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Children Illustrating Poetry
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From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 07:29:15 -0400
For someone who professes not to be as enamored of poetry as others, I'm sure posting a lot this month. But this discussion sure keeps me thinking. Thanks!
Currently my students are working on toy theater productions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Since we are still deep into Carroll's work and inspired by the illustrated poetry thread, I decided to try something with Jabberwolky (which most of the kids didn't know as it is from Through the Looking-glass), at yesterday's Literary Salon.
Enjoying their juice and cookies, the children listened to a reading of the poem by a colleague and myself. I had already placed cups of colored pencils and drawing paper on their tables and after the reading I gave each a copy of the poem and asked them to draw anything that came to mind.
That was it. I allowed no questions or discussion and insisted on complete quiet (no easy thing, let me tell you, last period Friday). It was fascinating to watch. Some kids started with very simple drawings and tried to raise their hands and give them to me within minutes. Once they realized that they would have to sit there for a while they went back to their drawings and worked on them a lot more. After 20 minutes or so I invited them to show their drawings and explain what they had drawn. Many drew the Jabberwolk hiding behind the Tumtum tree while the hero rested. Others drew the monster's eyes of flame. Some drew the hero galumping back with the bloody head. Others that vorpal blade going snicker-snack. And each drawing was completely unique --- straight from that child's imaginative mind.
We ended by reading the poem again, this time while also showing two different illustrated versions, one by Grahame Baese and the other a pop-up by Nick Bantock.
Afterwards out in the hallway, mixed in with the usual dismissal din I could hear kids reciting bits of the poem or simply savoring certain words. One especially inspired girl immediately sat down at her desk, wrote a short poem, read it to me, and told me she would put in her poem book when she got home.
What I love about Carroll is that he offers children such wonderful language and humor. I have a lot of kids into fantasy and role playing games and this activity was right up their alley. However, I suspect it could be done with any beloved poem, humorous or serious. (And, of course, you certainly wouldn't need to show ANY professional illustrations at the end as I did.)
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Sat 26 Apr 2003 06:29:15 AM CDT
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 07:29:15 -0400
For someone who professes not to be as enamored of poetry as others, I'm sure posting a lot this month. But this discussion sure keeps me thinking. Thanks!
Currently my students are working on toy theater productions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Since we are still deep into Carroll's work and inspired by the illustrated poetry thread, I decided to try something with Jabberwolky (which most of the kids didn't know as it is from Through the Looking-glass), at yesterday's Literary Salon.
Enjoying their juice and cookies, the children listened to a reading of the poem by a colleague and myself. I had already placed cups of colored pencils and drawing paper on their tables and after the reading I gave each a copy of the poem and asked them to draw anything that came to mind.
That was it. I allowed no questions or discussion and insisted on complete quiet (no easy thing, let me tell you, last period Friday). It was fascinating to watch. Some kids started with very simple drawings and tried to raise their hands and give them to me within minutes. Once they realized that they would have to sit there for a while they went back to their drawings and worked on them a lot more. After 20 minutes or so I invited them to show their drawings and explain what they had drawn. Many drew the Jabberwolk hiding behind the Tumtum tree while the hero rested. Others drew the monster's eyes of flame. Some drew the hero galumping back with the bloody head. Others that vorpal blade going snicker-snack. And each drawing was completely unique --- straight from that child's imaginative mind.
We ended by reading the poem again, this time while also showing two different illustrated versions, one by Grahame Baese and the other a pop-up by Nick Bantock.
Afterwards out in the hallway, mixed in with the usual dismissal din I could hear kids reciting bits of the poem or simply savoring certain words. One especially inspired girl immediately sat down at her desk, wrote a short poem, read it to me, and told me she would put in her poem book when she got home.
What I love about Carroll is that he offers children such wonderful language and humor. I have a lot of kids into fantasy and role playing games and this activity was right up their alley. However, I suspect it could be done with any beloved poem, humorous or serious. (And, of course, you certainly wouldn't need to show ANY professional illustrations at the end as I did.)
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Sat 26 Apr 2003 06:29:15 AM CDT
