A journey to an enchanted world, I'm going to play and sing in Alphabet Village. A pleasant road leads us to discover this and that. Let's go to Alphabet Village. The Village is mine. The Village is yours. It's a happy gathering of friends. The Village is mine. The Village is yours. Adventures, dancing, songs, stories. The Village is mine. The Village is yours. Adventures, dancing, songs, stories. Milya: Hello friends and welcome to Alphabet Village, the land where letters grow on trees and the river flows of alphabet soup. It's the beginning of autumn, a time when the letters on the trees turn colors and begin to fall. It's also the time to head back to school, and to learn about the seasons in Ukrainian. There are many treasures and adventures awaiting Maksym, Natalka and Yurko today. Boomchyk Borovyk will lead us in learning all sorts of new Ukrainian words. Hmm, where is Boomchyk? Oh I see him. He's still in bed! We need to help him wake up! Bring it! Boomchyk: Oh, good morning friends, good morning. As you can see, the clock is showing to seven o'clock, time to wake up, stretch, eat breakfast and wash up. Ahhhh! But I'm still sleepy. Maybe you can help me wake up. Yes, yes, the easiest way is to wash up to the tune of a lively melody. Will you help me? Wash my eyes, wash my nose, wash my ears and face, Wash my eyes, wash my nose, wash my ears and face, Wash my neck, wash my hands, I brush my teeth merrily, Every morning I wash my face, so everything's clean. Wash my neck and wash my hands, merrily I brush my teeth, Every morning I wash my face, so everything's clean. There! Now I'm completely awake and ready for breakfast. Mmm, I love to eat breakfast. And you? Do you like to eat a tasty breakfast? Let's go! What's that? You wish me bon appetit? Thank you very much. And the same to you! It's very good. What's that? Oh, I forgot to tell you. Today is the first day of autumn, and in the fall season, children go to school. I'm sure they are all excited. In the park a happy day Bell is ringing clang clang clang, Off to school the children go They'll learn the alphabet, Off to school the children go They'll learn the alphabet. In the fall, in the fall, Off to school we go In the fall, in the fall, in the fall, We're going to school to learn. And Natalka comes prepared She remembers the whole alphabet, A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J She repeats it as she goes. In the fall, in the fall Off to school we go, In the fall, in the fall, in the fall, We're going to learn. In the fall, in the fall, in the fall, We're going to learn. There Maksym is ready to play, Yurko wants to paint. Games and toys and songs Eagerly we all learn. Games and toys and songs Eagerly we all learn. In the fall, in the fall, Off to school we go, In the fall, In the fall, in the fall, We're going to learn. In the fall, In the fall, in the fall, We're going to learn. Boomchyk: Good morning friends! Children: Good morning Boomchyk! Natalka: Are you taking us to school today? Boomchyk: Yes! Let's go! Maksym: The Gate is closed! Natalka: We need the magic key. Yurko: Bring it! All together now! Children: Boom-chyk, boom-chyk, ra-ta-ta, Wondrous learning us awaits. Tree-lee, la-la, foo-foo, zooch Magic key to us appear. Boom-chyk, boom-chyk, ra-ta-ta, Milya: The children are in school and pani Vera will find out how they spent the summer. Pani Vera: Welcome children. I am sure you rested nicely during your summer vacations, and now it is time to learn again. But first, please tell me how you spent your summer vacations? Were they pleasant? Natalka: Oh yes. I went to the beach and swam in the ocean. Yurko: I went to summer camp, and met many new friends. Maksym: I practiced football all summer, and even took part in a football tournament, where our team won first place. Pani Vera: I'm glad that everyone had a pleasant summer vacation. Summer is one of the four seasons. Can you tell me what the other seasons of the year are? Natalka: I know. Now we start school, and this means that it must be autumn. Pani Vera: Yes. We return to school in the fall. Yurko: And it gets colder outside, the leaves on the trees change colors and the animals get ready for winter. Winter is the following season. Maksym: Oh, I like winter less, because during the winter, you can't play football outside. Yurko: But you can build a snowman. Natalka: And sled down a hill. Yurko: And you need to wear warm clothes, mittens and a hat, so that the cold doesn't freeze your ears and fingers. Natalka: That's true, but I love to roll around in the snow, and to make snow angels. Maksym: Yes. Yes. I still like spring better. Spring is the following season. Natalka: Yes, in the spring it becomes warmer, the flowers come up and the trees become green again. Yurko: Birds return from their summer homes, and insects and bees circle everywhere. Pani Vera: You know the seasons well. But to remember them better, let's play a game. Here in my treasure chest are different pictures. Can you guess which season is portrayed in each picture? Milya: The children know all about the seasons - the names of the seasons, and even what each season brings. Now the game is to try and tell the season just by looking at the picture. Do you think you can guess each season? Maksym: This is the fall. I like to play in the leaves. Natalka: This is winter! I can't wait to play in the snow. Maksym: Spring! Spring! Children: Summer! Summer! Summer! Pani Vera: You know the seasons well. For this, you deserve a reward. I wonder what is hidden in the treasure chest? What's this? I know! This is that very mitten, about which the story is written. Maksym: I don't know any story about a mitten. Do you Natalka? Yurko? Pani Vera: Then listen. An old man was walking through a forest with his dog following him. And he lost his mitten. Along came a mouse and she climbed into the mitten. "Here I shall live," said the mouse. When along came a frog who asked: "Who, who lives in this mitten?" "Squeaky mouse, and who are you?" replied the mouse. "Croaky frog" replied the frog "Will you let me in?" "Come in." Now there were two of them, when along came a rabbit and asked: "Who, who lives in this mitten?" "Squeaky mouse and croaky frog, and who are you?" "I'm hoppity rabbit please let me in." "All right, come in." Now there were three, when along came a fox that asked: "Who, who lives in this mitten?" Squeaky mouse, croaky frog and hoppity rabbit, and who are you?" "I'm sister fox, let me in as well." Alright, come in." Now there were four, when along came a wolf, and headed right for the mitten: "Who, who lives in this mitten?" asked the wolf. "Squeaky mouse, croaky frog, hoppity rabbit and sister fox, and who are you?" "Brother wolf" replied the wolf "let me in too." "Oh alright, come in." And the wolf climbed right in and now they were five, when out of nowhere there came a wild boar: "Oink-grunt-grunt-oink! Who, who lives in this mitten?" "Squeaky mouse, croaky frog, hoppity rabbit, sister fox and brother wolf, and who are you?" "Oink-grunt-grunt-oink! I'm tusky boar, let me in as well." "What are we to do? Everyone who comes along wants to get into the mitten!" exclaimed the animals. "There is no room for you!" "I'll fit. Please let me in," said the boar. "What are we to do with you? Come in." And the boar climbed into the mitten. Now they were six, but so tightly packed in in that they could hardly move. When suddenly the underbrush crackled and there came a big brown bear that headed straight for the mitten: "Who, who lives in this mitten?" growled the bear. "Squeaky mouse, croaky frog, hoppity rabbit, sister fox, brother wolf and tusky boar, and who are you?" "Ha, ha, ha! There are so many of you in there. I'm troublesome bear, let me in too!" "How will you fit? The mitten is already bursting at the seams!" "Somehow we'll work it out." "Oh, alright, come in. But keep to the side." The bear climbed in. Now they were seven, but so tightly packed in that the mitten was about to burst. The old man realized that he had lost a mitten and headed back looking for the missing mitten, the dog running in front of the old man. The dog ran and ran, when ahead of him he saw the mitten. It was lying in the snow and moving. The dog barked: woof-woof-woof. The frightened animals all ran out of the mitten and scattered throughout the forest. The old man came and took his mitten. Natalka: I enjoyed that story very much. Maksym: I like it as well. But I would like to know where all those animals lived after they lost their house. I'm sure they were cold without their house, the warm mitten. Pani Vera: I'm glad you liked the story. And now it's time to choose your treasures. Natalka: I would like to have the wreath please, because it reminds me of spring. Maksym: I like the sunglasses. Yurko: These mittens are exactly what I need, because my hands are always sold in the winter. Pani Vera: Children, look at the time. It's already lunchtime. It's time to have some lunch and then to return to class. I wish you "bon appetit.' Children: And the same to you! Milya: What a story! Can you believe that all those animals fit into that little mitten? Well, remember that we are in Alphabet Village and magical things happen all the time here. Take a look. Natalka: I really like this wreath. Maksym: In these glasses I'm ready for summer. Yurko: Hey, where is the second mitten. Natalka: Interesting, could all those animals really fit into that mitten. Yurko: Where could it have gone? Maksym: It was certainly a warm home for the summer. Yurko: What's this? Children: Boomchyk! Boomchyk: I wonder how all of those animals fit into that mitten, when I can't even get into it by my lonesome. Children: laugh Boomchyk: It's starting to rain! And I'm very hungry. Yurko: Me too. Boomchyk: Then let's all go to my house for lunch, and after we can play a little. Children: Let's go! Milya: It's lunchtime, and I think I'll catch a bowl of alphabet raindrops. They look delicious! I'm going to have lunch here, but Boomchyk has invited the children to his house for lunch. Boomchyk also has a surprise for the children. Let's listen in. Natalka: Boomchyk, thank you for a very tasty lunch. Maksym and Yurko: Yes! Yes! Yes! We thank you, thank you and jump up high! Boomchyk: You're welcome. And now I have a surprise for you. Yurko: What kind of surprise? I love surprises. Boomchyk: This kind. This is a magic radio. On this radio, you can listen to and makeup all sorts of new songs. Would you like to listen? Maksym: Songs? Absolutely! Boomchyk: This is a song about the months of the year. We have already learned about the seasons, but we still don't know the names of the months. Want to listen? Natalka: Yes. Yes. Boomchyk: In a minute I will tell What the months are in the year. In a year there are twelve months Twelve months in a year there are January's a cold month It's the coldest time of year February's winds are fierce Biting everybody's ears. March's winds blow strong, Bringing spring, April covered in flowers, And green grasses start to grow. April covered in flowers, And green grasses start to grow. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December at the end... May breath is a warmer breeze Bringing leaves back to the trees, And in June the longest days we'll play outside. Relaxation in July At the beach we'll enjoy the heat. August ripens pears to gold Fruits for all. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, And December at the end... In September children know Off to school they all will go, And October brings the cold Painting leaves golden colors. Rain and leaves begin to fall In November they fly. In December comes the end Winter's coming. In December comes the end Winter's coming. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, And December at the end. We learned the months of the year, We will sing them all together. We learned the months of the year, We will sing them all together. Boomchyk: Enough of this. I can't dance another step. Maksym: I'm all danced out. Natalka: Oh! It's time to head back to school! Boomchyk: Good bye! Children: Good bye. Milya: Wow! What a song. I hope it helps me remember the months of the year in Ukrainian. But now the children have to rush back to school for an afternoon of games and learning, and maybe even a special adventure. And Boomchyk? He's about to get a new visitor, the mailman. Boomchyk: I wonder who's at the door? Thank you for the mail! Mail's here, mail's here I tear open letters Mail's here, mail's here I tear open letters. I'm laughing and enjoying And I'm ready to read the letter I'm laughing and enjoying And I'm ready to read the letter Mail's here, mail's here I tear open letters Mail's here, mail's here I tear open letters. I'm laughing and enjoying And I'm ready to read the letter I'm laughing and enjoying And I'm ready to read the letter Stephania Reads Letter: Dear Boomchyk. I'm five years old. My birthday is in January. In January it is very cold. For my birthday we ate cake and then played in the snow. We also went sledding down a hill. I'm very happy that my birthday is in winter. Stephania. Boomchyk: What a wonderful letter. Thank you, Stephania, for writing me. I'm always happy to receive letters. I wonder if you have favorite months of the year? Girl: My favorite time of year is spring. Because everything comes alive. The grass becomes green. Birds sing. And the flowers smell nice. Boy: My favorite time of year is Autumn because I enjoy jumping in leaf piles. Milya: Boomchyk's friends sure know a lot about the seasons and the months of the year! Hey, it's time to head back to the classroom and learn the days of the week! Pani Vera: Did everyone have a good lunch? Good! Now it's time to set up our class calendar. Here on the wall is a calendar. Yurko: That reminds me of the calendar which hangs on the wall in our kitchen. But this calendar has no names of the months, or days of the week. Pani Vera: Correct. We will have to fill in the blanks ourselves. We need to paste these pictures and names onto our calendar. And to help us remember the names of the days, maybe we can recall the song about the days of the week. Natalka: I remember. monday we eat borsch, And eat peas on Tuesday. But these pictures don't fit in a song about food. Pani Vera: Correct, because our weekly calendar shows the things we will be doing each day. Listen, and then see if you can join in. Monday we will dance, Sing on Tuesday, Wednesday we play the bandura and sing merrily. Wednesday we play the bandura and sing merrily. Thursdays are for pysanky Everyone will write them. And to change things on a Friday We can do some reading. And to change things on a Friday We can do some reading. Saturday is for soccer, We will all play. And on Sunday we go to church To praise God. And on Sunday we go to church To praise God. Pani Vera: Very well done! You now know the order and the names of the days of the week. Now help me glue the correct pictures onto our calendar. Milya: What a great song. I learned all the days of the week, and I learned about some of the interesting things Maksym, Natalka and Yurko will be doing at school this week. Let' see how the calendar looks. Pani Vera: Our day is almost over. But before we say good bye, I have a short surprise for you. Look at the magic screen. Natalka: But on the screen, we don't see anything. Yurko: We need the magical key. Children: Boom-chyk, boom-chyk, ra-ta-ta Wondrous learning awaits. Tri-li, lya-lya, foo-foo, zooch Appear magical key. Pani Vera: This is the "Sunflower Festival," in Warren Michigan, during which the people of the city can learn a lot about Ukraine, it's heritage, culture and traditions. Yurko: My mother and I went to this festival last summer. I had a great time, and learned a lot about Ukrainian music and about Ukrainian folk art. Natalka: Did you see the display of embroidery? Yurko: I saw some beautiful ones. Maksym: Did you ride the carousel? Yurko: Yes. Maksym: Did you get to eat anything tasty? Yurko: I ate varenyky and cabbage rolls. Natalka: And did they dance? Yurko: Yes and played music. Maksym: Did anyone play a game of soccer? Yurko: No, they only played on instruments. Milya: This is the Sunflower Festival in Warren Michigan. The festival shows some of the culture and heritage of Ukraine. Yurko visited the festival last summer, and had a lot of fun, while learning all about his Ukrainian heritage. Pani Vera: Children, it's time to say good bye. Till tomorrow! Children: Until tomorrow. Natalka: Hey Boomchyk! You will not believe what an interesting day we had. I learned the days of the week in the right order. Boomchyk: From Monday through Sunday? Natalka: Yes. Yurko: And I had a lot of fun remembering a great trip to a festival in Michigan. Maksym: I liked your magic radio most of all. It helped me learn the names of all the months of the year. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. We learned the months of the year. Let's sing all together. Milya: What an exciting first day of school this has turned out to be. Natalka learned the days of the week, and Maksym just can't stop singing the song about the months of the year. And Yurko told us about his visit to a Ukrainian festival. And everyone loved the story about the animals that made a house out of a lost mitten. And me? I learned the Ukrainian words for the seasons, months and days. Natalka: It's fun to stay here and talk but it's time for me to go home. Yurko: And for me. Maksym: And for me too. Boomchyk: Good bye friends! Children: Good bye Boomchyk! Milya: The children are going home and our adventures in Alphabet Village are over for today. But come back soon - and we'll play and sing again. Good bye.