Celebrate Poetry All Month Long with Read, Discuss, Do

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  Happy National Poetry Month! We are celebrating National Poetry Month with a weekly poetry challenge all month long. To follow along, subscribe to our newsletter or check back here every Monday and Friday throughout the month of April for updates.  Kickoff: Books and resources for National Poetry Month   Week one: Read and write haiku  Article: A Brief History of Poetry by Marci Whitehurst Week two: Read and write odes Article: Eight Creative Ways to Explore Poetry All Year Long by Rebecca J. Gomez Week three: Read and write riddle poems   Week four: Poet's choice! If you and/or your children/students participate in any of our challenges this month, we'd love to hear from you.  You can  email  us or  tag us  on Instagram (use the hashtag #RDDPoetryChallenge or #RDDPoetryMonth). We will be sharing some readers’ poems in a round-up post at the end of the month, so if you’d like your poems to be considered, please let us know when you s...
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Summer Challenge Week NINE: Song and Dance!

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Welcome to week NINE of the Read, Discuss, Do! Summer Challenge! This week's theme is Song and Dance, and we hope you take the opportunity to read some books that have something to do with music or dance, books that make you feel like singing or dancing, or books that are so rhythmic that you could set them to music! Interpret the theme however you like.

Ideas for books to read: 

  • DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings. This sweet story is not only about opera, but about friendship and learning to accept help when you need it.
  • GOODNIGHT SONGS by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by various artists. This is a lovely book of lullabies/rhymes that are imaginative and soothing. The book comes with a CD of the rhymes set to music. If you can't find the book with a working CD, you can find the songs online.
  •  A DANCE LIKE STARLIGHT by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. This is a lyrical book about a young girl's dream of becoming a ballerina.
  • WE WILL ROCK OUR CLASSMATES by Ryan T. Higgins. This book is funny and is a nice story about a T-Rex named Penelope who overcomes her doubt in order to rock her classmates at the school talent show.
Ideas for things to discuss:
  • Do you have a favorite style of music? How about a favorite song?
  • Do you play an instrument? If you could learn any instrument, which would it be?
  • Have you ever performed a song or a dance for anyone? 
  • Do you enjoy dancing? How about watching people dance?
  • What kinds of musical performances have you seen? Did you enjoy them? 
  • Do you think you would enjoy seeing an opera or ballet? How about a rock concert?
Ideas for things to do:
  • Have your own song and dance party. This could include playing the "Just Dance" video game, karaoke, or even singing by a camp fire.
  • Write your own song! Choose a familiar tune and write new words. Perform it for your family and/or friends if you're brave enough.
  • Learn a dance!
  • Make your own musical instruments (see this previous post for some ideas).
  • Go to a concert or other musical/dance event.
  • Share your favorite songs with someone.
We hope you have a musical week!

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