On May 20, kindergarten, first and second grade students put on a spring production called “Celebrating American Folk Music.” Upon arriving to the performance space, the audience found student artwork decorating the stage. The set was created by all the students at the school.

When the curtain opened, the students performed “All Around the Kitchen,” a folk song from the Georgia Sea Islands. Next, students sang “Built My Lady a Fine Brick House” while a class of first graders danced to it in the middle of the gym.  

Other songs that were performed included, “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” (accompanied by children on non-pitched percussion instruments); the famous Pete Seeger song, “If I Had a Hammer”; “I Bought Me a Cat” (accompanied by second grade children on Orff instruments while first graders acted it out with a dance); “Hey There Friend of Mine” and “Little Wheel A-Turnin’ In My Heart” (accompanied by all kindergarteners with a ribbon dance while first and second grade students sang in harmony).  

A highlight of the show occurred when all of the children on the stage sang, “Freight Train” while others wearing train costumes that were created by fourth grade students at the school paraded around the audience like a train.  In addition, second grade students danced a reel while everyone sang, “Alabama Gal.”

The finale of the show was a rousing version of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” while students waved flags from the stage.

The production was a collaboration by the Music, Art and Physical Education teachers at Wiscasset Primary School.