HOWEVER, I also chose some great stories and there will be a game and discussion and a secret (sort of ) club.
We are all earthlings.
The Earth is our home.
We love the lands, the skies and the seas
The sun and the rain, the snow and the breeze.
We are all earthlings.
The Earth is our home.
We share this home with rabbits and bears
the fish in the seas, and, birds in the air.
Break:
We are all Earthlings
We cherish this place.
We’re a family of Earthlings
On a ball out in space.
We are all Earthlings
The Earth is our home
We love the deserts, the jungles and towns,
The mountains and swamps, and the mud, rich and brown
We are all Earthlings
The Earth is our home.
We share this world with gators and bees,
the crawlers on land and the climbers in trees.
Break:
We are all Earthlings
We cherish this place.
We’re a family of Earthlings
On a ball out in space.
We are all Earthlings
The Earth is our home by Karen Maurer, 2020
I just finished the action rhyme after reading about the ways people greet each other around the world. To be totally factual, most people accept a bow or a handshake. But whenever possible, native
people's traditions should be respected. The story behind Tibet's odd greeting is wonderful! (See below!)
Here is my beta version of How Do People Say Hello? It may change before Sunday, who knows?
(Children pair off. In each verse, they act out how people greet each other. In flu season, you may want to skip or "air play" New Zealand and Oman. I am doing this with a teddy bear since I have a cold.)
(Repeat this first verse between the others. Children can wave to each other during this verse or greet other people in the way they just learned about.)
What do people do to say hello?
How do people say hello?
In America, you take
your friend’s hand
and give a shake
That’s what people do to say hello.
In far off Tibet, some monks
will stick out their tongues
That’s what people do to say hello.*
In Japan, bowing is polite
When you meet both day and night
That’s what people do to say hello
In New Zealand, touch together
foreheads and noses*
That’s what Kiwis do to say their helloes-es.
That's what people do to say hello.
In the deserts of Oman,
Men touch noses when they can*
That’s what people do to say hello.
The Masai like to jump.
Some people do fist bumps.
A hug, a wave, a fast hand jive
A smile, a slap, a quick high five.
People do so many things to say hello
So many things to do to say hello! Karen Maurer 2020
Okay for the asterisks.
#1. In the 6th century, Tibet had a horrible king, cruel and nasty. He had a black tongue. Tibetans stick out their tongues to assure people they greet that they have no relationship to that nasty king. Reincarnation plays a part in this greeting but young children might not get it.
#2. This greeting is called hongi and is very sweet. Eyes can be open or closed. Also, Kiwi is a slang phrase for someone who lives in New Zealand because kiwi birds are native to New Zealand.
#3. Touching noses appears to be an Arab tradition. Since men and women have very separate roles, I only found this greeting listed as involving men.
NOT AN ASTERISK: Inuits (sometimes called Eskimos) do NOT rub noses. They touch their nose and upper lip to a person's forehead and breathe in. First one person does it, then the other.
I love Earthlings. We are awesome!
Update: I found the info about greetings on these websites:
https://www.opodo.co.uk/blog/greetings-around-the-world/
https://guff.com/15-ways-people-greet-each-other-from-countries-around-the-world
https://www.insider.com/how-to-greet-people-around-the-world-2016-8#india-place-your-palms-together-and-say-namaste-12
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