Beauty in the Eyes of Third Graders

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I could start this post by writing "It has been said... Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". However, I won't do that because that would be quoting a cliche and a crime against good writing. There is also the added pressure that I am an English teacher and that I should be good at this, even setting a good example for my students whom I would tell to steer clear of starting their essays with cliches.

Let me start over. I will do so by quoting something a little less cliche and a little more boring ... a curriculum.

As part of the underlying values of Finland's education, the Finnish curriculum states that "Basic education supports the pupil's growth as a human being who strives for truth, goodness, beauty, justice and peace".

Now, which word stood out to you from that glorious quote? Well, I don't blame you if you thought "pupil". (Seriously, it is beyond me why they couldn't use a more tongue-friendly word like... I don't know... student!)

On a more serious note, I hope the word "beauty" stood out to you as much as it did to me the first time I read this section in the curriculum. I was intrigued by the notion that teachers, that is, not just art teachers, but all teachers, could help their students strive for beauty!

Indeed, this raises several questions as to the existence, meaning, versatility, elusiveness, and standards of beauty. It can get as philosophical as your wonderful (or should I say, beautiful) mind should fancy.

Regardless of the philosophical intricacies, however, what better occasion to directly discuss beauty than in an English class, right? That is precisely why I assigned my third grade class to watch/ listen to the reading of the story No Mirrors in My Nana's House.

The story No Mirrors in My Nana's House was written by Ysaye Maria Barnwell and was inspired by a song of the same title by the band Sweet Honey in the Rock of which Barnwell is a member. (Lyrics can be found here.)

After listening to both the story and the song, third graders picked one of the following options to express what beauty means to them:

1.    Write a song or a poem about what beauty means to you

2.  Write a paragraph explaining what beauty means to you

3.   Make a drawing or painting that shows what beauty means to you


I present to you the work of my wonderful third graders :)!


Aisha



Annika


Caleb


Christian

Ethan and Nathan




Joshua




Marcos


Matheo




Rekka



Zack




"I was intrigued by the cracks in the walls.
I tasted, with joy, the dust that would fall.
The noise in the hallway was music to me.
The trash and the rubbish just cushioned my feet.
And the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).
…was in her eyes."

- Excerpt from No Mirrors In My Nana's House
Lyrics credit: Sing Books with Emily




Love life; love learning!

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