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Social Studies is not my area of expertise, so last week I found a way to let poetry come in the door. I pull a group of gifted students for their Social Studies class. I needed to teach these kids about the Civil Rights Movement. Equipped with website links, videos, and articles, we explored three major events: Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in, March on Washington, and the Montgomery bus boycott. As a way to synthesize the information, we wrote poems together. Our discussion about these events included what important information to include and how to make it into a poem.
In the Woolworth’s store,
four brave students,
as brave as can be
sat at the lunch counter
and would not leave.Several more the next day
sat with those brave boys
they took Mr. Woolworth’s
breath away.News spread, far and wide.
Three hundred more stood by their side.To get their minds straight
and stop segregation,
they worked hard, stood strong.
It’s not time to have fun.
There is still work to be done.–Mrs. Simon’s class
Dear Rosa Parks,
You are a hero for all of America.
I really appreciate
that everyone can ride together.
You refused to give up your seat.
You inspire us to fight
for what we believe in.
Because of you,
segregation on buses ended.
You befriended yourself in my eyes
through your bravery in the Montgomery Bus Boycott
sewing together minds for integration.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Simon’s Sea
Another group of my kiddos was featured on Today’s Little Ditty with their dinosaur poems.
If you would like to participate in a round up of poetry about photos, join the photo/poem exchange on my blog, More than Meets the Eye.
Reflections on the Teche 