Thanks a Lot

Theme:  Thanksgiving

First Day School, November 8, 2009

Today we started with learning a song, Raffi’s “Thanks a Lot.”  The lyrics are easy and repetitive, with the phrase “Thanks a lot” echoed over and over, between a list of features of the natural world.

lyrics cropped

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the sun in the sky

Thanks a lot

Thanks for the clouds so high…”

After a time of silence we read “The Circle of Days” by Reeve Lindbergh, illustrated by Cathie Felstead.  This is a beautiful picture book version of Saint Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Sun.”

I introduced Saint Francis by reading a bit more about him, and showing the kids another version of the canticle called “Song of the Sun,” with emphasis on his love of animals and birds, and his gentleness and kindness.

We talked about the Raffi song and the two books and what they had in common, then moved on to a craft.  The idea was to draw elements from these songs that each child felt thankful for on a piece of card stock, then to fold the paper in thirds, glue the words to “Thanks a lot” on the back, then tape the edges together to make it stand(perhaps to be used as a table prayer/song at home). We used water soluble colored pencils and water to make the pictures.

song inside

At rise of Meeting we taught the song to the the adults.

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