Getting kids outside is one of the best ways to address social and emotional health and well-being. Children need to move their bodies and use their senses. Young children are essentially sensory-motor beings. When they go outside in nature, their physical bodies have opportunities to face challenges that will make them stronger, more flexible, and more self-confident in their gross motor skills. They can work on balance and become more aware of their bodies in relationship to the space around them. This activates and develops their proprioceptive sense. Ultimately, the mind-body connection is strengthened. When their bodies feels good, their minds are clearer, open, and receptive.
SONGS FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING Songs That Address Feelings, Friendships, and Relationships Compiled by Wendy Kanter, October, 2019
PRIMARY GRADES KINDERGARTEN, FIRST, AND SECOND GRADE Come Join in the Circle, words and music by Sarah Pirtle Funga Alafia I Have a Dream (song about Martin Luther King by Daria) I Love You a Bushel and a Peck, words and music by Frank Loesser If You’re Happy and You Know It (Substitute: Sad, Angry, etc. and actions) Love Grows One by One (YouTube) Love is All Around, words and music by Ruth Pelham (YouTube) Magic Penny, by Malvina Reynolds Make New Friends (with sign language) The More We Get Together Peace is the World Smiling Sing About Martin (YouTube) This Little Light of Mine Two in a Fight, words by Sarah Pirtle, sung to the tune of “Ten in the Bed” Under One Sky, words and music by Ruth Pelham (Verses can be sung as an echo and children may write new verses. Refer to Magpie Youtube video.) What Will We Do When We Feel Angry? You Are My Sunshine (Children can use or write new verses.)
MIDDLE ELEMENTARY GRADES SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH GRADE Fighting is Not the Solution, The Mosaic Project, Brett Dennen Heart to Heart, words and music by Sarah Pirtle Hineh Ma Tov I Will be Your Friend, music and lyrics by Guy Davis It’s Alright to Cry, words and music by Carol Hall (YouTube) There’s Always Something You Can Do, words and music by Sarah Pirtle (YouTube) What Can One Little Person Do? Words and music by Sally Rogers (YouTube) What Do I Do? By Ruth Pelham (YouTube)
UPPER ELEMENTARY GRADES FOURTH, FIFTH, AND SIXTH GRADE Don’t Worry, Be Happy, as sung by Bobby McFerrin (YouTube, Playing for Change) I Can See Clearly Now, by Johnny Nash Lean on Me, words and music by Bill Withers Paz y Libertad, words and music by Jose-Luis Orozco Somos el Barco, words and music by Lorre Wyatt Stand by Me, sung by Ben E. King Try a Little Kindness, by Glen Campbell You Can Get It If You Really Want, sung by Jimmy Cliff You’ve Got a Friend, words and music by Carol King
ALL GRADES Three Little Birds/Don’t Worry Count on Me, sung by Bruno Mars What a Wonderful World, words and music by G. D. Weiss and Bob Theile, sung by Louis Armstrong Try Everything, Shakira (YouTube video)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES *songsforteaching.com/socialskilss-interpersonal-interaction-children/ *Linking Up! Using music, movement, and language arts to promote caring, cooperation, and communication, by Sarah Pirtle and Educators for Social Responsibility *Gentle Hands and Other Sing-Along Songs for Social-Emotional Learning by Amadee Ricketts *The Mosaic Project: Children’s Songs for Peace and a Better World, featuring Brett Dennen *I Will Be Your Friend, Songs and Activities for Young Peacemakers Published by Teaching Tolerance *Free to Be You and Me, compiled by Free to be Foundation, Inc.
BOOKS THAT ARE ILLUSTRATED SONGS I Love You! A Bushel and a Peck, words and music by Frank Loesser, pictures by Rosemary Wells If You’re Angry and You Know It, by Cecily Kaiser If You’re Happy and You Know It, by Jane Cabrera We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands, Rafael Lopez What a Wonderful World, illustrated by Ashley Bryan You Are My Sunshine, Adapted by Steve Metzger
SONGS IN OTHER LANGUAGES Funga Alafia Hineh Ma Tov (Words: Hineh ma tov u’ma na-im shevet achim gam yachad. Translation: Behold how good and how pleasing for people to live together in unity.) Paz y Libertad by Jose-Luis Orozco Somos el Barco, words and music by Lorre Wyatt
MUSIC ACTIVITIES *Have students make up new verses, or change words to create new songs using a familiar tune. *Watch a YouTube video of the song. *Use percussion instruments to keep a steady beat or follow a simple rhythm pattern when singing. *Read a book aloud that illustrates a song. *Have students study the words/lyrics to a song to understand it more thoroughly.