The story of the week is Dem Bones by Bob Barner which juxtaposes short, straightforward expositions of different parts of the human skeleton with the lyrics to the African American spiritual Dem Bones, written by James Weldon Johnson. I have been using it, among many other resources, in an ongoing inquiry project into the human body. (With the older kids I have had several interesting conversations about why “da” is used instead of “the” in the song lyrics. I think it is a great little entre into socio-linguistic diversity and an interesting way to engage young children with the heteroglossia of contemporary American English.) Enjoy!
I found myself deeply moved by this piece. It’s rare to come across writing that doesn’t just inform but transforms. You’ve taken complex ideas and made them feel not just understandable but important. Reading this, I felt both challenged and comforted — a true testament to the power of your words.