Georgia Heard's Blog
October 13, 2023
A Few Favorite Fall Poetry Books And a Few Spooky Ones Too
Is there anything more enjoyable than snuggling up with a poetry book and a cozy cup of hot chocolate on a chilly autumn day? Here are the top poetry books I recommend for fall and several oldies but goodies that celebrate the spooky season.
Autumnblings by Douglas Florian
Celebrate the arrival of fall with vibrant and lively poems and art by Douglas Florian.
Angels Ride Bikes/Los Ángeles Andan en Bicicleta by Francisco X. Alarcón
In this bilingual poetry book, Francisco X. Alarcón invites young readers to explore the joys of everyday life in Los Angeles during the fall season. Through his imaginative poems, he portrays mariachis as angels, angels riding bikes, and the earth dancing the cha-cha-cha. Alarcón also celebrates simple moments like going to the outdoor market, the ice cream vendor’s arrival, and the first day of school.
A Poem for Every Autumn Day ed. by Allie Esiri
In this comprehensive poetry anthology, each seasonal poem is linked to the date it corresponds to, making it a perfect companion for reading every day of autumn. This collection features renowned poets like Robert Louis Stevenson, John Betjeman, Amy Lowell, Paul Laurence Dunbar, William Shakespeare, and Christina Rossetti, alongside contemporary voices like Seamus Heaney, John Agard, Simon Armitage, Patience Agbabi, and Imtiaz Dharker, making it a soul-enriching read for the entire season.
Shrinking Days, Frosty Nights: Poems About Fall by Laura Purdie Salas
A wonderful collection of original poems about fall featuring stunning photos. It not only showcases different types of poems but also explains poetic techniques.
Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur
A series of alphabet acrostic poems celebrating fall.
Hello, Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher
Although not a poetry book per se, this poetically written narrative with captivating illustrations reveals how the harvest moon quietly ascends into the sky and begins its enchanting work long after bedtime.
A Chill in the Air: Nature Poems for Fall and Winter by John Frank
This lively collection of poems celebrates the beauty of fall and winter, capturing the essence of dropping temperatures, shifting leaves, and shorter days in nature’s splendid display.
Pumpkin Circle by George Levinson
Although not a poetry book per se, this nonfiction poetic picture book explores the lifecycle of pumpkins. It features stunning photos and showcases various uses of pumpkins, including as food and decorations.
Hey-How for Halloween! by Lee Bennett Hopkins
An anthology of Halloween poetry by John Ciardi, Maurice Sendak, e. e. cummings, Carl Sandburg, and others.
It’s Halloween by Jack Prelutsky
A collection of thirteen poems celebrating the favorite holiday of ghouls and ghosts. These poems by Prelutsky are tailored for beginning readers, making them easy to grasp and enjoy.
Best Witches: Poems for Halloween by Jane Yolen
Delightful poems about witches, ghosts, magic, and other elements of Halloween.
Who Said Boo? Halloween Poems for the Very Young by Nancy White Carlstom
A dozen playful poems follow the adventures of a group of children on Halloween, as they put on their costumes, visit a mysterious haunted house, and bob for apples at a carnival.
The Day of the Dead/El Día de los Muertos: A Bilingual Celebration by Bob Barner
This bi-lingual rhyming picture book describes the festivities of el Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, in concise, poetic language. An author’s note offers additional information about the holiday, its historical significance, and the inspiration behind the illustrations.
This blog post contains affiliate links. Items purchased through these links don’t cost you any extra, but they do help fund the costs associated with this blog and my website. Thanks so much!
The post A Few Favorite Fall Poetry Books And a Few Spooky Ones Too appeared first on Georgia Heard.
September 7, 2023
Top Heart Books: Poetry About Feelings
…we have an interior life…without that interior life, we are shells, we have nothing. And we have to remember it, honor and, occasionally, listen to it. –Rita Dove
Poetry can help make a space for children to know and express how they feel. Identifying emotions – and having the ability to recognize what actions and experiences cause particular feelings – is important and one of the essential skills for life success. I like to call these special poetry books Heart Books. These poetry books can help nurture emotionally intelligent kids but also build self-awareness as children begin to recognize how their feelings affect others. The poetry books I’ve selected are suitable for different grades, ranging from elementary to middle school.
You are the Loveliest by Hans Monique Hagen
This poetic story has been translated from the original Dutch into English, using a blend of rhyming lines and free verse to craft each heartfelt poem. The short poems give young readers insights into the complexities of emotions and give a thought-provoking look at how one child expresses feelings through poetry.
Poetry Prompt: In one of the poems in the book, “For You,” the speaker writes about finding a new word that describes how wonderful a person is, like “loveliest wonderflest sweetismost…” Poets love to make up words. As a collaborative poem or independently, invite students to make a list of words — new words, combination words — to describe how wonderful someone is.
For a child, feeling loved is everything. This collection of poems by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Ashley Bryan, emphasizes this most essential message for everyone—kids, adults, parents, grandparents, and friends: You are loved.
Poetry Prompt: This is a perfect book to read to inspire students to write poems from their Heart Maps using Nikki Giovanni’s poems and Ashley Bryan’s illustrations as inspiration.
