Poetry Collaboration with French

I was inspired by my friend Martha Bishop who sends poems that she illustrates to people in the mail every month. So I asked the students to illustrate the poem below written by Karla Kuskin, and send it to the person that it made them think of. Then Madame Giles translated the poem into French. What a pleasure it is to receive mail these days!

To You

I think I could walk

through the simmering sand

if I held your hand.

I think I could swim

the skin shivering sea

if you would accompany me.

And run on ragged, windy heights,

climb rugged rocks

and walk on air:

I think I could do anything at all,

if you were there.

         

        

The students in grades K-2 worked in groups and alone to illustrate this poem by Jennifer Clement, and then memorized parts of it in French class.

Lemon Tree

If you climb a lemon tree

feel the bark

under yor knees and feet,

smell the white flowers,

rub the leaves

in your hands. 

Remember,

the tree is older than you are

and you might find stories

in its branches.