“What Kind of Leaves” (“Quelle sorte de feuilles” in French) is the sister song to “Green Leaf” (“Feuilles Vertes” in French). In the fall, children were encouraged to make observations about all of the different kinds of leaves that were falling to the ground, and now, in the Spring, they are encouraged to consider what kind of leaves might be coming back!
Click HERE for a PDF of lyrics and chords in English and French.
This is a fun little song to sing with children before heading outside to investigate all of the new growth happening in the land. As I sing with children, I ask them to make predictions about what kind of leaves we might see. I find this activity really whets their appetite to look closely at changes in the land when we get outside.
Their predictions allow children to demonstrate their learning. I work in the public school system, and in the fall, many of our predictions about different kinds of leaves are centered around different colours we may see. In the Spring, however, we have had months immersed in the land and we have had a lot of time spent developing relationships with the trees in our learning spaces. Many of the trees come to have names, so as we sing “What Kind of Leaves”, some children suggest maybe the leaves on “Snowy” (our beloved birch) might come back. The last couple of years, we have also spent time learning about Maple sap in early Spring, and so many children suggest that perhaps the Maples leaves will come back. So as we sing the song together and children make predictions, they are able to express their learning in a different way. Not only have the kids gained knowledge, but they have also built relationships with the land during this time.
In my region, we are yet again back to virtual learning. This song can easily be used in this platform to spark inquiry. Sharing the song with students, they can offer predictions as to what they may see. You can then invite them to make observations, which can be done in many different ways- looking out their window, making observations in their yard, or going on a walk around their neighbourhood with their family. Last year, when we were also virtual at this time of year, I asked families to share pictures and drawings about what they were noticing. I was able to share their pictures and drawings with all of the students, and in that way, we were able to inquire and learn together over the screen. I also think we are all a little sad about not being able to be back in class together, so this song allows us to think and sing about the trees we miss back at school. I know that helps my heart feel better!
And of course, if you have the good fortune of being in person with children, this song can be sung before or during an adventure in the land. It may spark the desire to launch into an inquiry, documenting what you are noticing, perhaps leading to opportunities to create art, or work on literacy skills by researching different kinds of plants and then writing about them! You can even incorporate Math, by doing some data management around what you are noticing.
I hope you can have some fun with the song, and enjoy using it to connect children in your life with their beautiful voices and with the land. Thank you for listening to my words!
Land Heart Song 
One thought on “What Kind of Leaves/ Quelle sorte de feuilles”