Preschool
Poetry Day at Cedar Hill Prep was on May 17th. Our preschool children beautifully performed poems while their parents watched with excitement at home on Zoom. Including the parents in these moment is what makes CHP one of the best prep schools in NJ. As the children recited each poem, they changed costume headbands to reflect the idea of each poem. Our first one was a nursery rhyme called One, Two Buckle My Shoe. The next poem was called, All of Me. The third was Miss Lucy Had a Baby and the final one was, I’m a Little Star. Everyone was so proud of their little stars!!! Our youngest children at CHP were amazing!!!
Pre-Kindergarten
Poetry Day was so awesome! The Pre-Kindergarten classes learned about poems and had so much fun creating their own. Each child was given two words that rhyme. Little did the children know that another child had to create two words that also belonged to the same rhyming family. Once put together, a very funny poem was created. The children also illustrated their sentences. “Two Thumbs Up,” Pre-K ROCKS!
Kindergarten
The excitement of Cedar Hill Prep Poetry Day filled the air as the children embraced the momentum of the day. In honor of Poetry Month, the Kindergarten classes recited poetry for their parents and peers. The children made crowns that depicted the theme of each of the four poems recited together and in addition to that, several individual children recited their own poems. Public speaking is huge at Cedar Hill Prep and our kids make it look easy! Phenomenal job Kindergarten!
First Grade
First grade performed at our virtual Poetry Cafe as it is a part of CHP’s Poetry celebration. The students chose a poem from a variety of subjects, memorized, and recited their poems at our Poetry Cafe. The students also included a presentation such as a diorama, poster, visual aids, movements, and props from their home. Some students even included information about the author of their poems. Our students dressed up as characters or wore dressy clothes. It was such a grand performance by smiling CHP First Graders!
Second Grade
Second grade hosted a virtual Poetry Cafe, as part of CHP’s annual Poetry Celebration. The poems recited centered around the seasons and nature. In addition to reciting their poems, the children added posters, drawings, props, and creative movements to illustrate and explain the meaning behind their poems. The excitement and enthusiasm from the children really made the cafe come alive! Way to go Second Grade!!
Third Grade
On Monday, May 17th, third graders participated in Poetry Day. This is a schoolwide event that allows students to recite poetry from well-known poets and also allows them to get into character. Third graders chose a poem by Jack Prelutsky. He is a comical poet who writes relatable poems for children. The students each memorized a poem and got creative with their virtual backgrounds and costumes. Great job, third graders!
Fourth Grade
Grade 4’s Poetry Presentations highlighted poems that are reflective of the American landscape, from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the skyscrapers of our cities, from poets contemplating how gender defined their positions in society…to poets speaking out for civil rights…. and others contemplating the paths their lives followed.
Grade 4 students researched their respective poets and wrote the introductions for their poems. These narrations provided the audience with some insight into the lives and motivations of these poets…which were then highlighted by the students’ original artwork that reflected the messages within their poems.
Congratulations 4th graders for your wonderful performances…both virtually and in person! Thank you to all of the Grade 4 family members who were able to join as our virtual audience!
Fifth and Sixth Grade
The theme for this year’s Poetry Day was multiculturalism, which was defined by one of our students as “many” + “living, working, and playing”. The 6A class took us around the world, via the poetry plane, to different continents. The students explored Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. We traveled to many cultural areas of the United States with the 6B students. They discovered everything from the life of a coal miner in Pennsylvania, to the foods and rules of southern living, to how the gods are so important to Hawaiian life. To complete the discussion of American culture, three poems on sports were presented. The 5th graders visited many places in the world that may not be as well-known as some others. Poetry topics included Greenland, life in Antarctica, the swans of Ireland, and the island of Hispaniola. All cultures have experienced war and social issues. The children also read classic poetry that addressed these aspects of life. We even had one student sing the Star-Spangled Banner, which is the first verse of a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key! In addition to reading poems, students did research on their respective countries or topics.
Congratulations to the students! They all did a phenomenal job!
Seventh and Eight Grade
This year’s theme for Poetry Day was Multiculturalism. Students researched poets and focused on the message of their poetry. After weeks of practice, the students were prepared to share the message of diversity that runs through our world in the words of the verse. Both 7B and 8A are hybrid classes and each student presented their poem, some in the classroom and others through the lens of zoom. 7A is an in-person class and while they presented their poems live, we were joined online by parents. We would like to thank the parents who were able to join us in the celebration of poetry. All the students are to be commended for their dedication to Poetry Day.