What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms & Blessings by Joyce Sidman
What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, and Blessings is a collection of poems that offer comfort, courage, and humor during challenging moments. These poems encompass ancient forms like spells, invocations, and chants, addressing various aspects of life such as repairing friendships, seeking transformation, and bravely facing adversity. The book serves as a source of solace, inspiration, and reflection, complemented by captivating artwork from Caldecott Honor-winning artist Pamela Zagarenski.
Poetry Prompt: Using the title, What the Heart Knows, as inspiration, invite students to write a list (it could be a list poem) of those things their hearts know to be true.
Courage Out Loud: 25 Poems of Power by Joseph Coelho
Each of the 15 poems in this collection serves as a kind of personal pep talk that will help children discover their strength and face their fears.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write a poem about what gives them courage and helps them to face their fears.
A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott
In this powerful, affirming poem by author Zetta Elliott, a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year. This affirming poem can help readers talk about all their feelings hiding deep inside.
Heart Map Prompt: Read A Place Inside of Me, then invite students to make Heart Maps describing what feelings they have hidden deep inside their hearts. After, they can write a poem about those feelings.
Sometimes I Feel Like a River by Danielle Daniel
Sometimes it’s easier for children to talk about how they feel by using metaphors especially those in nature for example, the bright sun to represent happiness or a tall tree to signify strength. These next two poetry books use metaphors of the natural world nature to express inner feelings. Pair these books, and notice how the poems in each book express feelings in similar and different ways through nature. Within this collection of twelve short poems, the speaker expresses emotions through metaphoric connections to natural elements such as the sun, river, mountain, cloud, rain, and forest, embodying a sense of unity within themselves and in the world around them.
Today I Am A River by Kate Coombs
Beautiful poems that will inspire young readers to celebrate their emotions and the natural world through imagination and play as they pretend they are a skunk, sunlight or a stone.
Poetry Prompts: Drawing inspiration from both books, encourage students to select an element from nature that symbolizes how they feel inside and then write a poem. They might want to use the inspirational first line Sometimes I feel like a ____ to begin their poems.
Things We Feel edited by Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong
In this ABC book, you’ll discover poems from A to Z, paired with colorful photos. These poems help children talk about lots of different feelings like being amazed, brave, curious, excited, frustrated, grateful, happy, inspired, jealous, lonely, mad, nervous, and more.
Poetry Prompt: Together, create your very own class alphabet book of feelings, where each student chooses a feeling for a different letter and writes a short poem about it using Things We Feel as inspiration.
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
These next two heart books are wonderful to read for inspiration and ideas as students make Heart Maps. Both books explore a variety of feelings that will help children understand and talk about their emotions as they map what’s on their hearts. In My Heart poetically explores a variety of feelings that fill our hearts like happiness, sadness, and bravery and helps readers understand and recognize their feelings. This book helps children understand and talk about their emotions.
Through poetic language and metaphor, My Heart expresses an array of emotions and “heart states” and encourages children to follow their inner wisdom in a celebration of love and self-acceptance.
Poetry Prompt: Using In My Heart: A Book of Feelings and My Heart as inspiration, invite children to share and write about what’s in their hearts.
My Heart Fills with Happiness/Nijiikendam by Monique Gray Smith
This poetic picture book captures the essence of happiness through simple pleasures like sunlit warmth, bannock baking in the oven, and the touch of a loved one’s hand. My Heart Fills with Happiness invites both children and adults to contemplate and cherish joyful moments. Author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families by encouraging young children to reflect on what makes them happy.
Heart Map Prompt: Invite students to create a Heart Map focused specifically on what fills their hearts with happiness using this beautiful and poetic picture book as inspiration.
If I may, I’ll share two more of my own heart books.
My Thoughts Are Clouds by Georgia Heard
Poets are mindful observers who show us the beauty around and inside us, helping us see the world in fresh ways. I’ve practiced meditation for many years, and in my book I use poetry to teach what mindfulness is, and give kids, parents, and teachers easy ways to learn what it is.
Poetry Prompt: Read the poems in this book to start a mindfulness program in your classroom.
Heart Maps: Helping Students Create and Craft Authentic Writing by Georgia Heard
Filled with full-color student heart maps, examples of the resulting writing, along with online access to 20 different uniquely designed reproducible heart map templates, Heart Maps will be a practical tool for awakening new writing possibilities and engaging and motivating your students throughout the year.
This blog post contains affiliate links. Items purchased through these links don’t cost you any extra, but they do help fund the costs associated with this blog and my website. Thanks so much!
The post Top Heart Books: Poetry About Feelings appeared first on Georgia Heard.
August 14, 2023
Top Ten Poetry Books About School with Poetry Prompts
Don’t wait until April (National Poetry Month) to introduce poetry! Start the school year off with reading and writing poems about school. Here is a selection of my Top Ten Poetry Books About School and some poetry prompts to accompany them. Happy beginning of the school year!
