Module 4 - Social Studies Poetry

Bibliographic Citation

Rappaport, Doreen. 2008. Lady Liberty: a biography. Ill. by Matt Tavares. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763625306

Awards

Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee 2011-2012
Texas Bluebonnet Book Award Nominee 2010-2011

Review

Rappaport’s Lady Liberty is a beautifully illustrated picture book spanning the 20 project that connected two continents and the lives of many. Each first-person account gives voice to those who were instrumental in creating the Statue of Liberty and providing her a home in the New York harbor. The free-verse poems involved in this endeavor are arranged in chronological order and range from the statue’s sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi to Joseph Pulitzer who helped raise necessary funds for her pedestal, to the young girl, Florence De Foreest, who sent her two pet roosters to be sold for the cause, and many in-between. Rappaport reveals her own family’s connection to the statue as she speaks of her immigrant grandfather and his journey to America. Tavares’ artwork, in watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations provide many spectacular views as each facet of the story of this iconic statue is unveiled. The back matter provides a recommended reading list and bibliography.



Poem Title


Joseph Pulitzer
Publisher, New York World
New York city, March 1885

(an excerpt from the poem)...

'..We have more than a hundred millionaires in this city
Who could write a check for the full amount.
But no one has.
I shall ask my readers to help.
They are not millionaires,
But I know they will care,
For they will understand her importance."


Introduction or Follow-up Activity


This beautifully researched picture book would be a great companion for many lessons. The story of Lady Liberty would connect well with lessons on immigration and also lessons on writing from various points of view. I would also like to use this book when teaching lessons on media and the impact media have on our lives. It is a great example of how stories in the New York World influenced Americans to donate money to raise funds for Lady Liberty's pedestal. Even in 1885, print media was influential. this is a good example, as noted in the personal narrative poem of Florene DeForeest, the young girl who sent her roosters to Joseph Pulitzer to be sold for the cause.

Module 4 - Biography Poetry

Bibliographic Citation

Nelson, Marilyn. 2005. A Wreath for Emmett Till. Ill. by Philippe Lardy. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618397525

Awards

Coretta Scott King Honor Book 2006

Michael L. Printz Honor Book 2006

Review

Marilyn Nelson takes on a dual role of historian and poet as she reveals the memorial tribute to young African American, Emmett Till who was lynched at the age of 14 while visiting Southern relatives in 1955. In the foreword of the book, Nelson explains her style for the poem. It is written as heroic crown of sonnets. A sonnet is comprised of fourteen rhyming lines in iambic pentameter. The heroic crown of sonnets is a sequence of fifteen sonnets which are interlinked as the last line of the first sonnet is the first line of the following sonnet. The final sonnet is developed by using the first line from each of the preceding fourteen sonnets. This makes for an interesting pattern as readers learn of the horrific events leading to Emmett Till’s racially motivated death. The mood of the sonnets is one of anger, sadness, and grief as the haunting story is retold with no filters to protect the reader’s emotions. Lardy’s symbolism in the illustrations provides extended opportunities for the haunting mood to continue.

Poem Title

Your only child, a body thrown to bloat,

mother of sorrows, of justice denied.
Surely you must have thought of suicide,
seeing his gray flesh, chains around his throat.
Surely you didn’t know you would devote
the rest of your changed life to dignified
public remembrance of how Emmett died,
innocence slaughtered by the hands of hate.
If sudden loving light proclaimed you blest
would you bow your head in humility,
your healed heart overflow with gratitude?
Would you say yes, like the mother of Christ?
Or would you say no to your destiny,
mother of a boy martyr, if you could?

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

I would recommend this book of poetry to be used with high school students as an extension for a cross-curriculum unit with Social Studies. Sharing this book with students while discussing the Civil Rights Movement will help them to vividly understand many of the events which lead to the movement. It may also open a lens to students as they view current situations involving injustice among people in other countries, and the incidents of injustice still occurring within the United States.

Module 4 - Science Poetry

Bibliographic Citation

Shields, Carol Diggory. 2003. Science: Fresh squeezed!: 41 thirst-for-knowledge-quenching poems. Ill. by Richard Thompson. New York: Handprint Books. ISBN 9781593540050

Review

This book of poetry begs readers to explore the field of science as they gather information from the collection of forty-one poems written about earth and space science, life sciences, chemistry, and physics. Divided neatly into four sections, and bordered by a bright green page header, the poems provide factual information with a flair for humor. The headers reveal brief related facts or mnemonics to aid the reader in remembering. Thompson uses simple cartoon pencil drawings to enhance each poem and keeps with the green color scheme throughout the book. His drawing of the Pangaea clearly conveys to message from the poem "One world" as the young boy is backpacking across one big green continent. "Once upon a time/The world was truly one/the continents were crammed together-/I think that sounds like fun!/You could walk across Pangaea,/From Tahiti to Tibet,/Although there were no countries,/So it wasn't Tibet/Yet." These brief poems will surely be a hit with elementary students.

Poem Title

“Going Up”

Elevator going up-please step to the rear.
We’re stopping at each level of our atmosphere.
Level One-troposphere; lots of nice fresh air,
Rain, clouds, sunshine-weather everywhere!
Level Two-stratosphere; the air’s cold and dry,
(Watch out for ozone and aircraft flying by).
Level Three-thermosphere; hotter than a fire,
Level Four-exosphere; we can go no higher.
Hop out and view the satellites, orbiting around.
Step in now-this elevator’s on its way back down.


Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This poem highlights the levels of the atmosphere by taking readers on an elevator ride. Using the elevator ride serves as a mnemonic device to help students remember the levels as well as implementing the additional one, “Trolls Seldom Take Exams”, which is located on the upper page border. Reading poetry from this book would be beneficial for students who are reviewing for upcoming benchmark or State standardized testing which includes earth science and life science. I would recommend this book to the 5th grade teachers on our campus as a way to boost vocabulary knowledge with their students. Poetry that is factual, yet entertaining, is a fun additional teaching tool.

