About Hands on Stanzas

Hands on Stanzas, the educational outreach program of the Poetry Center of Chicago places professional, teaching Poets in residence at Chicago Public Schools across the city. Poets teach the reading, discussion, and writing of poetry to 3 classes over the course of 20 classroom visits, typically from October through April. Students improve their reading, writing, and public speaking skills, and participating teachers report improved motivation and academic confidence. You can contact Cassie Sparkman, Director of the Hands on Stanzas program, by phone: 312.629.1665 or by email: csparkman(at)poetrycenter.org for more information.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Group Animal Poems

Working in small groups, students at Henry Clay Elementary studied various photos of animals from National Geographic and then wrote collaborative animal poems. Here are a few of the poems that resulted from the exercise:

Room 303

Group Poets: Brianna A., Brittany D., Marissa W., Lizahira C., Melissa Z.

Crocodile

Its scales are rough like a pine cone.
When you slide your hand down, it’s smooth,
but as you go up, it is rougher.
Swims like a snake on the ground.
Keep your distance; they will bite!
Crocodiles are as smart as scientists.


Group Poets: Gabriel J., Alex M., Gustavo M., Marc S., Edmundo C.

Penguins

The penguins are wearing their tuxedos.
They have evil-like claws and their feet—
they wobble like jello,
sliding like a sled is on their bellies.
They watch the other penguins with their marble
eyes and have feathers like peacocks, peeking.

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Room 302


Group Poets: Laura T, Lettye B., Emanuel D, Paige M.

Tortoise

I looked outside the window.
I saw something; it was as brown
as an oak tree. It was a tortoise!
It was as big as a jeep. He was blocking
the street. He was old, he was old
like my grandpa. His shell was as big
as four desks put together.


Group Poets: Destiny T, Andriana S., Jovani S., Michael S. and Gabriel B.

Penguins

I saw a big penguin, as big
as Gabriel… It felt so soft
and cuddly. It was black
and white all over its body.
It glides through the water
as fast as lightning.
It lives in the cold tundra.


Group Poets: Justine F., Jacquelyn S., Andrew B., Henry S., Sergio V, Faddy H.

The Crocodile

Rough as rocks
Dry as sand
Reminds us of a dinosaur
As long as a ruler
Eyes like a tiger
Teeth like a rusty old chainsaw
Hunting in the swamp
for big, slimy, nasty toads.

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Room 301


Group Poets: Jessella B., Janely P, Uriel O

Chimpanzees

I saw a chimpanzee
catching flies in the air.
He was hungry and hairy.
He screamed and was up
in a tree. He looked
to reach some stars.

Group Poets: Oscar S, Monica A, Xochitl G, Melany F., Selena R

Penguins

Penguins are white and black
and dress like little men.
They munch and crunch
on their slimy little fish.
They stroll in groups
through the cold Arctic.
They wobble when they walk
with their wet feet.
Their colors are black
and white, like an old movie.
They swim through the cold water.
They walk on the rocky ocean floor.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

DREAM POEMS

Sergio V.
The Dream

In my dreams I can fly like a bird.

I can breathe in space
and walk on the moon.

I can breathe underwater
and talk to the fish.

I can swing with the monkeys
and climb a tree.

I live underground
in the hot core of the earth.

Without getting burned
I can swim in lava.

I rule the seas
and own all its treasures.

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Jovani S.
My Only Dreams

In my dreams I have a golden heart.
In my dreams I’m the god of gods.
In my dreams I’m a hero.
In my dreams I can fly through the sky.
In my dreams I’m a beast.
In my dreams I’m in space.
In my dreams I’m the best.
In my dreams I’m a king.
In my dreams the world is mine!
In my dreams no one wins…
In my dreams I’m the only winner.

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Andrew B.
In My Dreams

In my dreams I’m a superhero.
In my dreams I fly.
In my dreams I’m a shark.
In my dreams I eat fish…
In my dreams money grows on trees.
In my dreams I drive.
In my dreams I never die.
In my dreams I’m a potato.
In my dreams I’m made of ice.
In my dreams cars can fly.
In my dreams I speak every language.
In my dreams I fly planes.

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Kayla K.
A Magical Dream

In my dreams I have a magical palace.

My parents are the king and queen.
My siblings and I are the princesses and princes.

I have a beautiful diamond tiara.
My mom has long golden hair.

My two sisters have shiny black hair.
My brothers are big and strong.

My dad’s hair blows in the wind.
He is strong enough to slay a dragon.

I go for a horseback ride every day.
The only thing is--I end up soaring in the wind.

It truly is a magical dream!