My Louisiana Birds
Brown Pelican, by Cody Doherty
My Louisiana Birds is a song written with the intent of enhancing children’s appreciation for the array of birds found in Louisiana. Hopefully, instilling youth with an understanding of the marvels of the natural world will support their development into responsible stewards of our environment.
The song format is similar to that of The Twelve Days of Christmas in that the chorus expands with the introduction of each new bird. Ideally, the song should be sung in conjunction with an activity which is developmentally appropriate for the participants and which supports active engagement.
Below are a few suggestions:
The song format is similar to that of The Twelve Days of Christmas in that the chorus expands with the introduction of each new bird. Ideally, the song should be sung in conjunction with an activity which is developmentally appropriate for the participants and which supports active engagement.
Below are a few suggestions:
- Provide children with a picture of each bird included in the song. Use images not only to inform the children of what the birds look like but to guide them in the sequence of the birds to be sung about in the chorus.
- Reduce the number of birds to include in the verses and chorus to suit the needs of the group.
- Encourage children to select other birds to include in the song; have them write their own verses and additions to the chorus.
- Provide children with various percussion instruments and have them add their own sound effects.
- Have children “become” a bird and act out the bird’s behaviors and song patterns.
Song Materials
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| visual_guide_for_my_louisiana_birds.pdf |
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Play "My Louisiana Birds"
(c) Nanette Olivier 2019 |
My Louisiana Birds recording credits: Charlene Heaton (vocals), David Porter (banjo), Betsy Hodnett (alto flute), Nanette Olivier (baritone ukulele and vocals), Kurt Braun (sound effects).