In Part 1, I discovered a magnificent Dale Chihuly work of art at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia. The glass structure is 21 feet tall and titled “Flame of Liberty”. In the same museum is a Peace Portal, a structure with wrought iron legs and a stained glass canopy. I recreated that Peace Portal in my classroom, with heavy cardboard tubes for legs that children decorated, and ‘stained glass’ created by children for the canopy.
That Peace Portal drew children in. They wanted to be there, under the canopy. I interviewed the children, asking them how it felt sitting beneath a Peace Portal. Their answers were astounding, and became poetry. It was natural that a classroom poetry book was born, The Aqua Room Peace Poetry Book.
Part 2
I would like to read that book to you:
Stayed tuned for Part 3, my second Dale Chihuly. It’s a wonderful story.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Best book of peace poetry ever! Thanks Aqua Room poets. You have so much to teach us.
Awww… that’s so nice to say. Thank you, Barb. 🥰
That’s a great project, Jennie, and the completed book is a gem.
I was interested in the differnces of our accents. You pronounce Aqua Room ‘Ark-wah’, whereas I would always say ‘Akk-Wa’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Pete. I’m glad you like the book. I mean to say ‘ahk’ like the vowel sound in ‘clock’ and wa like the vowel sound in ‘duh’. It is definitely interesting to hear different accents! Best to you, Pete.
I feel heart-y
So lovely, Jennie!🌈💜
I will never forget heart-y!! Thank you, Ritu! 🥰
💕💜💕
what a great book –
Thank you, Beth!
Peace makes me hopeful😊
That’s my word for 2021. 🙂
That is just so wonderful!! Kids tell it like it is, don´t they. xo
They really do, Darlene. I’m so glad you like the book!
Oh how I loved this. Smiled through the entire story as I filled with peace and was a little teary at the end. Children are so very wise.
That is so kind to say, Alethea. Thank you. Yes, they are the wise ones.
❤️
That is a wonderful book. The wisdom of children is spot on! Thank you for sharing this book, Jennie! ❤
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Deborah! Aren’t children full of wisdom? Many thanks!
They are! 🤗
Lovely!
Thank you!
Excellent, Jennie. What a super book.
Thank you so much, John. Coming from you, that is quite a complement.
Aw. 🤗
🙂
Absolutely wonderful! I wish I’d had you as a teacher.
Thank you so much! ❤️
Reblogged this on alkaplan and commented:
This art inspired poetry book is priceless.
Many thanks, A.L. 🙂
This is such a wonderful book, Jennie. 💖
Thank you, Miriam! 🥰
You’re welcome, Jennie. 🙂
What a wonderful project, Jennie – good job!
Thank you, Dan!
Brilliant! I am impressed by the child who used the vocabulary word “hearty” and the child who wrote, “peace is my mom and dad.”
PEACE… Love it!
😍
❤ ƤҼƌҪҼ ƌƝƊ ĻƠṼҼ ❤
Kudos to the authors! They gave me new insights into just how multifacted peace can be.
It can be very multifaceted
🙂
And the authors were so proud of their book!
I’ll bet years hence, some of your Aqua Roomers will become writers.
That would be wonderful!
😀
Before lockdown, 2019 Dale had a huge instalation at Kew Gardens here in london. Stunning. Looking forward to your class’s reactions
I heard about it from a few other bloggers close tomLondon. Did you go?
Yes. It was amazing
I’m so glad you were there! How big was the exhibit?
Oh, huge… https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/chihuly-glass-art-kew-gardens
Wow!! Thank you so much for the link. I’m posting my second Chihuly (also at a conservatory) tomorrow. Isn’t his art inspiring?
Exactly. They were stunning, set against one of the great gardens in the UK.
🙂
Gorgeous, Jennie.
Thank you, Norah!
This book is definitely a unique gem, and remembers me on the result of art lessons in the highschool. You pupils are very creative, and this – i am sure – is depending on their teacher. Michael
Children can express themselves in art long before they can write words. When they tell a teacher how they feel, and then draw that picture, it’s a powerful thing. Thank you for your kind words and comments, Michael.
Thank you for forcing their creativity, Jennie!
You are the expert in knowing this. Have a beautiful week! Michael
Thank you, Michael!
:-))
What a wonderful book, Jennie. I just loved the illustrations. So cute and some amazing talents! Thanks so much for reading it. That was fun. Congrats to all the kids!
Thanks so much, Diana!
What a lovely idea, Jennie.
Thank you, Robbie.