Elementary School Entry
Grades 3-5 Visual Poem:
Description: Students compose visual-poetic texts connecting to PWP’s life as a poet and writer.
Required Content Elements: Students connect to some aspect of PWP’s life in a poem (no longer than 12 lines) that rhymes or works as a free-verse poem. Students illustrate this connection to PWP’s life using original artwork. Students reflect on their composing and designing processes in 2-3 sentences.
Available Formats: Flipsnack or Google Slides
Download flyer: grades_3_to_5._sept_29_deadline.pdf
Description: Students compose visual-poetic texts connecting to PWP’s life as a poet and writer.
Required Content Elements: Students connect to some aspect of PWP’s life in a poem (no longer than 12 lines) that rhymes or works as a free-verse poem. Students illustrate this connection to PWP’s life using original artwork. Students reflect on their composing and designing processes in 2-3 sentences.
Available Formats: Flipsnack or Google Slides
Download flyer: grades_3_to_5._sept_29_deadline.pdf
To enter, please fill out this contest entry form.
Samples of Visual Poem:
At the May 2023 literacy institute workshop she facilitated, “DFW Writes PWP” coordinator Dr. Carmen Kynard invited teachers to try out, themselves, the genre for the contest format for grades 3-5. Here we share some samples from their composing that day so that these can serve as mentor texts for young writers planning to submit their own pieces.
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Download sample visual poems here:
Download further samples created by teachers:
PDF: dfw_writes_phillis_wheatley_peters_may_31.pdf PPT: dfw_writes_phillis_wheatley_peters_may_31.pptx | ||||||||||||
To Learn More About Wheatley to Prepare Your Entry, Check Out These Resources
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Phillis Wheatley by Emily R. Smith
Overview by Kelly and Addison Franklin Emily R. Smith provides information about Phillis Wheatley in a simple manner that appeals to younger students. Addison Franklin, a 6th grader in Mansfield, Texas writes, “What I liked about this book is that it is an easy read but still has a lot of information, has good illustrations and pictures, and gives good details.” Smith describes Phillis’ journey learning to read and write without neglecting important details about slavery. Illustrations and definitions included in this 32-page book will help young students learn historical details around Boston, slavery, and Phillis’ life. Smith says that Phillis “used poetry like a diary.” Smith’s wording will help students understand Phillis’ intimate relationship with her poems, but describing Phillis’ life is impossible without also including the history of Boston and the colonists’ desire for independence from British rule. So Smith explains how Phillis “wrote poems about the events in her city.” While reporting on Phillis’ travels to England, the biography describes difficulties Phillis faced navigating white society as an enslaved Black woman. Pages with titles such as “Describe It!” and “Your Turn!” invite students to participate in activities such as researching slavery or writing about other special people in Phillis’ life. |
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Phillis Wheatley: She Loved Words (American Heroes) by Sneed Collard III
This 48-page book for young readers and writers tells about the life of Phillis Wheatley Peters. It is a picture book that offers historical detail and description in each picture frame and can be read across multiple days. |
Phillis Wheatley: Pioneer African American Poet (The Heritage Collection for Young Readers) by Letitia deGraft Okyere
This 34-page book for young readers and writers tells about the life of Phillis Wheatley Peters. It opens by imagining what her life might have been like in Africa before she was kidnapped into slavery. It also includes a glossary and quiz. |
Phillis Wheatley: The Girl Who Wrote Her Way To Freedom (Legends of Africa) by Bunmi Oyinsan
This 56-page book for young readers and writers tells about the life of Phillis Wheatley Peters. It opens by imagining her African family as possible griots. It closes with an excerpt of her poetry. |
For more information on these resources, check out DFW Writes Phillis Wheatley Peters.