School People by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Step into a school, a building full of heart and soul, waiting for students and staff to bring life to its halls. This collection of fifteen poems curated by the late poet Lee Bennett Hopkins celebrates the grown-ups children meet during their school day.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students in your class to create poems that highlight the often unnoticed heroes of your school, such as the bus driver or the thoughtful custodian, using words that paint clear pictures. Collect these poems and present them as heartfelt gifts to the dedicated staff who make your school a caring community.
Shop
GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud by Sylvia V ardell & Janet Wong
Say “Good Morning!” with GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud, a collection of 75 poems with quick intros and interesting facts for a full school year of morning announcements.
Poetry Prompt: Encourage your students to compose brief poems inspired by school themes such as kindness and community using GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders as inspiration. They can read aloud their own poems during morning announcements, fostering a sense of unity and spreading poetry across the school.
Shop
School Supplies by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Enjoy poems that celebrate classroom essentials like paper clips, notebooks, and rulers. With lively illustrations, this book will infuse the poetic in the supplies students use every day in school.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write poems inspired by their favorite school supplies! Use the poems from the book as inspiration. After they create their poems, encourage them to publish their work around the classroom, placing them near the corresponding school supplies. This poetry project will show how poetry can be found in the everyday.
Shop
Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems by Kristine O’Connell George
Entering middle school is a mix of new adventures and challenges. With Kristine O’Connell George’s award-winning poems, students can read poems about the special moments and challenges of middle school.
Poetry Prompt: Capture the essence of the first year in middle school through poetry! Encourage your students to write short poems that reflect their most memorable experiences and challenges they face as a new middle school student using Kristine O’Connell George’s poems as inspiration.
Shop
Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes
In this Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, Nikki Grimes explores through a novel-in-verse how a supportive teacher can be the key to unlocking a dreamer’s imaginative power through creative writing.
Read-Aloud Prompt: Words with Wings is an excellent choice for a read-aloud session at the beginning of the school year, encouraging upper elementary and middle school students to articulate their emotions and thoughts using language, similar to the character in the verse novel. This book can also be effectively integrated with a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program, offering an opportunity for students to engage with themes of self-expression and personal growth.
Shop
Poems from Homeroom: A Writer’s Place to Start by Kathi Appelt
Poet and educator, Kathi Appelt, has written a captivating anthology of poems tailored for young adult readers. Divided into two sections, the first containing poems about fictional adolescent characters and what they long for, the second exploring how the poems were written and how readers can begin poems of their own.
Poetry Prompt: After students read the poems in Poems from Homeroom, invite them to use the list of writing ideas in the book to create their own poems.
Shop
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan
This novel-in-verse is written from the perspective of a fictional class of fifth-graders during a transformative school year. Families change and new friendships form as the kids grow up and move on in this whimsical novel-in-verse about finding your voice and making sure others hear it.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write their own poems, introducing themselves at the beginning of the school year using the poems in this book as inspiration.
Shop
If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems about School by Kalli Dakos
For every student who’s ever worried about spending a lifetime in the third grade and for every teacher who’s faced a class where nobody remembered to bring milk money, these thirty-eight poems by Kalli Dakos capture the excitement, challenge, heartbreak, and wonder of life in elementary school.
Shop
When the Teacher Isn’t Looking: And Other Funny School Poems by Kenn Nesbitt
Kenn Nesbitt’s collection of whimsical poems playfully tackles a variety of school-related subjects that will elicit both laughter and engagement from students.
Poetry Prompt: For moments that call for a cheerful pause, I’ve selected two poetry books guaranteed to bring smiles to children’s faces. When a poetry break is in order, teachers can share a playful poem from these collections. Later, students can collaborate on crafting a group poem inspired by one of the topics in the books or work with a partner to create a humorous school-related poem of their own.
Shop
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Although not a poetry book per se, this poetic picture book by Jacqueline Woodson, uses beautiful language and imagery to show that when we share our stories, we feel less alone and often find others with whom we can connect.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write a poem celebrating their special qualities, drawing inspiration from Jacqueline Woodson’s book for vivid details and imagery. Then compile the poems into a class anthology that shows how each student is unique.
And if I may, I’ll share two of my own books in this school themed blog.
Shop
Falling Down the Page by Georgia Heard
A collection of easy-to-read and accessible list poems by contemporary children’s poets many with a school oriented themes.
Poetry Prompt: A list poem is one of the easiest poems for children to write. Start the school year by reading some of the school related list poems and create a shared poem with the class or invite students to write their own independent list poems.
Shop
Climb Inside a Poem by Georgia Heard
Through an anthology of original children’s poems and related lessons, Lester Laminack and I describe how to weave poetry into the fabric of every school day Building on these experiences, children then engage in a formal unit of study on writing poetry. The book has three components
· A poetry anthology, Climb Inside a Poem: Original Poems for Children, includes poems by contemporary children’s poets and whimsical illustrations all in an expansive big book format.
· Lessons for Climb Inside a Poem provides a five-day sequence of lessons for each poem in the anthology.
· Reading and Writing Poetry Across the Year is organized into three separate sections: writing minilessons; reading strategies; and a complete unit of study for writing poetry.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The post Top Ten Poetry Books About School with Poetry Prompts appeared first on Georgia Heard.
