The Dream Flag Project

Creating Dream Flags

CREATING DREAM FLAG POEMS

Middle School Children

There are two stages: 1) brainstorming/discussion and 2) writing. These suggestions are intended for students who will be comfortable with some abstract questions, but there are many ways to approach dream flags. Teachers can simply following the steps for elementary students or take it in another direction.

Stage 1:

Have students read the poetry of Langston Hughes--not just his poetry about dreams but also his poetry that dreams. You may want to choose another poet for your readers. His poetry is accessible, well-crafted, and focused.
For discussion: What was his world like? What was he dreaming? What was he hoping? How does he use poetry to talk about his dreams? Discuss some of the differences between Langston Hughes' world and yours. What are the problems in our world? What are your dreams for the world today?

Stage 2:

Have students compose poems on paper that respond to the question:" What are your dreams for people or for the world?" Students can write about any group of people--large or small, part of the world or all of it. You may want to limit length of the poem to about 12-15 lines, considering the space limit on dream flags.
Have students create, revise and edit their poems before transferring them to cloth. Help them remember that poems can be just words and phrases, not full sentences and that poems often do not rhyme.

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)

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.

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