SPOKEN WORD AND POETRY!
We really enjoyed watching and listening to some neat spoken word and poetry performances today! We learned how sound effects and words can be like instruments (the "boom" of a drum spoken aloud, the "sss" of the maraca or shaker beads, the "click" of a castanet) and we also learned how rhythm, tone and storytelling create powerful linguistic "music"!
Check out the pictures and video below to get a better idea of how we experienced spoken word and poetry today!
A relaxed pose while listening to poetry!
We looked at some awesome examples from one of my favorite spoken word performers and poets, Tom Waits! Since 1973, Tom's gruff voice and mesmorizing "beatnik" style have been an impressive poetic element in my own life as much as many others.
We took a very close look at this wonderful poem by Jamaican children's poet, Valerie Bloom, and her wonderful work "Granny Is".
Click the video above to hear her read the poem, and see the text below:
The infants being read the poem "Dog Train" aloud!
Some peekaboo fun!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU CHILD ABOUT
MUSIC CLASS TODAY:
1. Did you hear a poem about a "Granny" today?
2. What foods did "Granny" make? (Coconut drops, "grater" cake, coffee)
3. What animal did Granny ride to the market? (A donkey)
4. Where did she wash her clothes? (The river).
And some deeper questions to ask:
5. Do you think the granny in the poem is nice? Do you have a grandma?
6. What things that you smell make you think of your grandma? Does your grandma have animals? What food does your grandma like to cook?
Keep the conversation going and don't forget to try reading some poetry to your family tonight--it's especially powerful when paired to music or a beat!