Beautiful pink and yellow flowers,
Swinging through the wind side to side.
Dreamily being so sweet,
Admiring the daylight.
Amazing flowers,
Sweetly gazing
In the field.
Flower,
Sweet.
Eglantines by Isabelle – Townsville Grammar School, North Shore
Image from Pexels
We get a lot of sand in our shoes,
Marine creatures might come out too!
A time to chill and relax,
And to pick some nice shells.
A key to nature,
A special place.
The ocean.
Seashells,
Sea.
The Beach by Arlo – Townsville Grammar School, North Shore
Image from Pixabay
We listen to the roar of the waves,
As the creatures underneath hide.
So deep that none can reach them.
I see the whales jumping,
In grace and beauty,
And sharks stay low.
Sparkling waves,
Glisten,
Shine.
The Ocean by Charlee – Townsville Grammar School, North Shore
Image from Pixabay
Enjoy World Ocean Day !!
As light creeps slowly we remember,
Those who fought and risked lives in war.
Now they rest eternally,
We will remember them.
We thank the fallen.
Lest we forget,
ANZAC Day.
They die,
Fell.
Anzac Day by Cody – Townsville Grammar School, North Shore
Image from Vecteezy
Little bees flying around the sky,
Pollinating the cute flowers.
Living the beautiful life,
Flying around the woods.
Peacefully buzzing,
Black and yellow.
Very soft
Insects.
Bee!
Bees by Isabelle – Townsville Grammar School, North Shore
Image from Pixabay
A cold dark abyss
Multiple planets and stars
So much to explore
Space by Madden – Townsville Grammar School, North Shore
Image from Pixabay
A beautiful tale
Hydrangeas and lush forests
Blue and green lakes lie.
Twin Lakes by Class 4L – Townsville Grammar School North Shore
Image from Pexels
Teacher’s note: After reading a folk story about the Twin Lakes in Azores, we composed this poem as a class.
Today’s blog is aimed at teachers of primary and secondary students; it offers ways in which you might like to use this blog site or otherwise employ poetry in your classroom.
Feel free to send in information about how you employ poetry in your classroom if you’re a teacher. Or if you are a student, send in your thoughts, too! Send to dibates@outlook.com
Today I have sent the following email to numerous children’s poets and poetry lovers:
‘Through the new blog site, Australian Children’s Poetry (which now has over 8,500 hits), I am trying to revitalise poetry in Australia, starting with poetry in schools. You might have read https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/articles/why-are-booksellers-afraid-of-childrens-poetry/ and the responses from poet Stephen Whiteside and myself, Di Bates.
Here’s a thought: if all of us with a love of and connection to Australian children’s poetry united, we might just put poetry and Australian children, teachers, publishers and booksellers on the same page. United, we can be a powerful force! We can bring poetry into schools and into bookshops. We can exert pressure on organisations such as the CBCA to fund prizes, competitions and/or otherwise promote poetry.
So, what I’m asking you today is for you to consider approaching school/s to offer to present a poetry reading. Have you done this before? Why not now? Then, send an article to me at dibates@outlook.com about your experience and the responses from children and teachers.
Your articles will be posted on the Australian Children’s Poetry blog site and then the CBCA and Australian children’s publishers will be notified that there is the beginning of a groundswell…
Am I being too optimistic? What do you think? Do you want to be part of the Poetry Revolution?’
Subsequent to sending this email, I’ve had an undertaking from our Children’s Laureate Jackie French that she would blog it on her website www.childrenslaureate.org.au and post it in her newsletter. (Thanks, wonderful Jackie!)
Poet and verse novelist Sherryl Clark wrote that she is undertaking a May Gibbs residency in Brisbane in May, part of which is presenting workshops in schools. Initially, when Sherryl suggested poetry workshops, the State Library thought that maybe there wouldn’t be enough interest and that she should offer story writing as well. Sherryl recently received a draft schedule and four of the five schools requested poetry!
You don’t have to be a poet to present a poetry reading! If you are keen to promote poetry in schools, find a half hours’ worth of poems (preferably Australian) that you think children would love to hear recited, and then contact your local school and offer to do a reading.
Become a part of the Australian children’s poetry revolution!
Australian Children’s Poetry 