Poetry Break - Poetry with a refrain

map of the Erie Canal

Introduction: When my children were very young, their book-of-the-month club sent us a copy of The Erie Canal (Illustrated by Peter Spier. North Country Books 1999.). Unfortunately out of print now, this wonderful poem picture book has memorable water-color illustrations that portray life and activity on the Erie Canal in the 1800's. The last page is the poem with the musical accompaniment. The book is buried in a box in my garage somewhere to save for my grandchildren someday, but it was one of my children’s favorite bedtime books. I was able to find the poem in a more recent book also. This poem/song is unusual in that it has a refrain within the verses along with a separate refrain.

The Erie Canal
Author unknown

I’ve got a mule, her name is Sal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
She’s a good ol’ worker and a good ol’ pal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
We’ve hauled some barges in our day
Fill’d with lumber, coal, and hay,
And we know every inch of the way
from Albany to Buffalo.

(Refrain)
Low bridge, everybody down!
Low bridge, for we’re comin’ to a town.
And you’ll always know your neighbor,
You’ll always know your pal,
If you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.

We better get along on our way, ol’ gal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
‘Cause you bet your life I’d never part with Sal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Git up there, mule, here comes a lock,
We’ll make Rome ‘bout six o’clock,
One more trip an’ back we’ll go,
Right back home to Buffalo.

(Refrain)
Low bridge, everybody down!
Low bridge, for we’re comin’ to a town.
And you’ll always know your neighbor,
You’ll always know your pal,
If you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.

(From APPLE FOR THE TEACHER: THIRTY SONGS FOR SINGING WHILE YOU WORK collected and introduced by Jane Yolen. Harry N Abram, Inc., Publisher 2005)

Extension
History: The Erie Canal played a major role in the settlement of the Northern United States in the early 1800’s. It established a waterway between Lake Erie and the Hudson River, opening the area up to increased settlement and transportation of goods. When studying US history, teach the students this song and show them maps of how this area was opened to expansion by this milestone in American ingenuity.
Geography: The 5 themes of geography are depicted very well in a study of the Erie Canal. Location and place include making Lake Erie and the Hudson River accessible to each other. Movement and area are shown by the way the Erie Canal opened this region up for settlement and commerce. Human-environment interaction is illustrated by the way the Canal was dug and constructed through the mountains.

graphic from: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/mapcenter/map.aspx?refid=701512334 Accessed 4/10/2009.

Poetry Break: NCTE Award Winning Poet Karla Kuskin

Introduction: Children and music are naturals together. Since poetry has its own rhythm just like music, why not combine the two?

Lewis Has a Trumpet
By Karla Kuskin

A trumpet
A trumpet
Lewis has a trumpet
A bright one that’s yellow
A loud proud horn.
He blows it in the evening
When the moon is newly rising
He blows it when it’s raining
In the cold and misty morn
It honks and it whistles
It roars like a lion
It rumbles like a lion
With a wheeze huffing hum
His parents say it’s awful
Oh really simply awful
But
Lewis says he loves it
It’s such a handsome trumpet
And when he’s through with trumpets
He’s going to buy a drum.

(From A JAR OF TINY STARS edited by Bernice E Cullinan. Boyds Mill Press 1999)

Extension:
Every class has a poem that’s appropriate for that subject, and this is true for music class, too. When elementary school students are introduced to musical instruments, sometimes they are hesitant because they’re afraid of making the wrong kind of sound. Reading this poem out loud at the beginning of a music class can help the students to realize that music isn’t made to be played with caution; it’s made to be played with joy. If a student can’t play an instrument with skill, encourage that student to play with enthusiasm, just like Lewis. And if the students give it a try and decide that instrument’s not right for them, point out that they can always pick another instrument. After all, that’s what Lewis did!

Graphic from:
http://www.sachika.info/raw%20pics/pic%20left/trumpet-boy.jpg accessed 2/20/2009