
  23. BIG WET RODENT DAY - Michael Becker / John Acorn - A tribute to our most revered rodent and national symbol.
  24. AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER - Traditional - The title is a play on words.  “Moine” means both a spinning top and a monk.  To encourage him to dance, the monk is offered, in fun, first a hood or cap, then a rosary, etc. 
  25. WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL - Michael Mitchell - Living in Canada, you never get bored with the weather.  So, why not dedicate a song to our ever changing seasons?