Top Ten Poetry Books About School & Poetry Prompts
Top Ten Poetry Books About School & Poetry Prompts
Don’t wait until April to introduce poetry! Start the school year off with reading and writing poems about school. Here is a selection of my Top Ten Poetry Books About School and some poetry prompts to accompany them. Happy beginning of the school year!
School People by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Step into a school, a building full of heart and soul, waiting for students and staff to bring life to its halls. This collection of fifteen poems curated by the late poet Lee Bennett Hopkins celebrates the grown-ups children meet during their school day.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students in your class to create poems that highlight the often unnoticed heroes of your school, such as the bus driver or the thoughtful custodian, using words that paint clear pictures. Collect these poems and present them as heartfelt gifts to the dedicated staff who make your school a caring community.
Shop
GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud by Sylvia V ardell & Janet Wong
Say “Good Morning!” with GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud, a collection of 75 poems with quick intros and interesting facts for a full school year of morning announcements.
Poetry Prompt: Encourage your students to compose brief poems inspired by school themes such as kindness and community using GREAT MORNING! Poems for School Leaders as inspiration. They can read aloud their own poems during morning announcements, fostering a sense of unity and spreading poetry across the school.
Shop
School Supplies by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Enjoy poems that celebrate classroom essentials like paper clips, notebooks, and rulers. With lively illustrations, this book will infuse the poetic in the supplies students use every day in school.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write poems inspired by their favorite school supplies! Use the poems from the book as inspiration. After they create their poems, encourage them to publish their work around the classroom, placing them near the corresponding school supplies. This poetry project will show how poetry can be found in the everyday.
Shop
Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems by Kristine O’Connell George
Entering middle school is a mix of new adventures and challenges. With Kristine O’Connell George’s award-winning poems, students can read poems about the special moments and challenges of middle school.
Poetry Prompt: Capture the essence of the first year in middle school through poetry! Encourage your students to write short poems that reflect their most memorable experiences and challenges they face as a new middle school student using Kristine O’Connell George’s poems as inspiration.
Shop
Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes
In this Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, Nikki Grimes explores through a novel-in-verse how a supportive teacher can be the key to unlocking a dreamer’s imaginative power through creative writing.
Read-Aloud Prompt: Words with Wings is an excellent choice for a read-aloud session at the beginning of the school year, encouraging upper elementary and middle school students to articulate their emotions and thoughts using language, similar to the character in the verse novel. This book can also be effectively integrated with a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program, offering an opportunity for students to engage with themes of self-expression and personal growth.
Shop
Poems from Homeroom: A Writer’s Place to Start by Kathi Appelt
Poet and educator, Kathi Appelt, has written a captivating anthology of poems tailored for young adult readers. Divided into two sections, the first containing poems about fictional adolescent characters and what they long for, the second exploring how the poems were written and how readers can begin poems of their own.
Poetry Prompt: After students read the poems in Poems from Homeroom, invite them to use the list of writing ideas in the book to create their own poems.
Shop
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan
This novel-in-verse is written from the perspective of a fictional class of fifth-graders during a transformative school year. Families change and new friendships form as the kids grow up and move on in this whimsical novel-in-verse about finding your voice and making sure others hear it.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write their own poems, introducing themselves at the beginning of the school year using the poems in this book as inspiration.
Shop
Two poetry books about school that will make your students smile:
If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems about School by Kalli Dakos
For every student who’s ever worried about spending a lifetime in the third grade and for every teacher who’s faced a class where nobody remembered to bring milk money, these thirty-eight poems by Kalli Dakos capture the excitement, challenge, heartbreak, and wonder of life in elementary school.
When the Teacher Isn’t Looking: And Other Funny School Poems by Kenn Nesbitt
Kenn Nesbitt’s collection of whimsical poems playfully tackles a variety of school-related subjects that will elicit both laughter and engagement from students.
Poetry Prompt: For moments that call for a cheerful pause, I’ve selected two poetry books guaranteed to bring smiles to children’s faces. When a poetry break is in order, teachers can share a playful poem from these collections. Later, students can collaborate on crafting a group poem inspired by one of the topics in the books or work with a partner to create a humorous school-related poem of their own.
Shop
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Although not a poetry book per se, this poetic picture book by Jacqueline Woodson, uses beautiful language and imagery to show that when we share our stories, we feel less alone and often find others with whom we can connect.
Poetry Prompt: Invite students to write a poem celebrating their special qualities, drawing inspiration from Jacqueline Woodson’s book for vivid details and imagery. Then compile the poems into a class anthology that shows how each student is unique.
And if I may, I’ll share two of my own books in this school themed blog.
Falling Down the Page by Georgia Heard
A collection of easy-to-read and accessible list poems by contemporary children’s poets many with a school oriented themes.
Poetry Prompt: A list poem is one of the easiest poems for children to write. Start the school year by reading some of the school related list poems and create a shared poem with the class or invite students to write their own independent list poems.
