PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN
WHO WE ARE
Lee Paulet & Betsy Bolger-Paulet
12110 W. Apple Tree Place, Crystal River 34428 - 7405
(352) 795-4506
WHAT WE OFFER
Songwriter-poet combine talents into new music form called SONGSTORY, specializing in historical, cultural and ecological Florida-themed original poetry and song. Prominent in Florida's folk festival venue, they regularly perform and teach songwriting and poetry workshops, and are recipients of several songwriting and poetry awards. Songstory's presentations are designed to inspire and involve young writers and musicians, encourage contemplation of events and issues of importance.
Songstory shows by example and through the language of music how youngsters may make constructive statements and make a real difference by taking an active part in Living History. Adaptable to any format from stage presentation to workshop and study group. We provide a comprehensive custom Study Guide prior to performance.
GRADE LEVEL
Adaptable to all grade levels, for music, sociology, history, language, writing students, ALL students. Teachers find this to be an especially useful tool for the Florida Studies block.
FACILITIES NEEDED
Flexible. Intimate classroom settings presented acoustically; larger groups stage presentation. Totally self-contained sound system provided. Set up time minimal - 30 minutes.
COST VALUE
$175 for each presentation day (usuallly from 30 to 50 minutes subject to YOUR needs, of course, and it is fine to have more than one class in a group or two separate classes within one day presentation - we are willing to negotiate within reason). Plus travel at 35 cents per mile if outside 50 mile radius and travel plus overnite accomodation if outside 100 miles.) Check with us for fee help through special grant.
. . . and now, a sample STUDY GUIDE for Florida Songstory
Florida Songstory
LIVING HISTORY - LEE & BETSY PAULET
Before radio, television, satellite news and movie theaters, news of what was happening in any society was passed generation to generation through stories.
As people told these stories, they realized that if the words rhymed they would be easier to remember. Next, they started singing the stories and creating instruments to accompany these song-stories.
In those days, the only way to enjoy musical entertainment was to play an instrument yourself, or find other musicians who could play. Music was live, no recordings, tapes or MTV.
This was the birth of folk lore and folk music. stories, poems and songs by ordinary folks about ordinary and extraordinary things that happened to folks in the community. Folk lore and music provided a way for events in the past to be retold, keeping history alive.
Down through the generations, there have been countless songs telling of our culture and heritage, tracing our involvement in war, our everyday activities and our ever-changing world.
This rich cultural legacy continues with modern poets, songwriters and performers who pass these timeless standards down, as well as chronicling, in their own unique story and song, the events of their lifetime.
The world needs storytellers, they help us see life clearly
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
CDs
The Challenge
First Firefight
Books
butterfly lessons: including FLASHBACK. Lies in Conversation and Cracker Love by Betsy Paulet
Florida Cracker Boy: Tales of Misspent Youth by Lee Paulet
VOCABULARY WORDS
Andrew Jackson
Coyakootchie (Chief Wildcat)
cockroach
culture
Felis concolor coryii (Florida Panther)
folk music
Henry Flagler
history
Lake Okeechobee
lighthouse keeper
phosphate
Seminole Indians
Spanish Conquistadors
Summit Venture
Sunshine Skyway
SOME FLORIDA SONGSTORIES
Paw Prints - Will there be paw prints in the sand? Concern about our disappearing Florida Panther.
Shriek in the Night/Cockroach Olympics - Some Florida critters aren't so beautiful but they've been around
a VERY long time.
Battle of Okeechobee - Andrew Jackson and his troops tried to remove the Indians but they were outsmarted by
Chief Coyakootchie.
The Challenge - In 2004, Florida faced four major hurricanes, a historical first, and thank you's are needed for all those who came from throughout the county and even Canada to help rebuild our state.
River of Fire - A Florida river named by the Seminoles Alafia, a word that means River of Fire, because it glows from phosphate, a natural mineral in the water.
Skyway Bridge - At 7:34 a.m. on May 19, 1980, the Liberian registered freighter Summit Venture brought down the first giant bridge crossing from St. Petersburg to Manatee County killing 35 commuters.
Gorilla - Inspired by a newspaper article, the story of some disreputable folks who were trying to buy a primate illegally and were captured by a Parks Ranger.
Lighthouse Mistress/Florida Lighthouse - Florida is surrounded by beacons that once brought sailors to safety through treacherous seas and are now being destroyed by vandalism and neglect.
Florida Waltz - Memories of a simpler time waltzing in the moonlight in paradise and remembering Florida's beauty and history from the Spanish Conquistadors through the building of the railroads by Henry Flagler.
CHECK THESE ONLINE SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Florida and Seminole History
http://palmm.fcla.edu/fh/outline/outline.html
http://www.shgresources.com/fl/timeline
http://www.seminoletribe.com/history/brief.shtml
http://www.semtribe.com/history/timeline.shtml
http://www.seminoletribe.com/tribune/40anniversary/timeline.shtml
http://www.lamartin.com/history/history_of_okeechobee_county/chapter1.htm
http://www.gulfshorelife.com/Pages/hotstories/hotstories.asp?3232
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
http://www.rushw.com/skyway/
Florida Panther
http://www.panther.state.fl.us
http://www.npca.org/wildlife_protection/wildlife_facts/florida_panther.asp
Alafia River
http://www.floridastateparks.org/alafiariver/default.asp
Henry Flagler
http://www.flagler.org/biography.html
