Module 1: Poetry Choice: African American Poetry

Giovanni, Nikki. 2008. Hip Hop Speaks to Children A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat. Illinois: Sourcebooks. ISBN 978-1402210488.





From Hip Hop Speaks to Children A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat, edited by Nikki Giovanni, comes a short, yet powerful poem written by the now-deceased songwriter/rapper, Tupac Shakur. Shakur clearly demonstrates his depth, and shows he was truly a great poet.

The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Tupac Shakur

Did u hear about the rose that grew from a crack
in the concrete
Proving nature’s laws wrong it learned 2 walk
without having feet
Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams
It learned 2 breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
When no one else even cared!

This emotionally stimulating poem speaks metaphorically about never giving up your dreams and is just the right length for children to absorb. Shakur’s use of language and rhythm gives it a contemporary feel.

Extension

Play the audio CD, which accompanies Hip Hop Speaks to Children A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat, of Nikki Giovanni reading this poem. Have them discuss whether or not Shakur would have read his poem differently from Giovanni.

For older students and/or those interested in reading more poems by Shakur, recommend his collection of poems:
Shakur, Tupac. 1999. The Rose That Grew From Concrete. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0671028442.

Module 1: Poetry Book Review: Lee Bennett Hopkins Anthology

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2004. Days to Celebrate A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating Facts, and More. Illus Stephen Alcorn. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0060007652.





This is a comprehensive and impressive compilation of events and poems. Whether it is a holiday, a historical event or discovery, or the birth date of a notable person, Hopkins has found something significant for every day of the year. Additionally, he has selected special poems to represent a few of these dates. In honor of the Chinese New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 19, is this poem by Janet S. Wong.

Prayer for the Lunar New Year

This is the day
you grow another year wiser.

This is the day
you forget what you know to be impossible.

The moon loves to play a game.
Play.

Sweep your grudges out,
scatter them to nothing.

Scrub your wishes pure,
wash your heart clear.

Open your windows wide,
let the new year begin.

This rejuvenating poem falls inbetween the area for January and February, as Hopkin’s collection is broken into sections for each month of the year. The poems he has selected are from contemporary poets (Wong) and classic poets such as E.E. Cummings and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. There is even a smattering of poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins himself.

Not to be overlooked are the stunning and complimentary illustrations of Stephen Alcorn. His use of color and arrangement of artwork enhances the appeal of Hopkin’s anthology.

At the end of the book is an index of titles, first lines and author, which makes it easy to track down the poetry found within the collection.

Module 1: Poetry Break: School Poem

Nesbitt, Kenn. 2005. When the Teacher Isn't Looking And Other Funny School Poems. New York: Meadowbrook. ISBN 978-0684031286.







Kenn Nesbitt's collection of humourous poems, When the Teacher Isn't Looking And Other Funny School Poems, is full of surprises. A perfect example of his unique perspective on school is evident in:

Falling Asleep in Class

I fell asleep in class today
As I was awfully bored.
I laid my head upon my desk
and closed my eyes and snored.

I woke to find a piece of paper
sticking to my face.
I'd slobbered on my textbooks
and my hair was a disgrace.

My clothes were badly rumpled,
and my eyes were glazed and red.
My binder left a three-ring
indentation in my head.

I slept through class, and probably
I would have slept more,
except my students woke me
as they headed out the door.

Falling Asleep in Class is funny up until the very last line, when it suddenly becomes hilarious! Nesbitt's expert use of imagery and mesmerizing rhythm lead the reader to make the necessary assumptions that make this a brillantly funny and creative poem.

Extension:

Encourage children to discuss what they think the students in the poem did while their teacher was sleeping.

Ask students to share some funny things their teachers have done in class and then come up with a list of humorous adjectives to describe these events. Then, have the students choose one of those adjectives and try to create a short, funny poem or draw a funny scene.