SONG ACTIVITY – Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn Name: Group: Date: / / 1. Native Americans – the different peoples who lived in North America before Europeans arrived – had a special relationship with land and nature. Read about this relationship and discuss the questions. “[...] the Indians believed that no one could own land. They believed, however, that anyone could use it. Anyone who wanted to live on a piece of land and grow crops could do so. x The American Indians lived with nature. They understood the land and the environment. They did not try to change it. They might grow crops in an area for a few years. Then they would move on. They would allow the land on which they had farmed to become wild again. x They might hunt on one area of land for some time, but again they would move on. They hunted only what they could eat, so populations of animals could continue to increase. The Indians understood nature and were at peace with it.” Source: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/1519967.html (accessed on March 14th, 2018). a. The first English settlers arrived at the east coast of the United States in the 16 th century. Do you think these colonists’ relationship with nature was similar to Native Americans’? Why (not)? b. Do you think the encounter between Native Americans and the English was a pacific one? Why (not)? c. Pocahontas was a famous Native American princess who helped English colonists in the 17 th century. Her story was fictionalized in the Disney animated movie Pocahontas . What do you know about her? 2. There are several elements of the natural world in Colors of the Wind , the theme song of the animated movie Pocahontas . Work with a partner to ask and answer the questions (the words in bold will help you understand the song). Yes, I No, but I’d No, and I Have you ever… have. like to. wouldn’t like to. a. seen a wild animal, such as a wolf or a bobcat , in nature? b. walked along a trail in a forest? c. tried berries , or any other wild fruit? d. walked during a rainstorm? e. swum in a river ? f. climbed a giant tree, such as a sycamore tree ? g. seen a bird nest ? SONG ACTIVITY – Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn 3. Now listen to the song. Number the lines as you hear them. a. [ ] “Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest” b. [ ] “For whether we are white or copper skinned” c. [ ] “Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon” d. [ ] “How high will the sycamore grow?” e. [ ] “The rainstorm and the river are my brothers” f. [ ] “You can own the Earth and still” g. [ ] “You think I'm an ignorant savage” h. [ ] “You think the only people who are people” i. [ ] “You think you own whatever land you land on” 4. In the song, Pocahontas is questioning John Smith, the English settler she falls in love with. Listen to the song again. Check (VVV) the words that best complete the sentences about Smith and the settlers’ attitudes, in the Native American princess’s opinion. a. “If the savage one is me / How can there be so much that you don't know?” Pocahontas thinks John Smith is [ ] ignorant | [ ] knowledgeable . s b. “But I know every rock and tree and creature / Has a life, has a spirit, has a name” She claims Smith knows [ ] more | [ ] less about nature than her. s c. “You think the only people who are people / Are the people who look and think like you” She says that Smith feels [ ] inferior | [ ] superior to Native Americans. s d. “Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? / Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?” She is questioning if Smith can [ ] appreciate | [ ] destroy nature. s e. “Come roll in all the riches all around you / And for once, never wonder what they're worth” She is criticizing Smith for being [ ] generous | [ ] greedy . S s f. “You can own the Earth and still / All you'll own is earth until / You can paint with all the colors of the wind” She claims that Smith will only be the true owner of the land if he learns how to [ ] respect | [ ] explore it. 5. Work in small groups. Read some Native American quotes about nature. Do you agree with them? Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish “ has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money. — Cree proverb ” When a man does a piece of work which is admired by all we say that it is “ wonderful; but when we see the changes of day and night, the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, and the changing seasons upon the earth, with their ripening fruits, anyone must realize that it is the work of someone more powerful than man. — Chief Standing Bea r ” Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents—it was loaned to you “ by your children. — Indian proverb ” Source: https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/for-earth-day-quotable-native-wisdom-about-the-environment (accessed on March 14 th , 2018). SONG ACTIVITY – Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn TEACHER’S NOTES Target audience (age): Ensino Fundamental and Ensino Médio. Aims: Learn about Native Americans. Expand vocabulary. Develop listening comprehension skills. Discuss the meanings of a song. Duration: 50 min. Organization: teacher-fronted / individual work / group work. Material: worksheet. Preparation: Make copies of the worksheet (1 per student). Check the website with the song . (http://goo.gl/iZkqDf ). Procedure: Pre-listening (Activities 1 and 2) • Warm up students by asking What are the people who lived in the Americas before the Europeans arrived called? How did these people live here? What happened when the settlers arrived? Listen to students’ ideas. • Hand out the ü worksheets . • Draw students’ attention to the text and questions in Activity 1. Invite a volunteer to read the text aloud and clarify vocabulary, if necessary. Carry out the discussion with the whole class. " Answer(s): personal answers . Background information: “Pocahontas (born Matoaka, known as Amonute, c. 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan, the paramount chief of a network of tributary tribal nations […]. In a well-known historical anecdote, she saved the life of a captive of the Native Americans, the Englishman John Smith, in 1607 by placing her head upon his own when her father raised his war club to execute him. A large number of historians doubt the veracity of this story. […] Numerous places, landmarks, and products in the United States have been named after Pocahontas. Her story has been romanticized over the years, and she is a subject of art, literature, and film.” The animated movie: Pocahontas is a 1995 American animated musical romantic drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation […]. Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg, the film is inspired by the Native American woman Pocahontas, and portrays a fictionalized account of her historical encounter with Englishman John Smith and the Jamestown settlers that arrived from the Virginia Company. […] Pocahontas became the first Native American Disney Princess and the first woman of color to be the lead character in a Disney film.” Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocahontas; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocahontas_(1995_film) (accessed on March 14th, 2018). • In Activity 2, ask students if they are familiar with the images. Then organize students into pairs. Encourage them to take turns to ask and answer the questions. Work with the pronunciation of the words – it will help students understand them in the song. Phonetic transcription of some of the items in the activity: wolf /wʊlf/, trail /treɪl/. Listening (Activities 3 and 4) • Allow students some time to go through items a. – i. in Activity 3. 4 Play the song for students to do the task. Check answers with the whole class. " Answer(s): a. [ 5 ]; b. [ 8 ]; c. [ 4 ]; d. [ 7 ]; e. [ 6 ]; f. [ ]; g. ; [ 1 ]; h. [ 3 ]; i. [ 2 ] • Allow students some time to go through the items in Activity 4, clarifying vocabulary, if necessary. 4 Play the song again. Encourage students to pay attention to the lyrics and do the task as they listen. Check answers. " Answer(s): a. ignorant ; b. less ; c. superior ; d. appreciate ; e. greedy; f. respect . SONG ACTIVITY – Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn After listening (Activity 5) • Organize students into small groups. Read the quotes in Activity 5 with the whole class. • Allow students some time to discuss the quotes and express their ideas. While they discuss, 4 play the song in the background. Walk around the classroom, helping with vocabulary, if necessary. • When they are finished, encourage some groups to share their ideas with the class. " Answer(s): personal answers. Wrap up activity • 4 Play a video with the real story of Pocahontas - https://goo.gl/nEuizp . Extra • Have students go online and find other female historical figures – American and Brazilian – who played important roles in their countries. • Encourage students to find other songs about men’s relationship with nature .