Budding Byrons and Gifted Gormans

IB attributes: inquirers, thinkers, risk-takers

Even the very young are not averse to verse. Our grade 4 students began their exploration of poetry by discussing creative expression: what does it mean and how can it be used to communicate ideas and emotions? They then delved into an exploration of poetry in both English and French. It didn’t take them long to realize that many of the songs that they listen to are poetry in a way. Following this exciting discovery, they were motivated to explore different forms of poetry, learning new figurative language and analyzing presentation techniques.

Café Poésie

This voyage into the world of the poem really started to rouse students’ enthusiasm. They soon started coming to school with suggestions of new songs or poems to study and posted their ideas on the class whiteboard. They demonstrated their new learning in a variety of ways: some wrote songs and books, while others created poems and posters. It all culminated with a celebration at the Café Poésie, a 1960s-style poetry recital held in French in the Junior School Library.

FILIP VANJAKA, Grade 4 English and Social Studies Teacher

MARJOLAINE CAYOUETTE, Enseignante de français en 4e année et coordonnatrice du français au primaire

Café Poésie