TINY DREAMS SPROUTING TALL by Laura Purdie Salas

Poetry for Social Studies

Salas, Laurie Purdie. 2008. TINY DREAMS SPROUTING TALL: POEMS ABOUT
THE UNITED STATES. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press. ISBN 9781429612081

In the younger grades, a large part of Social Studies is learning about the symbols and landmarks of America. TINY DREAMS SPROUTING TALL is a collection of fifteen original poems by Laura Purdie Salas featuring objects, places, or people found around the United States. It has a range of topics, from the Statue of Liberty, the Bald Eagle, the Grand Canyon, Jazz, and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Salas has included a variety of forms of poetry throughout the book, some rhyming, others free verse. Salas writes a cinquain, an acrostic, a limerick, and a diamante in this book of poems. The poems are easy and fun to read, however, the simplicity is powerful throughout the book. Even though the poems are short and simple, they are packed with imagery and opportunity for discussion in the younger grade Social Studies class.

The book uses colorful photographs throughout, which are credited on the copyright page. The gorgeous photographs compliment each poem, showing the eagle soaring and the beauty of the Grand Canyon. The photographs are large and will be interesting to children.

Definitions for the different types of poems, along with the page numbers each type of poem can be found, are located at the end of the book. The book also includes a page defining a few poetry words, such as alliteration and rhythm. Some of the advanced words throughout the book are defined in an included glossary. This book will be very helpful for young readers, and a great compliment to a Social Studies unit.

Spotlight Poem

Lady Liberty

Liberty carries a golden torch

She wears a copper skin

She's broken free of all her chains 

and sways upon the wind

Classroom Activities

After introducing the poem, have students practice reading the poem aloud. Students can make props, such as a Lady Liberty crown, to use while performing the poem. 

Have students create a video, using iMovie, Animoto, or Photo Story, highlighting symbols, people, or landmarks of America. Students should include a reading of a poem from the book about the object, person, or place they will make the movie about.