passionately curious

Lost Generation

Jonathan Reed won second place in AARP's U@50 video contest launched in 2007.  Contestants were asked to create 2-minute video describing their vision of the future; what life would be like by the time they turned 50.   Reed was inspired by the Argentinian political adverstisement "The Truth".  (Thanks, Heather).

Here is the text.  Read it and then read it again in reverse. 

Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it .

Operation Migration Visit

A few months ago, I learned that my class had been chosen in a raffle to receive a visit from the Operation Migration team.  In November, we waited eagerly as the whooping cranes moved closer to Chicago.  The cranes remained grounded in Winnebago County, Illinois for seven days until finally on November 18th, the strong and bumpy winds subsided and the cranes took flight - a 55 miles trip to LaSalle County.  Late that afternoon, I received a call from Heather Ray.  The team would arrived the next day!

Team member Heather Ray and pilot, Joe Duff, pulled-up in an official O.M. van that we could see from our third floor classroom window.  They spent a couple hours in the classroom and the kids were able to get many of their questions answered.  We learned first-hand what it was like to fly with the birds.  The children tried on the handler's costume and the crane puppet, held a replica of a whooping crane egg, and heard tales of their "adopted" whooping crane chicks.  It was a wonderful experience and one we won't soon forget! 

After the visit, the excitement and giddiness lingered.  We bragged to our families, friends and colleagues. Sure the Obamas attended our school, but we met Joe Duff!   I have continued to keep in touch with Heather and know that this study will be an annual part of my curriculum.   My own interest in helping these amazing birds has only grown.  Jane Duden of Journey North graciously posted a slideshow of the O.M. visit so others could experience it virtually. Enjoy and maybe you can join the conservation effort next year!

Winter Acrostics

  Steven Schnur has a series of acrostic poems for each of the  seasons.   I use a couple of poems from Winter: An Alphabet Acrostic during our study of snowflakes.  Since poems are organized alphabetically by title these books are also a wonderful addition to an ABC study or book collection.  Other books in the series include Spring , Summer and Autumn.  Happy Poetry Friday!

Flakes
Light they drift
Upward
Rise like smoke before coming to
Rest in the
Yard.

Just as the
Evening lights come on,
White flakes begin falling
Earthward, glittering
Like diamonds.

© 2002  Steven Schnur

photo credit:  It's Snowtime! by flickr member Iguana Jo

Book Worm

What a surprise and treat it was to receive an original poem from J. Patrick Lewis today! His book, Doodle Dandies: Poems That Take Shape has always been a favorite to use when I teach poetry.  Thanks, Pat!

Road Block

I saw a bookworm in a book.
The bookworm said to me,

“Long have I lived these many years
On page 6, paragraph 3.”

I said, “Why don't you move along?
There’s so much more ahead.”

“The author mistook it's for its—
That’s where I stopped,” she said.

photo credit: Book worm scrolling to the next page
by flickr member nobofoto