Impressive Poetry From Young Minds
Poetry isn’t usually on the curriculum for 2nd and 3rd graders, but Mrs. Scott sees the potential in her students and includes a section in her curriculum every spring. Through a grant from the Nebraska Arts Council, Mr. Matt Mason, our former Nebraska State Poet of five years, came to the classroom to serve as teacher and mentor throughout the week – then finally as emcee for the final Poetry Slam.
During his time in the 2nd/3rd grade classroom, he shared what poetry is, how he became a poet (and ultimately the Nebraska State Poet), and how poetry has affected his life. After sharing several of his poems with the students, he put them to work to write their own amazing poems.
Next, he taught the classroom about a Poetry Slam. Originating in Chicago in the 80’s, they began with open mic nights where poets could come and share their poetry with a group. It became competitive and random members of the audience became the judges.
At the conclusion of the week, our students participated in their own Poetry Slam where they were judged by five members of the Legacy staff including Mrs. Pedersen, Mrs. Baca, Mr. Grove, Ms. Tia and Mrs. O. Each student was asked to create and share a poem with the audience and judges. The students could select any piece of poetry they had written throughout the week. These included Haiku’s, Odes and poetry written through artwork that they students created. The presentations were impressive with the students using a microphone, making eye contact with the judges and some even added sound effects and actions.
“Working with 2nd and 3rd grade poets at Legacy was a true treat. Students came up with some of the most creative approaches to the prompts I brought than I’ve seen from even older grades, it was a lot of fun!”
– Mr. Matt Mason, Nebraska State Poet 2019-2024
The Sea
By: Claire Hammond
Smooth waves brush the sand
High tide at midnight, watch out
Cool crisp and damp, too.
The Tiger
By: Janet Hayashi
Fierce, orange, black and strong
The mighty animal roams
Around the jungle.
Pizza
By: Aiden Clegg
Disgusting pizza
Drippy, weird, crusty, moldy
Pizza is gooey.
Ode to a Door
By: Mikayla Abelarde
Oh door, you are so hard like a rock, as weird as a wall, but why are you always in my way? But if you were gone, I couldn’t t have privacy in the bathroom.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the work that we have done both in class participation, preparation, and in the performances of all of my students.”
– Mrs. Desseraye Scott, 2/3 Grade Teacher
About Legacy School
Legacy School offers a nonsectarian, private school setting for parents looking for high academic standards, small class sizes, and exceptional teaching in Omaha, NE. Students experience the highest quality of learning through literacy-based instruction, thus giving them best opportunities to exceed curriculum standards. Experience an inviting, safe, student-centered environment that caters to the individual educational needs of each student.
The school sits on 11 acres of land, allowing for expressive, outdoor educational experiences for all students. Our outdoor learning and playing space allows for real world experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. Also on the land is a barnyard that holds both chickens and goats and a farm-to-table garden.
Come feel the Legacy Love!