Climb Inside a Poem by Georgia Heard
Through an anthology of original children’s poems and related lessons, Lester Laminack and I describe how to weave poetry into the fabric of every school day Building on these experiences, children then engage in a formal unit of study on writing poetry. The book has three components
· A poetry anthology, Climb Inside a Poem: Original Poems for Children, includes poems by contemporary children’s poets and whimsical illustrations all in an expansive big book format.
· Lessons for Climb Inside a Poem provides a five-day sequence of lessons for each poem in the anthology.
· Reading and Writing Poetry Across the Year is organized into three separate sections: writing minilessons; reading strategies; and a complete unit of study for writing poetry.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The post Top Ten Poetry Books About School & Poetry Prompts appeared first on Georgia Heard.
July 27, 2023
How to Make a Heart Map
A Heart Map is an engaging and creative activity where you draw and write about the things that are important to you. It’s like a special map inside your heart, filled with the people you love, experiences you’ve had, feelings you hold, and memories you cherish. It’s a way to express the unique and wonderful things that make you who you are. So, why not try making a Heart Map and see what treasures you have stored in your heart!
Discover more about the world of Heart Maps by diving into my book Heart Maps: Helping Students Crafts and Create Authentic Writing, where you’ll find an inspiring collection of 20 unique downloadable Heart Map themes and designs, along with inspiring examples by young people to ignite your creativity!
1. Print, draw, or purchase a Heart Map Template
Print or draw a large heart shape. You can get a FREE Heart Map Template® by signing up for my emails. Other ideas: Use a Foam Heart or a Large Wooden Heart, especially if you’re going to be adding decorative and crafting elements. I’ve also used Small Wooden Hearts with a predrilled hole so you can hang your heart map as an ornament. If you’re planning on painting on your Heart Map, try using my favorite heart-shaped canvas panel boards.
2. Fill your Heart Map
Write, draw, paint, or decorate the heart with crafts that represent different aspects of your life and what’s inside your heart. Include some of the following:
Memories : Capture special memories or moments that hold significance to you Special People : Include the names or pictures of the people who are important in your life Likes and Loves : Write or draw things that you love Favorite Places : Include places you enjoy visiting or places that hold special meaning to you Friends : Dedicate a section to your friends. You can even write their names, draw pictures of them and include their photos Activities and Hobbies : Show the things you enjoy doing, such as hobbies or activities that bring you joy Happiness : Represent what makes you happy and brings a smile to your face Sadness and Other Feelings : Acknowledge what makes you feel sad or other emotions that you want to express
3. Use a variety of tools and materials for Your Heart Map
Thin Markers, Colored Pencils or Glitter Gel Pens: Choose a variety of colors to represent different emotions and experiences.Fine-Point Markers: These are useful for writing words, names, places, descriptions, or favorite quotes or song lyrics that hold personal meaning to you. Consider using different fonts or lettering styles.Images and photographs: Collect pictures from magazines, print out personal photos, or find images online that resonate with your feelings, experiences, and memories. These visuals can add depth and symbolism to your Heart Map.Glue or Glue Dots: If you’re using images or photographs, you’ll need a way to attach them to your Heart Map. Choose an adhesive that won’t damage the Heart Map.Scissors: Use scissors to cut out images, shapes, or anything else you want to include on your heart map.Stickers, Washi Tape, Pom Poms, Ribbons, Googly Eyes, Popsicle Sticks, Buttons of all shapes and sizes, and even Colorful Band Aids are all creative ways to express what’s on your heart.Ruler or straight edge: If you prefer clean lines or want to create precise sections within your heart map, a ruler or straight edge can help.If you enjoy painting or want to incorporate different textures and effects, consider using Watercolors, Acrylic Paints, or Acrylic Paint Pens especially for painting on wood or fabric, and other art mediums.Remember, the tools and materials you choose are entirely based on your personal preferences and artistic style. Feel free to experiment and adapt this list to suit your creative vision. The most important part of heart mapping is to enjoy the process of self-expression and self-discovery as you fill in your heart map.
4. Reflect on your Heart Mapping process
Once you’re done creating your Heart Map, take some time to reflect and write down your thoughts in a special heart notebook or journal devoted specifically to what surfaced during the heart mapping process.
5. Share Your Heart Map
Once you’ve finished your Heart Map, it’s a great idea to share it with someone who is a good listener, such as a close friend, family member or, if you’re a student, a trusted classmate. Someone who can appreciate and understand all the things you’ve put on your personal Heart Map. Also, consider placing your Heart Map in your notebook if you have one, or place it on a special spot on a wall. This way, you can always revisit your Heart Map and be reminded of the special things that live within your heart.
If you’re a teacher, you might want to use heart shaped push pins to hang your students’ Heart Maps on a wall or bulletin board.
A Note for Teachers
A Heart Map can be a powerful tool in the classroom. Learn more in my book, Heart Maps: Helping Students Create and Craft Authentic Writing. You can also subscribe to my Heart Maps Toolkit for Teachers Membership by joining our growing community of educators who use Heart Maps to check-in with students’ hearts throughout the school year.
Georgia Heard
Notice: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The post How to Make a Heart Map appeared first on Georgia Heard.
