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From: Susan I Greenberg <sigst+>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 02:44:45 -0500 (EST)
Several years ago, when I was enrolled in one of my required language arts classes at the U. of Pittsburgh (I'm a doctoral student in the Language and Literacy program there), I was introduced to a book of poetry that was so moving and eloquent that I've been recommending it to everyone ever since. The book, "...I never saw another butterfly...": Children's Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 194244; Hana Volavkova (Ed); expanded second edition; (1993), N.Y.: Schocken Books,--is a collection of the writings and drawings of the young inmates of the Terezin Concentration Camp. It reflects their hopes, fears, courage,and amazingly their optimism.
For those of you who might be looking for historical material to integrate into a history/social studies theme/unit, a volume like this would be a powerful resource. In addition to the poetry and drawings are notes from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; a Foreword by Chaim Potok relating the history of the Czech city of Terezin, the eventual occupation by Nazi Germany and its conversion to "Theresienstadt", a ghetto, in October, 1941; and an Afterword by Vaclac Havel, former President of the Czech Republic.
In the Museum Notes, we learn that the teachers in the ghetto defied camp rules and offered art therapy in the form of "art lessons", to teach literature, and to organize poetry contests, recitations, and cultural program. Artistic expression was used as a way to moderate the chaos of their lives. There are certainly children within our current culture whose opportunity for artistic expression has had a similar impact on their lives.
Thanks for all your recommendations for poetry resources. Nancie Atwell wrote about always having "a poem in your pocket". Great advice!
Susan Greenberg
Received on Fri 14 Feb 1997 01:44:45 AM CST
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 02:44:45 -0500 (EST)
Several years ago, when I was enrolled in one of my required language arts classes at the U. of Pittsburgh (I'm a doctoral student in the Language and Literacy program there), I was introduced to a book of poetry that was so moving and eloquent that I've been recommending it to everyone ever since. The book, "...I never saw another butterfly...": Children's Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 194244; Hana Volavkova (Ed); expanded second edition; (1993), N.Y.: Schocken Books,--is a collection of the writings and drawings of the young inmates of the Terezin Concentration Camp. It reflects their hopes, fears, courage,and amazingly their optimism.
For those of you who might be looking for historical material to integrate into a history/social studies theme/unit, a volume like this would be a powerful resource. In addition to the poetry and drawings are notes from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; a Foreword by Chaim Potok relating the history of the Czech city of Terezin, the eventual occupation by Nazi Germany and its conversion to "Theresienstadt", a ghetto, in October, 1941; and an Afterword by Vaclac Havel, former President of the Czech Republic.
In the Museum Notes, we learn that the teachers in the ghetto defied camp rules and offered art therapy in the form of "art lessons", to teach literature, and to organize poetry contests, recitations, and cultural program. Artistic expression was used as a way to moderate the chaos of their lives. There are certainly children within our current culture whose opportunity for artistic expression has had a similar impact on their lives.
Thanks for all your recommendations for poetry resources. Nancie Atwell wrote about always having "a poem in your pocket". Great advice!
Susan Greenberg
Received on Fri 14 Feb 1997 01:44:45 AM CST
