Projects about the Four Seasons

Quiet and still

long enough

for birds to make nests?

This is one of the haiku poems we selected about spring, from the book Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons.

In December, 15 7th and 8th graders in my Dance Elective course created a wonderful 60 minute production about the four seasons. We had several dances related to each season. The school's two choruses also joined us for the production. It was a beautiful collage of dance, song, poetry, and film. 

We included several poems within the performance, with one student reading and 1-6 students dancing for each poem. Even in middle school, picture books with poems can offer ideas and inspiration. We pulled poems from:

Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Seasons: Rhymes in Time by Michael DeWall and Peter Elman

If looking for new inspiration for a project this winter, check out these books! We especially loved the haikus as short interludes within the show. I also used these short poems as opportunities for brave students to try out solos and duets for the first time.

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