Module 3 - 2011 Poetry Book

Bibliographic Citation

Gibson, Amy. 2011. Around the world on eighty legs. Ill. by Daniel Salmieri. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780439587556

Review

In Amy Gibson’s first book of poetry, she takes us skipping across the continents to explore five regions as we learn of the animal inhabitants, when added together, have a total of eighty legs. Gibson’s witty use of wordplay is impressive as she weaves bits of information about each animal throughout the short verses. The watercolor, gouache and colored-pencil illustrations by Daniel Salmieri continue the humor found throughout the brightly colored pages. In addition to the sixty poems featuring popular and lesser known animals, there is a fantastic “Menagerie of Facts” located in the back. Here readers will find a list of animals in alphabetical order, a small picture of each animal along with one or two interesting facts. This would be a fun and entertaining book for young elementary age children.

Poem Title

Macaque
(muh-KAK)

Most monkeys
like it hot, but not
the Japanese
macaque.

He lives in snow
where cold winds blow,
for fur runs
down his back.

But coats of fluff
are not enough
when winter is
a doozy.

And so he hurries
when it flurries
into the
Jacuzzi.

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This 2011 poetry book is a great one for cross-curricular connections. I would use this book as an introduction for a science lesson on animals. Prior to beginning the research process on specific animals, this would allow students to see where many animals live as it cleverly categorizes the animals in their native habitats within geographic regions shown on the maps of the end pages. Sharing poems from the book might entice students to research animals that are lesser known. What a fun and fabulous way to broaden students’ learning. After students complete their research, have them write a poem about the animal they studied and display their poems in the library.

Module 3 - Poetry Form - Haiku

Bibliographic Citation

Davidson, Mannis C. 2005. One leaf rides the wind: Counting in a Japanese garden. Ill. by Susan Kathleen Hartung. New York: Penguin Putnam Books. ISBN 9780142401958

Review

Although haiku is traditionally the least favored form of poetry among readers, this format is paired nicely for a counting book which features a young girl taking a walk through a Japanese garden. Footnotes at the bottom of each poem provide more information about the garden scenery shown in the accompanying illustration and its role in Japanese religion or philosophy. Each of the full page illustrations were created using oil paint glazes on sealed paper which was blotted to create many different effects. A favorite is the illustration of the koi pond in selection number 9 and also on the end pages. Davidson stays true to Haiku Japanese origins with the three line format with each having five, seven, and five syllables. The simplistic format allows the reader to focus on the nature of the message delivered. It is reminiscent of the harmony, purity, and tranquility that is symbolized through the traditional Japanese tea which takes place in the garden in selections six and seven. 6 Outside the teahouse\six wooden sandals gathered\neatly in a row. 7 On a lacquered tray\seven sweet surprises lie.\Hungry tummies growl.

Poem Title

9

Hoping for some crumbs,
they nibble at my fingers.
Nine glittering koi.

Introduction or Follow-up Activity

Almost all elementary schools celebrate cultures around the world. I think this book would be an excellent one to share with students during a multicultural study of Japan. I would read the book, then talk about the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I would invite Japanese-Americans to perform the traditional tea ceremony for our students. If this is not possible, I would show a video clip of the traditional tea ceremony and I would then invite students to drink a cup of green tea and enjoy sweet cakes. After enjoying our tea, we would write a Haiku poem about our experience.

Module 3 - Verse Novel

Bibliographic Citation

Spinelli, Eileen. 2007. Where I live. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803731226

Awards

Children’s Crown Gallery Award Nominee 2009-2010
Illinois Bluestem Book Award Nominees 2010-2011
Utah Beehive Book Award Nominees Children's Poetry 2008-2009
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2009-2010


Review

Spinelli’s verse novel, written in first person, depicts the life of Diana, a grade school student, who loves astronomy, Scrabble, writing poetry, and spending time with her best friend, Rose. She loves the yellow house where she and her family live, spending time with her little sister, Twink, protecting the bird nest in the wreath on the family’s front door. Diana finds herself winning a poetry contest at school and Twink is confused because “Twink Responds to My Sun Poem” It\doesn’t\rhyme.\ Spinelli uses her main character to explain “My Reply to Twink” A poem\doesn’t\have to rhyme.\ (Every\time.)\. Spinelli uses a free verse format, to tell the story of Diana and her family’s move to live with her grandfather as a result of her father’s job loss and her grandfather’s ailing health. Spinelli cleverly uses Diana’s attendance at a poetry workshop to subtly convey poetry writing tips to readers. Phelan’s perfectly placed pencil drawings extend the emotions of Spinelli’s poems of joy, sadness and excitement. Children experiencing similar situations as Diana will find this verse novel comforting and enjoyable to read.

Poem Title

“The Poetry Workshop”

Mary Elmore DeMott—
short blond hair,
green eyes,
swooshy red dress,
ballerina slippers—
begins.
She tell us:
be brave,
be messy,
write what we feel,
tell the truth,
love who we are,
share,
keep a notebook,
take it everywhere,
open our eyes
and our hearts.


Introduction or Follow-up Activity

This story is one that many students are able to relate to through their own experiences of moving away, or having a close friend move. Often there are students in our school who move during the school year and their classmates become upset. Sharing selections from the book with younger students could help them through the process of losing their friend, and even spark them to write a poem about their friend, or the things they enjoyed doing with their friend, much like Diana and Rosie. I have found this particular book one that is well liked by readers at our school who are reluctant to read chapter books. The verse novel format is less intimidating for these readers and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when completing the book.