Unit 2 – Jungle Book

In the first video, Ms. Bridie introduces The Jungle Book by singing the song “My Own Home,” and talks about the meaning of home. In the second video, Baloo the Bear sings “The Bare Necessities” in the 1967 animated Disney film adaptation.

Next, Ms. Bridie teaches the lyrics and movements for “The Bare Necessities,” and explores the double meaning in the song’s title. What are our own bare necessities most of the time? How have they changed over the recent weeks?

5. Play Us Some Jazz!: Dan the Piano Man

What is jazz, and how do jazz musicians create, interpret, and play music? Dan the Piano Man demonstrates the concepts of syncopation (changing the rhythm) and improvisation, and performs a familiar song in the boogie-woogie style, with a walking baseline, and as a jazz waltz.

6. Check out any (or all!) of the links of great jazz artists below for more singing, scatting and improvising! 

7. Rehearse – This Week’s Goodbye Song

Practice this week’s goodbye song Inspired by Colonel Hathi’s March, which we’ll rehearse again on Wednesday and Friday!

First, Ms. Jodi welcomes everyone back and continues to examine the characters of Mowgli, Bagherra and Baloo. Musicals invite us to imagine different worlds. In this case, it’s a lush, dangerous jungle! She explores the importance of finding friends who can help us in difficult circumstances. In the second video, Ms. Bridie reviews the song “The Bare Necessities,” introduced on Monday.

3. The Wonder of Words and the Power of Writing

Ms. Jodi compares the qualities and characteristics of Baloo the bear and Bagheera the black panther – two equally important friends for Mowgli as he searches for a new home.

She provides instructions for writing “I Am Poems” and challenges us to think about adapting a favorite story in a new way. Ms. Jodi explores the concept of “artistic collaboration”  in musical theater, introducing the Disney film’s songwriting team (The Sherman Brothers, who also wrote songs for Disney’s Mary Poppins), the book’s author (Rudyard Kipling), and a recent stage adaptation produced at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.  Finally, Ms. Jodi sings the Goodbye Song!

4. Check out any (or all!) of the videos below to learn more about The Sherman Brothers, artistic adaptations, and the Goodman Theatre’s production of The Jungle Book.

6. ​Journaling and Writing Activities

During this stay-at-home time, it’s important to find different ways for people of all ages to express what they feel and think. Click on this PDF for ways to promote written reflection about the themes and characters of The Jungle Book.

5. Jam Session with Special Guests!

A few friends visit with Ms. Bridie and Ms. Jodi to “scat,” using sounds and movements to create a Zoom jam session. They also play a counting game that is perfect for online chats!

8. Bonus Videos!

If you can’t get enough of King Louie, check out two other versions of “I Wanna Be Like You!”