July 12, 2023
Summer Poetry Books & Activities July 2023
Whether you’re building a sandcastle with your child on the beach, exploring a hidden garden, or playing soccer in your backyard, these summer poetry books for children will transport young readers to imaginative worlds and spark their creativity. To celebrate summer, I’ve curated some of my Top Summer Poetry Book Picks and paired each one with an inspiring activity that complements the themes and poems within. So get ready to dive into a world of poetic wonder and embark on a summer reading adventure like no other!
Happy reading and happy summer!
Georgia Heard
Lemonade Sun: And Other Summer Poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
These joyful poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich will make you feel the tangy sweetness of a cold glass of lemonade and capture the essence of summer with colorful illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. From playful jump rope rhymes to backyard adventures, this collection is a refreshing treat for the senses.
Activity: Grab a glass of lemonade and head outside to your backyard or a sunny spot. Take a moment to observe your surroundings and write a poem inspired by the vibrant colors, sounds, and flavors of summer, just like the poems in the book. They might even inspire you to create your own lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting childhood cancer.
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At the Sea Floor Café: Odd Ocean Critter Poe ms by Leslie Bulion
Planning a trip to the beach or just curious about critters that live beneath the sea? These humorous poems about sea creatures will make every child smile. Accompanied by astonishing facts and a glossary of scientific terms.
Activity: Visit your local aquarium or beach and see if you can spot any of the sea creatures mentioned in the book. Observe one sea critter, notice its unique features and behavior, and then write a poem about it.
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Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Kate Coombs
Explore the wonders of the sea, its enchanting depths, and its timeless allure through this delightful book of poems.
Activity: Grab some art supplies and create your own ocean-inspired masterpiece! Use watercolors or colored pencils to bring to life the vivid creatures and scenes from the book. Let your imagination swim in the depths of the sea and create a beautiful artwork that captures the magic of the ocean.
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Summersaults by Douglas Florian
Summersaults will take you on the best summer vacation ever! Let the magic of the season come alive through Douglas Florian’s poems and vibrant illustrations.
Activity: Get inspired by the joys of summer and create your own poem about your favorite summer activity, whether it’s swimming, building sandcastles, or enjoying ice cream. Use colorful markers or crayons to illustrate your poem and share it with your friends or family to spread the summer fun.
When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano
Celebrate all the seasons, including summer, in this gorgeous poetry picture book with vibrant watercolors and journal entries in poetic form.
Activity: Buy or create a special notebook and capture summer memories in your journal. Don’t forget to date each entry, creating a treasure trove of memories to cherish for years to come.
Summer Song by Kevin Hankes
During the summer, you can hear buzzing insects, birds singing, and children enjoying the warmth of the sun while rolling in the grass. In this poetic picture book, Kevin Henkes uses descriptive words and sounds to teach us about summer, and the colorful paintings show us all the amazing things that happen during this season.
Activity: After reading the book, go outside and explore the wonders of summer! Listen for the buzzing of insects, try to identify different bird songs, and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Observe the colors of nature and create your own artwork inspired by the beauty of the season.
Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems by Kristine O’Connell George
From cozy mornings in sleeping bags to encounters with wildlife and nighttime tent conversations, these poems and beautiful illustrations capture the joy and adventure of camping, creating cherished memories for readers, whether they’ve been camping or not.
Activity: After reading “Toasting Marshmallows,” gather your family or friends and create your own indoor camping adventure. Set up a cozy tent, share stories, and toast marshmallows over a pretend campfire, immersing yourself in the camping experience from the comfort of your home.
Sail Away by Langston Hughes
Experience the beauty of the ocean through the powerful words of Langston Hughes and the captivating illustrations of Ashley Bryan. Dive into this collection of poems about the sea, from its majestic presence to its calming charm, and celebrate the wonders of the ocean.
Activity: After reading the book, choose a favorite poem or image that inspired you. Use it as a starting point to write your own poem about the ocean or a sea-related theme. Let your creativity flow and express your own imaginative thoughts and feelings through your words. Enjoy the process of crafting your own poetry inspired by the book!
Out of This World: Star-Studded Haiku by Sally M. Walker
Get ready for an incredible journey beyond Earth as this captivating combination of haiku and stunning artwork takes us through lunar eclipses, orbiting planets, and dazzling galaxies. Explore constellations, the universe’s birth, stars, the solar system, and more in the detailed back matter, complete with a glossary, bibliography, and online resources.
Activity: Why not take advantage of the summer nights and go outside to observe the stars? Find a cozy spot in your backyard or a nearby park, lay back, and let the wonders of the universe inspire you to write your own space-themed haiku. Look through a telescope and see what more you can see. Capture the magic of summer and the beauty of the night sky in your words, and let your imagination reach for the stars!
We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman
These beautiful and imagistic poems and luminous illustrations explore the significance of branches in our world, highlighting their strength, hope, and beauty as the very shape of life itself.
Activity: Summer is a perfect time to take a nature walk in a park or forest. Look closely at different plants and creatures to find and observe branches in action, connecting and spreading life all around you. Take pictures or create drawings to capture your favorite branch moments and share them with friends and family.
