Activity Verses

Verse before painting

Now I take the brush so gently

In my hand with loving care

Watch the color flow so softly

On the paper clean and clear.

Verse before Handwork

I. To begin:

This is little Tommy Thumb

Round and smooth like any plum.

This is little Peter Pointer

Surely he is a double jointer

This is mighty Toby Tall

He's the biggest of them all.

This is dainty Ruby Ring,

Much too fine for many things.

This is Little Baby,

So tiny and so shy,

All the five we've counted now

Busy fingers in a row

Each one knows the way to go

How to work and how to play.

Yet together they work the best,

Each one helping all the rest.

II. To end

My fingers are so sleepy,

It's time they went to bed.

First you Little Baby,

Tuck in your tiny head.

Ruby Ring, now it's your turn,

Next comes Toby Great.

Peter Pointer hurry

Because it's getting late.

Let's see if they're all nestled,

No! - there's one to come,

Move over please and make room

For Tommy Thumb.

Walking Circle Verses

Little dwarves so short and strong

Heavy-footed march along

Every head is straight and proud

Every step is firm and loud.

_

Pick and hammer each must hold

Deep in the earth to mine the gold

Ready over each one's back

Hangs a little empty sack.

_

When the hard day's work is done

Home again they march as one.

Full sacks make a heavy load

As they tramp along the road.

Belling the Cat

The Mice once called a meeting

To decide upon a plan.

The Cat, their lifelong enemy,

From whom they always ran,

Was terrorizing all Mousekind,

All day and all night through.

When finally one smart, young Mouse

Squeaked "I know what to do!"

The plan was simple, oh so sweet,

Around her neck they'd hang,

A bell so bold and brassy it

Would warn them with its clang.

"How dense we've been to wait so long.

Before we thought of that!"

But one old wise and wary Mouse

Asked: "Who will bell the Cat?"

_________

This is a Fable of Aesop's written poetically by a teacher named Gary ?

Closing Verses

1. -by Barry Gray

Our work is done, our day is past,

We'll go our separate ways.

And I will hold so tight and fast 

What I have learned today.

I¹ve given with my heart and mind

The effort that it needs.

And I will strive in me to find,

Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

______________

2.

The morning has ended

We've done our best

Good bye 'til tomorrow

And have a nice rest.

___________

3.

Sun Moon and Stars above

Me weave within the

Heaven's blue -

May I on earth a pattern

Leave of words and deeds

As true.

Morning Verses

1. 

The sun with loving light

Makes bright for me each day.

The soul with spirit power

Gives strength into my limbs.

In sunlight shining clear

I reverence, O God,

The strength of humankind

Which thou, so graciously,

Hast planted in my soul

That I, with all my might,

May love to work and learn

From thee comes light and strength

To thee rise love and thanks.

————

2.

The sun is in my heart

It warms me with its power

And wakens life and love

In bird and beast and flower.

_

The stars above my head

Are shining in my mind

Like spirits of the world

Than in my thoughts I find.

_

The earth whereon I tread

Lets not my feet go through

But strongly doth uphold

The weight of deeds I do.

_

Then must I thankful be

That man on earth I dwell

To love and work the world

And greet all people well.

————

3.

Sixteenth Century Prayer

God be in my head, and in my understanding.

God be in my eyes, and in my looking.

God be in my mouth, and in my speaking.

God be in my heart, and in my thinking.

God be at my end, and at my departing.

________

4.

We are truthful and helpful

And loving in trust

For our heart's inner sun

Glows brightly in us.

We will open our hearts

To the sunbeams so bright

And we'll fill all the world

With our heart's inner light.

-----

Good Morning Dear Earth (hands as if holding earth on abdomen)

Good Morning Dear Sun (stretch arms above head in a circular arc)

Good Morning Dear Trees (stretch arms to side, like tree branches)

And the Flowers Everywhere (hands holding flowers on ground)

Good Morning Dear Beasts (hands as if petting a dog,etc..)

And the Birds in the Trees (hands “fly” away like birds flying away)

Good Morning Dear You and Good Morning Dear Me. (hands reaching to each other, then hands cross over our chest)

********

The golden sun is shining

Up in the sky so blue;

Good morning, happy morning,

Good morning, sun, to you.

*********

Early in the morning we hear the rooster calling

He struts around the farm yard, sais good morning creatures all

He flaps his wings and he sings to you

Wake up now! coc-a-doodle-doo

--------

How beautiful the world is,

How blue the sky above,

How green the grass in the morning dew,

How musical the dove.

 

Eyes to see the colours bright,

Ears for music of delight,

Nose to smell the fragrant rose,

Skin to feel the breeze that blows.

 

How beautiful the world is,

How blue the sky above,

God is there in all creation

Flowing forth in light and love.

Paul King 

The song of the stars resounds in the heavens,

The song of the sun awakens the day,

The song of my heart is the sun in my soul,

And I’ll listen, and listen, to what it can say.

Paul King

 

 

A head I have for thinking deeply,

Listening, and learning, and looking with care.

Hands I have for work and creating

With fingers skillful to make and repair.

In my heart I can carry the sun

Shining with love for everyone.

Paul King  

St. Patrick's Adventure Day

St. Patrick Theme

1. Tell story of St. Patrick
2. Legend of St. Patrick ridding land of snakes (like pied piper-drums or staff?)
3. Legend of St. Patrick using clover to teach about Godhead
4. Intro to Irish culture (geography, day in the life of...)

Leprechaun Theme

1. Tell a story about finding a Leprechaun in the garden (asking for him to return visit annual, instead of gold)
2. Hide n' seek (one person is Leprechaun who hides)
3. Leap Frog (Leaping leprechauns)
4. Craft: rainbows (chalk, paint, paper....), pot of gold (each piece write something nice about someone...kindness more important than money)

Music Time: play instruments (harp, penny whistle or drum), Irish dance intro (watch Riverdance; try to dance)

Snack: Irish Soda Bread

Poems

St Patricks Day

Saint Patrick came from Ireland.
A country trimmed with green.
It has shamrocks and the pipes--
And leprechauns you may have seen.
Those leprechauns will trip you--
You'll fall flat on your face.
They'll tickle your nose make a big mess,
Then find a hiding place!

The leprechaun is small and green--
He hides where he cannot be seen.
But if you catch one on this day,
He must give his gold away!



Irish Blessings
May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your window pane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May the luck of the Irish
and lots of good cheer
Bring a lift to your heart
that will last throughout the year.

Moon and Sun verse

Start out by alternating right and left arms out in front and out to the back while breathing in and out.

The moon on my one hand, (left hand in front) 
the sun on the other. (right hand in front) 
The moon is my sister, (left hand in front) 
the sun is my brother. (right hand in front) 
With the moon on my left hand (left hand in front and hold it there)
and the sun on the right. (Bring right hand to the front to join left)
Dear Brother good morning. (eyes track right hand as it goes around from front to behind--like sun rising and setting)
Dear Sister, Good Night. (eyes track left hand up and around)

The Elephant Song

One elephant went out to play upon a spiders web one day

He had such enormous fun that he called for another elephant to come...

Two elephants went out to play....

(Leader joins his trunk/hand with another each verse until all join)