Delaware Academy Second Graders Create Original Songs

Delhi - If you were walking the hallways of Delaware Academy Elementary School in Delhi last Thursday, April 25th, you might have heard a hearty chorus of students (and teachers) singing at the top of their lungs, “Waggle to the east, waggle to the west, buzzing our way to where the flowers are the best,” as they joined in on the refrain of an original song by their second-grade peers.

The performance was the culmination of a week-long songwriting residency led by visiting teaching artist Laurie McIntosh, aka Story Laurie, renowned throughout the region for her creative storytelling and music programs. In the residency, each second grade class wrote an original song incorporating lessons learned in their recent unit on insect life cycles.

McIntosh met with each class on three consecutive days, for a fun, fast-paced project where students collectively brainstormed ideas, and then shaped their ideas into three unique songs. On day four, the second graders finalized details and did quick rehearsals before then hosting an assembly in the cafeteria for other elementary classes.

“I really enjoyed that my students tried something new, applied their academic knowledge in a different way, and shared their creations in front of an audience," commented teacher Amber Gardner.

The catchy chorus of Ms. Gardner’s class’s song referenced the “waggle dance” that bees perform to communicate to others in the hive where patches of nectar-laden flowers can be found. Ms. Macayla Carron’s class wrote a song about a different pollinator, the paper wasp. With lines like, “Don’t squish me, I’m your friend / The help I give will never end,” this song focused on the fact that people are often scared of wasps, and encouraged the listener to instead respect the wasps for their gifts.

Of the week-long residency, Ms. Carron appreciated how this “great experience…allowed the kids to just let loose and use their imagination.” When asked about the experience themselves, a hearty chorus of students chimed, “It was fun!” Second grader Julianna Walsh, a student in Ms. Sandra Noonan’s class commented, “I liked how unique the song was,” while her classmate Wyatt Buel added, “I liked working together with Story Laurie. I liked coming up with plans for the song.”

In their song, Ms. Noonan’s class shared fascinating tidbits about dung beetles, such as the fact that these beetles use the stars in the sky to aid them in navigation. In addition to sharing this and other fun facts, Mrs. Noonan’s students also enjoyed including a clever lyrical reference to Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” in their original song.

Noonan, who had previous experience with McIntosh as a visiting artist in her classroom when she taught at Andes Central School, was the Delaware Academy liaison who facilitated this unique learning opportunity. 

“I was happy to reconnect with the amazing Story Laurie! Her ability to bring together student learning with music is top notch. Students will definitely remember the insects they learned about because they are still singing the song as they walk around. My daughter, who viewed the performance, is also singing bits and pieces of the songs she heard on Thursday,” said Noonan, adding that she is grateful “...to all who made this possible for our 2nd grade students!”

McIntosh was equally delighted with her time at Delaware Academy CSD at Delhi last week. “I travel to many schools and often have very good experiences, but this residency was a standout, in large part due to the phenomenal team of second grade teachers, who were a dream to work with. They were all so welcoming of the program, which was also reflected in how readily engaged the students were. Everything about this residency was wonderful – even including how helpful the office and custodial staff were. I can’t wait to come back!”

This week-long songwriting residency is part of an Arts & Education Outreach program run by the Ashokan Center, which is based in Olivebridge, NY. The Arts & Education Outreach program is made possible by a generous grant from the Delaware County-based A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation.