Transcript Poetry for Young People

Poetry for Young People
A guide to poetry
that Middle and High School
Students will actually read
History Related Poetry
• My America - Lee Bennett Hopkins
– “A Poetry Atlas of the United States”
– 50 poems grouped
by geographic region
– Maps and Facts
about states
– Poems capture
Essence of regions
History Related Poetry
• My America - Lee Bennett Hopkins
– Well-known poets and new poets such as:
• Langston Hughes
• Carl Sandburg
– Short selections
– Vibrant illustrations
– Poem titles describe content and
characteristics of the area of country
• Watercolor Maine / Kentucky / Tonight in Chicago
• Pine Tree Tops / Laughing Corn / Desert / Alaska
History Related Poetry from My America
• My America - Lee Bennett Hopkins
“Cactus”
“Don’t dare come near,”
it says
with spike
with spear
with crossbow
poised to pierce…
beware!
History Related Poetry
• Hand in Hand – Lee Bennett Hopkins, ed.
– An American History through Poetry”
• Founding of nation
• Great depression
• Issues of today
– Includes longer poems
• O Captain, My Captain
• John Brown’s Body
• Gettysburg Address
Bible Related Poetry
• O Jerusalem – Jane Yolen
– Wonderful illustrations by John Thompson
– Explanations about
places and events
at the end of each
poem.
– Gives sense of
history of the city
Bible Related Poetry
• O Jerusalem – Jane Yolen
“Jerusalem is a place unlike any other –
a holy city for three major religions...We
hope this book will serve as a point of
departure for discussion about this
fascinating place, which endures as a
vibrant city and a living symbol.”
Bible Related Poetry from O Jerusalem
“Stone Upon Stone”
Stone upon stone a city
rises.
Stone upon stone it falls
Man upon man each war
surprises
Altars, buildings, walls.
David,
Solomon,
Nebuchadnezzar,
Maccabee,
Herod,
And Hadrian,
Constantine,
Khostru, Saladin,
And Suleiman.
This is a song we sing to
conquerors,
A hymn we make to war,
The straight plumb line of rules
and rulers –
That’s what fighting’s for.
Stone upon stone it rises,
Stone upon stone it falls.
Man upon man each war
surprises
Us all.
Bible Related Poetry
• The Godtouch
- Stephen R. Clark
• “The poems in The Godtouch will
provide a delightful experience…The
reality and feeling that are…a part of
true religious experience are at the
heart of each poem, but the vehicle
of expression is contemporary and
bold…”
• Ninety-two poems.”
Bible Related Poetry from The Godtouch
• Love Poem
Love
arrows
through
by act and deed
deep
to the heart
and the mind
where words
only
touch
barely
I John 3:18
Other poetry
Sports Related Poetry
• Sports Pages – Arnold Adoff
– Running
– Baseball
– Football
– Basketball
– Soccer
– Wrestling
– Gymnastics
– Tennis
Sports Related Poetry from Sports Pages
“These Knees”
These joints: these soft and floating combinations
of cartilage and ligament and bone:
These knees were made to bend and flex and run
the power of thigh and leg muscles together,
at the instant of the starting gun.
These knees were never made to be hit by shoulder
pads, or helmets, or the flying
bodies of young heroes, and heroines;
Impressing home town fans.
Sports Related Poetry
• Rimshots – Charles R. Smith, Jr.
– Poems about basketball
Words shaped to
accentuate the
mood of the poem
– Convey a real love
of the sport
Sports Related Poetry from Rimshots
Hands reach for the peach
as I teach others that I
can’t be touched.
Sweet feet spin on concrete as I
dribble to the
beat of my own drum.
Lesson one:
the pass.
I dash
a no-look bounce
behind the back
class
that wakes
the students up
fast.
Science Related Poetry
• Poetry for Young People - Robert Frost
– Poems for each season, ex:
•
•
•
•
The Pasture
October
Patch of Old Snow
Birches
– Part of a series of
poetry books for
young people
Science Related Poetry by Robert Frost
“Storm Fear”
When the wind works against us in the dar,
And pelts with snow
The lower chamber window on the east,
And whispers with a sort of stifled bark,
The beast,
“Come out! Come out!” –
It costs no inward struggle not to go,
Ah, no!
Science Related Poetry by Robert Frost
“Storm Fear”
contd.
I count our strength,
Two and a child,
Those of us not asleep subdued to mark
How the cold seeps as the fire dies at lengthHow drifts are piled,
Dooryard and road ungraded,
Till even the comforting barn grows far away,
And my heart owns a doubt
Whether ‘tis in us to arise with day
And save ourselves unaided.
Science Related Poetry
• Song of the Water Boatman and other
pond poems – by Joyce Sidman
(Illus. by Beckie Prange)
– Picture book format
– Excellent illustrations
– Caldecott Honor
Book + 15 other awards
Science Related Poetry
• Song of the Water Boatman and other pond
poems – by Joyce Sidman
• http://www.joycesidman.com/songofthewaterboat
man.html
• Link to teacher’s guide
• Glossary in the back
Science Related Poetry
• Song of the Water Boatman and other
pond poems – by Joyce Sidman
Each poem is a different format so excellent
to use as examples to illustrate.
• Scientific information on each type of pond
inhabitant represented in the poems.
Science Related Poetry
from Song of the Water Boatman
“Listen for Me”
“A Small Green Riddle”
Listen for me on a spring
night
on a wet night
on a rainy night.
Listen for me on a still night,
for in the night, I sing….
Listen for me on a spring
night,
On a wet night,
On a rainy night
Listen for me tonight, tonight,
And I’ll sing you to sleep.
I float without air
I root without soil.
Eaten by all,
named for one.
The color of grass,
water-carpet,
I grow daughters like ears.
I am no bigger
than a splatter of paint.
Soon, I will take over the
pond
Sociology Related Poetry
• 19 Varieties of Gazelle
Naomi Shihab Nye
Blank Verse
National Book Award
finalist
Special forward added
after 9/11
Sociology Related Poetry
• 19 Varieties of Gazelle
Naomi Shihab Nye
Study of Middle East
Middle Eastern feast
Students write response
Guest speaker
Definition of “fundamentalism”
Sociology Related Poetry
• The Dream Keeper – Langston Hughes
Author well-known
Won many awards
Sociology Related Poetry
by Langston Hughes
“The Dream Keeper”
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them in a clue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
Sociology Related Poetry
• Connection to Subject
Poems about
people of color
Poems of topics
universal to all
Sociology Related Poetry
by Langston Hughes
“April Rain Song”
Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pols in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night—
And I love the rain.
Sociology Related Poetry
Special Features
Religious poems
Blank Verse
Dialect
Sociology Related Poetry
by Langston Hughes
“Feet o’ Jesus”
At de feet o’ Jesus,
Sorrow like a sea.
Lordy, let yo’ mercy
Come driftin’ down on me.
At the feet o’ Jesus,
At yo’ feet I stand.
O, ma precious Jesus,
Please reach out yo’ hand.
Sociology Related Poetry
Teaching Ideas
Geography - Africa
History - Slavery
- Civil Rights Movement
Music – create tunes to accompany
poems
Psychology Related Poetry
• Walking on the Boundaries of Change:
Poems of Transition
Sara Holbrook
www.saraholbrook.com
Deals with relationships
Specializes in middle
school age
Psychology Related Poetry
from Walking on the Boundaries of Change
“Walking on the
Boundaries of Change”
Day by day
A tightrope, walking on the
boundaries
Of change.
One stepFirm, familiar,
The next stepShaky, strange.
Some friends
Will dare danger,
Mock or push each step.
Some friends
Knock your confidence.
Real friends
Form a net
Psychology Related Poetry
Special features:
Blank Verse
Short Poems
Last line is clincher
Small books
Available in paperback
Psychology Related Poetry
from Walking on the Boundaries of Change
“On the Verge”
Look inside this block of
marbleSee the angle of a chin?
See? This part juts outAnd here?
It slopes back in?
I know it’s just a block of
marbleBut see the profile?
Use the light.
A shoulder, outstretched arm.
It’s stepping forward. Am I
right?
Psychology Related Poetry
from Walking on the Boundaries of Change
“On the Verge,” contd.
Museum walls are lined
With graceful statues
Polished rocks, smoothed
Of all their edges.
Works of art
That once were blocks
Like this.
Look here, a foot,
A hand, a nose,
An outline on the verge,
Struggling to be seen.
A profile
Trying to emerge.
Psychology Related Poetry
Teaching Ideas:
Creative writing
Imitation writing
Illustrate poems
Choral reading
Psychology Related Poetry
• Reach for the Moon - Samantha Abeel
Charles R. Murphy
Won the Margo Marek
Award
Written in response to
paintings
Written to help with
her dyslexia
Psychology Related Poetry
Connection to the Subject /
Special features
Learning disabilities
Creative writing
List of organizations
Psychology Related Poetry
from Reach for the Moon
Written as tribute to the teacher who
reached out to help her…
“Tribute to a teacher”
“…When the sun rose
from under its misty veil,
you were there to watch,
and I am thankful.”
Psychology Related Poetry
• Reach for the Moon - Samantha Abeel
Charles R. Murphy
Creative writing
Research learning
disabilities
Write poems to accompany
selected art
Create art to accompany
selected poems
Self-Expression Related Poetry
• Ten-Second Rainshowers:Poems by
Young People
Sanford Lyne, compiler
Sanford Lyne works in
school systems to
encourage children
to write poetry
Self-Expression Related Poetry
Connection to Subject/ Special
features
Creative writing
Written by children and
young adults from range
of backgrounds
Self-Expression Related Poetry
Teaching Ideas
Read aloud
Write on same topics
Compare to poems by
adults on same topics
Self-Expression Related Poetry
from Ten-Second Rainshowers
“Before Bed-Time”
Phillip Kirlin, Grade 6
Lying,
With my pillow tucked
Neatly under my head,
Reading
A book with
Mysteries,
Fairy tales,
Enjoying it
More and more.
Then,
Like a silent butterfly
Moving among the
Grasses,
My mother
Kisses me on my
Oval face.
Self-Expression Related Poetry
from Ten-Second Rainshowers
“Untitled”
Crockett Kidwell, Grade 7
In my bed
With covers over my nose
I feel my warmth vibrating
Back to me.
This is the love I am so willing
To give. But I have no one
To take it.
Self-Expression Related Poetry
from Ten-Second Rainshowers
“Rainshowers”
Mike Davis, Grade 8
Rainshowers
Last forever, seconds
At a time, and
Almost like a poem
Which is long
At heart.
Self-Expression Related Poetry
• Love That Dog – Sharon Creech
Novel written in
narrative poetry form
Walter Dean Myers
acts as example
Imitation poetry
www.sharoncreech.com
Self-Expression Related Poetry
from Love that Dog
“September 13”
I don’t want to
because boys
don’t write poetry
Girls do.
“September 21”
I tried
Can’t do it
Brain’s empty
Self-Expression Related Poetry
from Love that Dog
“Love that Boy”
Walter Dean Myers
Love that boy,
Like a rabbit loves to run
I said I love that boy
Like a rabbit loves to run
Love to call him in the morning
Love to call him
“Hey there, son!”
Self-Expression Related Poetry
from Love that Dog
“Love that Dog”
Inspired by Walter Dean Myers – by Jack
Love that dog,
like a bird like to fly
I said I love that dog
Like a bird loves to fly
Love to call him in the morning
Love to call him
“Hey there, Sky!”
Self-Expression Related Poetry
Connection to Subject
Imitation poetry
Creative writing
Write poetry about
pet
Self-Expression Related Poetry
Special features
Scholastic edition
contains literature
circle questions
and teaching ideas.
Classic Poetry
• all the small poems - Valerie Worth
NCTE Lifetime Achievement
award for poetry
Poems cover all subject
areas
Poems are short and simple
Models for writing or
memorizing
Classic Poetry
from all the small poems
“Magnet”
This small
Flat horseshoe
Is sold for
A toy: we are
Told that it
Will pick up pins
And it does, time
After time; later
It lays about,
Getting its red
Paint chipped, being
Offered pins less
Often, until at
Last we leave it
Alone: then
It leads its own
Life, trading
Secrets with The North Pole
Reading
Invisible messages
From the sun
Classic Poetry
from all the small poems
“Tractor”
The tractor rests
In the shed,
Dead or asleep,
But with high
Hind wheels
Held so still
We know
It is only waiting
Ready to leapLike a heavy
Brown
Grasshopper
Classic Poetry
Teaching Ideas
Models for creative writing
and
memorizing
Classic Poetry
• Piping Down the Valleys Wild
Nancy Larrick
Published in1968, but
reprinted in 1999
Compilation of many
well-known poets
Classic Poetry
Piping Down the Valleys Wild
Literature
Character building
Urban living
Rural life
Nature
Humor
Classic Poetry
from Piping Down the Valleys Wild
“Keep a poem in your pocket”
By Beatrice Schenk DeRegniers
Keep a poem in your pocket
and a picture in your head
and you’ll never feel lonely
at night when you’re in bed
The little poem will sing to you
and the little picture bring to you
a dozen dreams to dance to you
at night when you’re in bed.
Young Adult Poetry: A Survey and
Theme Guide
Annotated bibliography of poems for
young adults
A good resource for finding poems
that young people will really read
Index of poetry themes in back of
book
Greenwood Press, 2002