Programs
Topics Include:
- Respect
- Perserverance
- Learning from mistakes
- Working together
- Keeping the play in sports
- Family life and laughs
- Tolerance
- Justice
- Cherishing the elders in our lives
- Dealing with peer pressure
- Making good decisions
- Loving each other
Adult audience members are sometimes brought to tears from laughter and reflection during the same performance. You have to see John Farrell in action to truly understand why he is invited back to so many schools and other venues year after year.
Listed below are the thematic programs John develops in schools. He visits approximately 100 schools each year, leading assemblies and workshops for students from Pre-K through Grade 8. Each program lasts 45-50 minutes and workshop length varies according to grade level and objectives. The content for each program is specifically geared for the age group attending the performance. John also does artist-in-residence programs which involve spending two or more days in a school or district visiting individual classrooms.
Preschool & Early Childhood Programs
John’s programs for Preschools and Early Childhood Centers include songs and stories about animals, books, kindness, friendship, sharing and cooperation. All of the songs and stories include audience participation. John’s songs often become a regular part of the preschool day as teachers use John’s CD’s for singing along, and for listening and movement activities.
Specific themes can be requested for Preschool and Early Childhood programs.
Have a family concert and invite children’s siblings, parents, grandparents and friends!
The following songs are ones that may be included in Preschool programs:
- Working Together
- Hi, Hello!
- Love Grows
- The Library Song
- It’s the Little Things
- We All Need Help
- I’m Sorry
- I Like Ants
- Feelings That I Have
- How Much is 100?
- It’s Time to Line Up
Playing with Words & Ideas
Pre-K – 4th Grade
Young people everywhere love music, songs, stories, jokes, riddles and word play. This program incorporates a little of all of these things plus some juggling, movement and laughter thrown in for good measure. This fast-paced program involves participation throughout and leaves students and teachers alike feeling good about learning. There are opportunities and suggestions for follow-up activities
Program will include some of the following selections:
- Down By The Bay
- I Like Ants
- Rainbow Trout
- You’re Really Smart, Aren’t You?
- Silly Jack
- Love Grows
- and more.
The Earth Is Our Home
K – 8th Grade
This is a celebration of songs and stories relating to protecting the environment and appreciating the wonder and beauty of our exquisite home – Planet Earth. Much of the content in this program comes from John’s video, “The Great Earth Sing-Along, ” which won a Parents Choice Award.
Program will include some of the following selections:
- Habitat
- The Earth Is Our Home
- Rain Forest Walk
- I like Ants
- Down By The Bay
- Turn The World Around
- and more.
Peer Pressure In School
Or, Building Bridges of Tolerance and Understanding
4th – 8th Grade
Peer pressure is something that every child and adult experiences. It is also something that can be very difficult to talk about. During this program, stories and songs are presented that may help students recognize some of their own behaviors and realize how important it is to be considerate of others when making decisions.
Program will include some of the following selections:
- Courage
- Please Give Me Time
- Playing Right Field
- Me Too!
- The Juggling Man
- and more.
Respect & Care For Each Other
Or, Character Counts
K – 6th Grade
The content for this program varies according to the grade levels attending the performance. Using interactive songs and stories, John encourages students to think about how they treat one another and to consider the effects of their actions. In this program audience members will sing along, laugh, learn a song in sign language and reflect on how it feels to be in someone else’s shoes.
Program will include some of the following selections:
- A Little Bit of Light
- Love Grows
- How would you feel if that happened to you?
- Rachel
- The Hug Song
- Take Good Care of Each Other
- Me Too!
- Thank You For Being My Friend
- and more.
Songs & Stories Around the World
K-6th Grade
Program will include some of the following selections:
- Zo-San
- Family Tree
- Two Of Everything
- Kilkelly, Ireland
- The King Has Ears Like A Goat
- Lazy Leonard
- Why The Turtles Shell Is Cracked
- and more.
Parents As Reading Partners
Or, Celebrating Books & Authors
K – 6th Grade
This program is presented to help kickoff, or culminate, a celebration of the importance of reading, writing, books and authors. One or more assemblies are done for all students during school. Many groups extend this to the larger school community of parents and family members by having an evening performance. The evening performance involves different content than the daytime, but may include some selections that students request. John is the author of the book, “It’s Just A Game.” A time can be set aside to have John autograph copies of his book, CD’s and video.
Other songs and stories are included depending on the make-up of the audience and topics that are relevant to the group. You may request that the content be correlated to your particular theme.
Program will include some of the following selections:
- The Library Song
- Mistakes Are Our Teachers
- Step By Step
- How About You?
- Listen To The Stories
- Down By The Bay
- It’s Just A Game
- and more.
