Friday, March 21, 2014

Education: World Poetry Day 2014




Amendoeiras em flor | Portugal
photo: António Cunha
"Through its words and its rhythm, poetry gives shape to our dreams of peace, justice and dignity, and gives us the strength and desire to mobilize to make them real. "
 Irina Bokova, Director General 


Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere in the world, share the same questions and feelings.
Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse cultures.
Over the past 30 years there has been a strong revival of interest in poetry, with a proliferation of poetic activities in the world and an increase in the number of poets.
Usually Poetry Day is celebrated on the same day of Spring equinox. Not in 2014.
In celebrating World Poetry Day, March 21, UNESCO recognizes the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.


Education:
Along the years I wrote about Poetry Day and proposed you some activities. Please find Poetry Day 2013 at school or use the search box.
You could celebrate World Poetry Day in your school by learning about poems from different cultures, including from students’ own cultures. 

You can also search about the different poets on UNESCO Celebration of Anniversaries 2014.
Find a poet among those UNESCO is celebrating, specially if you are lucky to have a poet from your country. 
Select some poems and present them to your students to talk about Poetry Day.


Of course you have some activities that Unesco proposes. For example:

  • Support poetry by buying the collections of young poets;
  • Invite your friends to improve both conventional and slam poetry;
  • Learn from the proverbs of your country, and discover the poetic teachings of others;
  • Read up about riddles, limericks and sonnets to liven up your evenings;
  • Fight against the outdated image of poetry;
  • Encourage your kids to read and write their own poetry during family gatherings;
  • Awaken the poet inside of you and impress your friends with your creativity, inventiveness and imagination;
  • Support poetry on radio, in magazine columns and feature films!

  • To us as educators, encouraging our students to read and write their own poetry during our Language lessons is the best way to raise a new generation of poets.
    G-Souto
    21.03.2014

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