The Dream Flag Project

Creating Dream Flags

CREATING DREAM FLAG POEMS

Elementary School Participants

Dream flags can be purely visual or combinations of text with visual elements. Younger children (elementary and middle school students) may find creating the visual element easier with some words to "hang on," so we suggest doing some writing first, but you will know you children best.

• There are two stages: 1) developing ideas and 2) writing them on paper

Stage 1:

• Talk about dreams as hopes. Talk about dreams for people--people you know, like your family and your friends, people you don't know, like all the children in your country or in the world.

Stage 2:

• Have students write (or dictate) sentences that tell about their dreams and hopes. You could give a starter of "My dream for the world is . . . " or let students create their own wording. You may want to make a limit of two or three sentences so there will be space for visual work on the cloth. You may also want students to simply list phrases or words that state their dreams.
• You may also want them to write poems. (See the suggestion for Middle School children.)

Follow-Up

• Have students (or parent helpers) transfer words onto cloth. This could be before or after children decorate the cloth--whatever works best. (See Putting Words on Fabric.)
• Have student decorate cloth flags. (See Fabric Decoration.)

Suggested Readings List: (in process)

In the Space of the Sky by Richard Lewis, Illustrated by Debra Frasier.
A picture book focusing on wonder about the natural world. Most pages have fewer than twenty words.

The Dream Keeper and Other Poems by Langston Hughes, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
A collection of poems which are very accessible to young readers. Poems are divided into sections by general theme. Each poem is illustrated with a black and white etching.

Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo and illustrated by Bryn Collier.
A poetic text describing a girl's visit to the house where Lagnston Hughes lived.

Love to Langston by Tony Medina and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
A series of poems written in the voice of Langston and based on experiences in his life. Includes notes that explain biographical information related to each poem.

Harlem Poem by Walter Dean Myers and illustrations by Christopher Myers
A poetic description of what Harlem was and is. Rhythmic and jazzy in sound and illustration.

Jump Back, Honey Poems Paul Laurence Dunbar and illustrations by various artists
Illustrated poems from the one of the most well known African American poets before Langston Hughes.

CD's from Smithsonian Folkways at www.folkways.si.edu :Langston Hughes reading his poetry. Selections include "The Voice of Langston Hughes" and "The Dreamkeeper and Other Poems".

 

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The Dream Flag concept was created by sixth grade teachers Jeff Harlan, Sandy Crow, Helen Holt and others at The Agnes Irwin School (www.agnesirwin.org), Rosemont, Pennsylvania, U.S. The Dream Flag Project (www.dreamflags.org) is a collaborative project facilitated by Jeff Harlan and Sandy Crow. Contact dreamflags@agnesirwin.org or Jeff Harlan, Dream Flags Project Director, The Agnes Irwin School, Ithan Ave. and Conestoga Road, Rosemont, PA 19010, U.S. A.

. . . for Helen