The fourth graders had the unique opportunity to attend a poetry workshop with published poet and Concordia High School teacher, Kristina Erny! The workshop was titled “Waking up to the Here and Now” and taught the students about the connection between activism and poetry. The students read poems as a group about our precious planet, the importance of trees, and endangered species. During the poetry workshop, students wrote poems to “speak up” about and for endangered species. They were encouraged to use creative figurative language such as similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and personification. The fourth graders wrote some thoughtful and artistic poems about giant pandas, snow leopards, the black-necked crane, the finless porpoise, and the Siberian tiger. Amazing job using your voice in poetry to spread a message!
Through this collaborative and integrated teaching and learning approach, students are able to see the interconnectedness and interrelationships across multiple disciplines. They are able to formulate connections among how to increase awareness of the importance of our planet through the power of words. This cross-divisional collaboration with Concordia High School English teacher and Poet, Mrs. Erny gives students and teachers an insight on the opportunities for learning and growing in years to come.