Behold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh From A School Garden by Allan Wolf
There’s so much more to gardens than what meets the eye! In this delightful book filled with playful poems and whimsical illustrations, young nature enthusiasts and budding gardeners will be inspired to grab their gardening tools, plant seeds, explore nature, and gather fresh vegetables while learning valuable lessons along the way.
Activity: Get your hands dirty and create your own summer garden! Choose a sunny spot, plant some seeds or seedlings, and watch as your garden grows. Or get creative and use pots or containers to create a garden on your balcony or inside your home. Keep a journal to record your observations and write a poem about what you notice, and don’t forget to water, nurture, and enjoy the magic of watching your plants grow.
I wanted to share with you two of my own books that, although they may not be specifically about summer, I believe would be wonderful additions to summer reading.
Welcome to the Wonder House by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard illustrated by Deborah Freedman
Enter the Wonder House and embark on a journey of curiosity and imagination. Explore the fascinating realms of geology, paleontology, physics, astronomy, and more, through engaging poems and beautiful illustrations that will ignite your sense of wonder and inspire you to go deeper into the world of STEAM.
Activity: Embark on a summer nature scavenger hunt! Explore your summer surroundings and find objects or elements that represent each room in the Wonder House, such as a colorful flower for the Nature Room or a seashell from a beach visit for the Room of Mystery. Use your findings to create a nature-inspired artwork or poem that captures the sense of wonder and the joy of summer exploration.
Boom! Bellow! Bleat! Animal Poems for Two or More Voices (now in paperback) by Georgia Heard, illustrated by Aaron DeWitt
Explore the amazing world of animal sounds with these playful and humorous poems for two or more voices. From frogs to elephants, the poems cover a wide range of animals and teach readers fascinating facts about their sounds, including how they communicate and adapt to their environments.
Activity 1: Gather your friends or family and create your own animal sound puppet show. Use puppets or make your own with simple materials like paper bags or socks. Take turns bringing the animals to life and imitating the sounds you learned about.
Activity 2: Head outside on a warm summer evening and find a spot where you can hear the chirping of crickets. As you listen to their rhythmic sounds, try counting their chirps and see if you can estimate the temperature using the poem “Cricket Arithmetic” as your guide. It’s a fun way to connect with nature and practice your math skills at the same time!
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The post Summer Poetry Books & Activities July 2023 appeared first on Georgia Heard.
June 24, 2023
Seeded Heart Poems of Hope
Now that my whirlwind of teaching and writing has slowed down, I wanted to share some of what I’ve been doing and thinking about the last few months. I spent a month in Bangkok at the wonderful Early Learning Center (ELC) International School, a couple of days with the amazing Imagine the Possibilities program at the Princeton Day School and numerous virtual workshops in schools around the United States. I have so much to share and I have learned so much from my students, it has taken me awhile to integrate it all into my mind and heart.
Words have always held a special place in my life, offering immense power and hope. As a poet, I firmly believe in their ability to change us and the world around us. They can touch hearts, shape minds, and bring beauty and wonder into our lives. To me, poems are like prayers, sent out into the world to help us endure challenges and ultimately, make our world a better place.
During my time in Bangkok, alongside the bustling cityscape of skyscrapers and endless traffic, I launched a special poetry project with my students. In conjunction with ELC’s theme of botany, we explored the concept of sowing hope through poetry.
I gave my students heart shaped paper, seeded with wildflowers, and our plan was to write poems of hope on the paper and plant these poems in a vacant lot as part of the school’s rewilding project.
Click to shop seeded heart paper
Here’s how we did the project:
1. Imagine. We imagined what feelings seeds might have as they lie nestled in the dark ground waiting for their chance to sprout.
2. Pretend. We pretended we were seeds, crouching on the floor, imagining seeds’ hopes, dreams, and thoughts as they journey towards growth.
3. Write. The children then wrote letter poems directly on the seeded paper to bring hope, strength and courage to the seeds for helping to make the world a more beautiful place.
Through poetry, children found a means of hope and wonder. It served as a poignant reminder to me that teaching poetry extends far beyond analyzing a poem or writing in a set form but it can offer empowerment and genuine connection with ourselves as well as the natural world.
Just like Heart Maps, my students have inspired me to believe in words as instruments of change, as we work together to create a more compassionate world.
If you try seeded heart poems, I’d love to hear about it. Comment here or tag me on social media: #georgiaheard
“The more I wonder, the more I love.” — Alice Walker
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December 31, 2022
Heart Beats! News from the Heart January 2023
Happy New Year!
I’ve always loved the origin of the word January which comes from Roman mythology and the two-headed god Janus — a god of beginnings and endings. One of Janus’ heads looks forward toward the future and the other backward to the past – as well as inside and outside simultaneously. January and especially New Year’s Day is when we often take stock of our lives. We sift through the happy memories of the past year (my son graduating from college, taking a walking trip in the West of Ireland, receiving the 2023 NCTE Award for excellence in Poetry for Children, among others) and the challenging ones (my husband and son getting Covid for the second time, social and political worries, among others) and look forward with wisdom, hope and new beginnings.
What better time to look back and inside in order to walk forward with insight. This month’s Heart Maps in the Tool Kit for Teachers align with Janus – and January.
