It's Easy Being Green!: Unison Teacher's Handbook

This collection transforms environmental education into genuinely engaging musical theater for young singers. Eight songs of varied styles allow you to program flexibly—perform individual selections throughout the year or combine them into a polished 25-minute assembly program that keeps elementary audiences entertained while delivering real content about sustainability. The "Smart Tips" recitations before each song deepen the message and give students non-singing roles, making this inclusive for mixed ability levels.

Bright, purposeful, and surprisingly sophisticated for young singers. The eight songs range from playful (The Bag Lady, The Recycle Rap) to tender (Drip, Drip, Drop, Drop), giving the program emotional shape. There's genuine musicality beneath the educational message—these are songs worth singing, not just vehicles for a theme.

This handbook serves elementary music teachers and general music specialists working with grades 1-6 choirs or large group singing experiences. It's ideal for teachers seeking a thematic program that connects music to real-world content while keeping rehearsal demands manageable for young, developing singers. Whether you're building toward a spring concert or integrating environmental themes into your curriculum, unison voicing makes it accessible across ability levels.

• Rehearse the "Smart Tips" recitations with the same care you give the songs; clear, confident delivery of these spoken elements frames each piece and helps the audience grasp the environmental theme.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish tempos during early rehearsals, then gradually reduce dependency so students develop ownership of the phrasing and rhythm.
• Vary your staging between songs: some can be performed in formation with simple choreography (Albrecht's movement expertise shines here), while others work beautifully sung in place, creating visual interest across the program.
• Layer in props and simple set pieces tied to each song's theme (bags, water drops, recycling bins) to strengthen audience engagement without overwhelming rehearsal time.

Perform the full 25-minute show as your spring environmental assembly or Earth Day celebration, or cherry-pick individual songs to scatter throughout the year during classroom units on sustainability. The reproducible materials make it easy to coordinate with other grades or create a school-wide performance where multiple classes each feature different selections. Consider timing a performance during National Earth Day (April 22) or align it with your district's STEM integration initiatives.

• Unison singing with clear vowel formation and diction
• Understanding and performing contrasting song styles and tempos
• Connecting musical expression to thematic content and emotional meaning
• Confidence in solo recitation blended with ensemble performance
• Following movement cues and basic choreography while maintaining vocal focus