First Grade

 Norris Elementary

      Children's Book Week 2003

 Guest Songwriter Alan Cunningham comes to Norris!

    In November of 2003 as part of our celebration for National Children's Book Week, we were fortunate to have as our guest   Alan Cunningham.  Alan is a songwriter and storyteller from Ottawa, Kansas.  He teaches elementary school and writes musicals to go with children's literature. He also happens to be married to my sister, Phyllis!

    Each year, he chooses a book and spends weeks writing songs that go with the story.  Then he has his students present their show for parents and friends.  Here he is with Norris students doing a song from one of these shows.

    He also writes songs about things that really happen to him and his family. Here he is with a square metal tub, like the one at our cabin, that he sang about.

We don't think he fits in the "square metal tub" very well!

    During the summer, Alan travels around to libraries and does shows for children.  He presented his show for all the students at Norris.

    He spent some extra time in Pod 1.  He sang more of his songs.  He sang the "R.V. Song" and told all about their trip to "see the great Northwest" in their broken-down R.V.

    We all had a great time!