Science provides surprisingly wonderful topics for poets, and that has been true for many decades and generations. Two of my favorite titles from the past (now out of print but searchable and obtainable, and worth the effort) are Myra Cohen Livingston's SKY SONGS and SEA SONGS.
I'm not the least bit ashamed to admit that Livingtston's work and these two classics first crossed my path when I changed school districts many years ago. I found myself in a classroom with actual shelves full of books provided by the school(!) instead of relying only on my personal collection. I immediately asked students to spend a few minutes locating their favorite books and then sharing with me why they chose those books. These two poetry collections focus on scientific facts and emotional reactions to aspects of the Sea and the Stars. They were not only among those chosen, but were the favorites of MANY. The books were well-worn and some poems were recited by heart. What a perfect way to be introduced to poetry collections by one of the all time iconic poets for young readers.
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| WORDSONG, February, 2023 Astra Books for Young Readers |
A recent addition to this niche genre of solid science explored through a collection of poems is PUSH-PULL MORNING: Dog Powered Poems About Matter and Energy, written by Lisa Westberg Peters and illustrated by Serge Block. Several of Peter's many publications are also powerful poetry collections on science topics. Another student favorite (and a favorite of mine in this vein) is EARTHSHAKE: Poems From the Ground Up (2004).
Harking back to my classroom experiences, there are few topics that engage kids more eagerly than the elementary physics of force, energy, and simple machines. Few topics in basic science more directly affect daily life than these. Unfortunately, as essential as screws, planes, axles, magnets, and motion are in everything we do, the current pressure to account for each minute in a classroom has limited time for the hands-on explorations that make any science, but especially this topic) come alive for learners.
In this recent release, the author and illustrator have packaged basic concepts accurately and entertainingly within every day interactions between a child and their dog.With comic style illustrations and lively personalities, they reveal Newtonian properties and processes like gravity, inertia, and motion, as well as sound, matter, electricity, reflection and more. The table of contents offers topic tags for each poem, while brief and kid-friendly back matter expands slightly on examples of each with modest doses of added science. These helpfulm additions make the book a handy "grab" to reference" in classrooms and studies, but the whole is never greater than the sum of the poems. This every day awareness of forces and energy at work in a child's life is ideally suited to spark curiosity, investigation, further reading, and conversations.
More examples of poetry power in science are abundantly at work in Miranda Paul's BEYOND: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space, and, by Joyce Sidman, UBIQUITOUS: Celebrating Nature's Survivors with Poetry, reviewed HERE. In fact, I urge you to click on Sidman's name to learn more about each and every book she has produced to bring science to awaken the poetic language and learning worlds of kids.
These titles and the topics they explore are rich ways to integrate poetry and fine literature into content area studies or personal interests, and also to integrate key concepts into literacy studies, including them as mentor text for young writers to incorporate investigations and topic studies into the flexible forms of poetry. Of all the topics, none can be more immediate and recognizable in daily life than everyday applications of energy, matter, and force. Picture books are guaranteed a warm reception when they star such a lively and comic pair as this kid-plus-pup. Check it out!
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