Harlem Renaissance 2014

Sixth grade students,

Over the last few classes we discovered music and poetry from the Harlem Renaissance.  You created drawings inspired by the imagery of these songs and poems.

Today you were introduced to three visual artists from this important time in our nation's history.  Once you have finished reading about these artists and have completed both worksheets, I would like you to post a comment below.  Share something you liked or learned from this unit.

Below are pictures of some of your drawings from our music and poetry activities:

MUSICIANS: Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington and Josephine Baker
POETS: Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Gwendolyn Bennett and Clarissa Scott Delaney

Below are examples of the stories students wrote to accompany famous artworks:

Inspired by Jacob Lawrence's Carpenters (1977)

Story written by a sixth grade student in Mrs. Garncarz's homeroom class:

It was a hot summer day and there was no refreshments.  We were building a house, a very large house.  As I stand and look at the boards of wood, I dream.  I dream of the County Fair, the nice breeze, but when done, I'll dream some more!  As we three men work, work, work, I'll dream, dream, dream.  But sadly, I always realize I'm working.  I don't do the job and I fail.  I finally go home.  I can finally dream.  Dream forever. 

Inspired by Lois Mailou Jones' Les Fetiches (1938).

Story written by a sixth grade student in Mr. Rogers' homeroom class:

One Halloween everything went wrong.
When the clock struck a something was there.
Nobody could get a picture or see it.
But if we tried it would disappear and so would we.
Some kids were still out having a fun time in their masks.
There couldn't get anything because everyone's door was locked.
They were all wondering what was going on.
It started the thing that was there.
It started to chase them and when it caught up the only thing left was the pile of masks.

Inspired by a Romare Bearden collage

Story written by a sixth grade student in Mr Ellis' homeroom class:

The Four Fine Fillies got together at a jazz night club.  Tommy tooted the trumpet. Bobby played the bass.  Sebastien played saxophone.  And all together they played, "New York, New York."  Encore, encore!  The Four Fine Fillies took a bow, and waved to the crowd.  For the sake of the crowd, The Four Fine Fillies decided to play again.  They rocked, "Rockin' Robin, tweet, tweet."  The crowd took a stand and The Four Fine Fillies went on tour.