The Grade 8 Humanities team (Todd Wass, Emily Pastore, Dave Leflar) in partnership with Arts and IDEA took a deep dive into “鈥� by听听the current Poet Laureate of the United States. Through a recent partnership with听, teaching artists guided Grade 8 students through a thematic response to discussions on an essential work that asks:
- Who we are as individuals
- How we become ourselves through the history of our ancestors
- Why we make art and our unique struggles that tie each one of us together.
Students were walked through creative responses ranging from performance (music/dance/acting), mixed media, writing, and/or visual arts.
The project culminated with a trip to 7 Stages Theater where the students performed on Feb. 15.
It has always been a key component of 7 Stages鈥� core values to find light within the darkness and to shed that light amongst those who need it most. The teaching artists sought conversations and connections throughout the creative process.听
Examples of student artistic responses included:
Haris, Christian and Eyob, presented a project they called 鈥淩ooted in Taste鈥� inspired by the line 鈥渃hildren playing with full bellies鈥� in the poem 鈥�7 Generations鈥� by Joy Harjo. The purpose of the project was to learn more about their heritage through food and cooking. Harris made a dish called Gulab Jamun, Pakistan鈥檚 National Desert and also wrote a poem about it he called 鈥淭he Sent of Family.鈥� Christian made Scottish shortbread, and shared an original poem he called 鈥淐onnected Forever.鈥� Eog made an Ethiopian bread called Ambasha and shared his original poem called 鈥淎 Slice of Memory.鈥�
McKayla shared an artifact she called 鈥淎 recipe of home鈥� Part 1 was a painting of Jamaica’s National Fruit Tree, Ackee. Next to the tree is a Jamaican story/riddle. The riddle was a metaphor for Ackee that her father grew up with. Part 2 was a painting of the ingredients to make Jamaica鈥檚 National Dish – Ackee and SaltFish underneath the ingredients were two women (her father鈥檚 mother and grandmother, beside her father) enjoying the meal at the table. Part 3 was a poem that featured two lines from Joy Harjo鈥檚 poem Recipe of Hope.
Using her grandmother鈥檚 recipe Ashlyn shared the pound cake her great grandmother used to make for family gatherings. She felt like it went well with the poem 鈥淔irst Morning鈥� specifically the line, 鈥淲e will carry your memory here until we join you.鈥�
David Leflar described the partnership with 7 Stages as 鈥� the best external expert collaboration I’ve ever been a part of as an educator. We are so lucky to have you bringing the best out in our students.鈥�听
To see all the Grade 8 performances see the links below.
Show 1
Show 2