One January Heart Map is a Mindfulness Heart Map – designed as a heart cloud and a nod to my book My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness and the title poem “My Thoughts Are Clouds.” A Mindfulness Heart Map is a reminder to stay present, seek out the tools that help us feel calm and peaceful, and to be mindful that thoughts and feelings often shift and drift like clouds in the sky. A Mindfulness Heart Map can be part of your daily or weekly SEL curriculum.
The second January Heart Map is Reflecting On Myself As a Learner Heart Map. Reflection is a vital part of student learning. Now that the school year is at its midway point, we invite students to reflect on their experiences as learners so that they can look forward to the rest of the school year with a new understanding and a growth mindset.
Here is a poem I wrote about walking forward and keeping an open heart:
Your Heart Is Like a Flower by Georgia Heard
A flower doesn’t need
to count how many raindrops it sips,
add up the number of bees tickling its petals,
tally the blooms that curl up and fade away.
Just as it is with you –
your heart doesn’t need to keep track
of all its loves and losses;
it just needs to keep opening
and opening
and opening.
(from My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness by Georgia Heard)
Thank you, friends! You made my year special and I wish you the happiest New Year!
HEART RESOURCES
In November, I was the recipient of the 2023 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children one of the most esteemed awards a children’s poet can receive! I’m grateful and honored to stand on the shoulders of some truly great children’s poets such as Janet Wong, Nikki Grimes and Joyce Sidman, among many others who received this award in the past.
Heart Maps® Toolkit for Teachers Check out December and January’s downloadable Heart Maps, videos, writing prompts and mentor texts.
POETIC CHILDREN’S BOOKS (and a Video) WITH HEART
Carry On: Poetry by Young Immigrants edited by Roge Girard: Poems composed by students as they reflect on immigrating to Canada and leaving family, friends, and countries of origins to make new homes. The editor writes: “This book is a collective embrace among people who have touched my forehead, my eyes, my cheek, my shoulder, my elbow, my belly … and, above all, the heart of the ten-year-old girl I used to be, sitting at a desk in a new country that I would make my own.”
House Finds a Home by Katy Duffield: Told from a house’s point of view the story centers around a house with a heart and its hopeful search for a family to turn it into a true loving home.
The Knowing Book by Rebecca Kai Dotlich: A poem’s gentle encouragement to take risks, open yourselves up to the world and live your life with heart.
Watch this extraordinary heart video 17 Things I Made by the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal and ask your students what have they made?
The post Heart Beats! News from the Heart January 2023 appeared first on Georgia Heard.
October 25, 2022
Heart Beats! News from the Heart November 2022
Welcome to my blog post — a gathering place for poetry, teaching, heart maps, and tips on living our lives as Brene Brown says as “wholehearted human beings.”
I’m very excited to share with you not only this blog post but also my new Heart Maps® Toolkit for Teachers. Many thanks to all of you who have already become members and for those still mulling it over I’m offering a special fall discount. Click on the link to learn more: https://heartmaps.com
I always think of fall as the time of the heart. A threshold from the long flourishing days of summer to a season where the world starts to close up, where animals and trees begin their long sleep, the last of the crickets sing their songs, and days grow shorter and nights longer. To me fall is a gift – it’s a time when we can go inside (both literally and figuratively) and tend to our hearts by reading a book that’s been on our nightstand for months, writing thoughts and ideas in a daily journal, and maybe simmering a hearty soup on the stove for hours. We can also take time to create a heart map for ourselves and with our students. One of November’s heart maps in the teacher toolkit is a Gratitude Heart Map a place to reflect not just on our blessings but also what our lives would be like in the absence of these blessings. Just like all the other heart maps, a Gratitude Heart Map is a reflection tool to linger over and not a “one and done” activity.
A few years ago, a friend gifted me a small heart-shaped patch (like the kind I sewed onto my Girl Scout sash when I was young) with the words Heart Tender stitched on it. I cherish this gift because I think of my work as a poet and a teacher as someone who tends the hearts of my students (both young and grown-up).
So, let’s open our hearts, make a heart map, read a poem to our students not for any reason except that poetry is a gift – and it can carry us away to new worlds.
Here is one of my favorite poems about being open to poetry and the journey that it can take us on:
The Last Word by Nikki Grimes
I am a door of metaphor
waiting to be opened.
You’ll find no lock, no key.
All are free to enter, at will.
Simply step over the threshold.
Remember to dress for travel, though.
Visitors have been known
to get carried away.
If you have any questions, comments or topic suggestions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
HEART RESOURCES (Each month I’ll share a few Heart Resources)
Heart Maps® Toolkit for Teachers Join our growing community of educators who use this powerful tool not just once but throughout the school year to really get to know our students.
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. It’s a thick hard cover book with lots of graphics and helpful when we’re working with students and SEL to try and name emotions.
My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness (Georgia Heard) which is my newest poetry collection for children that encourages young, growing minds to be mindful and present.
A Field Guide to the Heart: Poems of Love, Comfort & Hope (Georgia Heard & Rebecca Kai Dotlich) Poems to inspire and journal pages for your reflections.
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