Thank You Month

INTRODUCTION
Do you remember to tell people thank you when they help you? January is National ‘Thank You’ Month so today we are going to read a poem that is a thank you letter.

POEM

Dear Teacher
By Nikki Grimes

If you tutor someone
twice a week
for 3 months,
when 2 months have 5 weeks,
and 1 month has 4,
what do you get?
Sparkling blackboards
9 Mondays in a row,
a straightened desk
no less than 16 times,
2 kisses (1 per cheek),
and 1 big, fat, THANKS!

Signed, David
who only hates math
½ as much
as he used to

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. 2006. THANKS A MILLION. Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, 2006. ISBN 068817292X

EXTENSION
Write your own thank you letter to a teacher who has been especially nice or helpful to you.

Photo courtesy of http://images.search.yahoo.com/.

Martin Luther King's Birthday

INTRODUCTION

When Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, his life experiences were defined by his race. By both law and custom, he was a second-class citizen with few rights and fewer opportunities. King refused to accept the limitations and became a minister and later a major leader of the Civil Rights movement. He urged people to get involved in nonviolent protests. Eventually the movement led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed racial segregation.

POEM

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
By Myra Cohn Livingston

The dream
of Martin Luther King
will happen
in some far-off Spring

when winter ice
and snow are gone.
One day, the dreamer
in gray dawn

will waken
to a blinding light
where hawk and dove
in silent flight

brush wings together
on a street
still thundering
with ghostly feet.

And soul will dance
and soul will sing
and march with
Martin Luther King.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Livingston, Myra Cohn. 1985. CELEBRATIONS. Illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823405508

EXTENSION

Explain that the song “We shall overcome” became an unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Sing it together.

Photo courtesy of http://images.search.yahoo.com/.

Winter

INTRODUCTION
Tell students to close their eyes and imagine that they are trees in the summertime. Have them feel the warmth of the sun and feel the warm breeze blowing their bright green leaves. Then have them imagine that they are trees in the freezing cold of winter complete with bare branches. While they are still pretending to be cold trees in winter, tell them that suddenly the sun peeks through a cloud and a ray of warm sunlight shines down on them. Have them keep their eyes closed as they listen to the poem.

POEM

SHADOWS
By Anna Grossnickle Hines

Do you know what the trees
are doing in the winter
with their branches reaching
up and out
and all about
making crisscross shadows
little twiggy spriggy shadows
long lanky liney shadows
all around?

They’re sunbathing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hines, Anna Grossnickle. 2001. PIECES: A YEAR IN POEMS & QUILTS. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0688169643

EXTENSION
Now have students open their eyes and turn to a partner to discuss how the sunlight would make them feel if they were winter trees. Ask students to use watercolors to paint a picture of a winter tree sunbathing.

Photo courtesy of http://images.search.yahoo.com/.

New Year's Day

INTRODUCTION

Bring in a shiny and sparkly wrapped gift and show it to the class. Ask volunteers how seeing the gift makes them feel. Write the students’ reactions to the gift on the board, and invite them to guess what is inside the box. Tell students that today they are going to hear a poem about a special kind of gift for the New Year.

POEM
GIFT
By Nikki Grimes

I turn my pockets inside out.
The only word left is GIFT.
I wrestle with the bow
rip away the tissue paper
and find a jeweled box.
Some of the contents spill.
New words for the New Year!
Each one glitters
like my name. Like yours.

Each year is a gift
waiting to be opened. Look!
This one has your name.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. 2001. A POCKETFUL OF POEMS. Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395938686

EXTENSION
After listening to the poem, discuss what students think the “gift” in the poem is. Do the phrases “new words for the New Year” or “each year is a gift waiting to be opened” give them any ideas? Then tell students that today they are going to make their own poetry gifts to themselves for the New Year. Give each student a box (any box such as a shoe box will work). Have students write some of their favorite words (including their own names) on index cards with colorful pens, glitter, and stickers and place their word cards in their boxes. Then, students can wrap their gifts and open them whenever they need ideas for great words to use in their own poetry writing.

Photo courtesy of http://images.search.yahoo.com/.