Dream Flag Poems Grades 4-­‐8 www.dreamflags.org/resources 3-­‐6 class period lesson plan for creating Dream Flag poems. Overview: This is an outline for a unit that might take three to six normal class periods and result in the writing of Dream Flag poems. It begins with a look at the life and dream poetry of Langston Hughes, the inspiration of the Dream Flag Project, and continues with some ideas for writing. The Dream Flag will be a piece of 8 ½ x 11 in. fabric with an original poem on it. There are three stages: 1) Introducing Langston Hughes 2) Studying some poems of Langston Hughes 3) Writing dream poems. Stage 1: Introducing Hughes (1 or 2 class periods) If possible, start with a picture book about Langston’s life to help explain the segregated Jim Crow world in which he grew up. Coming Home—from the life of Langston Hughes is particularly good because it focuses on his childhood. For more text, fewer pictures, and more focus on his adult life as well as his childhood. Langston Hughes, American Poet is very good. Both explain the world in which he grew up. (See book list for details.) Talk about the problems that Langston lived with. Talk about the choices he made with his own life. You may want to discuss the Harlem Renaissance which gave him inspiration to create and where the jazz music influenced his writing. The poem Harlem by Walter Dean Myers is great for capturing some of this, though it’s not really about the Harlem Renaissance. (See book list.) Where appropriate, discuss chronology, showing students that segregationist laws that Langston knew at the beginning of the 1900’s weren’t significantly changed until the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s and that the attitudes and problems continue. Stage 2: Looking at Langston’s Poetry (1 or 2 class periods) Start by reading some of his poems out loud. It might be good to start with the poem “Dreams” and talk about why dreams were so important to him (and to all of us.) There are other dream poems as well such as “The Dream Keeper” and “Dream Dust.” These are short and great for memorization – just through repetition during the class period. To look at what he does as a poet, emphasizing the rhythm of the poems is useful, especially the off-­‐the-­‐beat jazz sound of some of them. One example is “Merry-­‐Go-­‐Round” where the lines “But there ain’t no back / To a merry-­‐go-­‐round!” contrast with the even lines, “Where’s the horse / For a kid that’s black?” You could also look at metaphor. This is especially good in “Daybreak in Alabama” where the music is a metaphor. It’s fun to assign different lines of this poem to different individuals and groups (orchestrate it) and have students recite it chorally. You can also note that this is a dream poem because it is a dream. Stage 3: Writing Dream Flag Poems (1 or 2 class periods) Talk about dreams as hopes. Talk about dreams for people-­‐-­‐people you know, like your family and your friends, people you don't know, like all the children in your country or in the world. For Younger Elementary Students: Have students write (or dictate) sentences that tell about their dreams and hopes. You could give a starter of "My dream for the world is . . . " or let students create their own wording. You may want to make a limit of two or three sentences so there will be space for visual work on the cloth. You may also want students to simply list phrases or words that state their dreams. For Older Elementary and Middle School Students: Have students compose poems on paper that respond to the question: "What are your dreams for a person you love, people in general, or for the world?" Students can write about any group of people-­‐-­‐large or small, part of the world or all of it. You may want to limit length of the poem to about 12-­‐15 lines, considering the space limit on dream flags. They will have to print the poem on one piece of 8 ½ x 11 in. cloth. Have students create, revise and edit their poems before transferring them to cloth. Help them remember that poems can be just words and phrases, not full sentences and that poems often do not rhyme. [email protected] wwww.dreamflags.org The Agnes Irwin School is home of The Dream Flag Project __________________________________________________________________________________________ Book List: Coming Home—from the life of Langston Hughes, written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. A picture book story of the early life of Langston Hughes. Cooper focuses on his isolation when he lived with his grandmother as a small child and his tendency to dream. Langston Hughes, American Poet, by Alice Walker, illustrated by Catherine Deeter A good story about Langston’s life, most appropriate for 4th to 6th grade or for anyone who wants to read a warmly written quick biographical sketch. In the Space of the Sky by Richard Lewis, Illustrated by Debra Frasier. A picture book focusing on wonder about the natural world. Most pages have fewer than twenty words. The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. A collection of poems which are very accessible to young readers. Poems are divided into sections by general theme. Each poem is illustrated with a black and white etching. Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo and illustrated by Bryn Collier. A poetic text describing a girl's visit to the house where Langston Hughes lived. Love to Langston by Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie A series of poems written in the voice of Langston and based on experiences in his life. Includes notes that explain biographical information related to each poem. Harlem Poem by Walter Dean Myers and illustrations by Christopher Myers A poetic description of what Harlem was and is. Rhythmic and jazzy in sound and illustration. Jump Back, Honey Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar and illustrations by various artists Illustrated poems from the one of the most well known African American poets before Langston Hughes. Audio: CD's from Smithsonian Folkways at www.folkways.si.edu :Langston Hughes reading his poetry. Selections include "The Voice of Langston Hughes" and "The Dream Keeper and Other Poems". Web Sites: Academy of American Poets Has brief biographical sketch with links to related poets and texts of a selection of poems. Included bibliography. Includes an audio file of Hughes reading "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83 Drop Me Off In Harlem A wonderfully interactive site with major sections on "Faces of the Renaissance," "A Place Called Harlem," and "Themes and Variations." Very friendly navigation and lots of visual material along with text. Also includes audio and video pieces. A/V materials are generally primary source documents. Reading level about 6th grade and up. From JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Wash., DC. http://artsedge.kennedy-­‐center.org/exploring/harlem/artsedge.html The Langston Hughes Teacher Resource File An extremely useful index of Hughes-­‐related material located on the Internet School Library Media Center. The site includes biographical information, bibliographies, criticism, and lesson plans. – Book Links, Dec. 2001 http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/hughes.htm [email protected] wwww.dreamflags.org The Agnes Irwin School is home of The Dream Flag Project