Every Saturday we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom. Today is International Literacy Day, so this lesson on Jue Ju Poetry seems like a great fit.
China has a written history at least 2,500 years old. During this time, the Chinese developed many forms of art and philosophy, including poetry. Jue Ju poetry has four lines; each line has the same number of syllables – usually five, but sometimes seven.
Thoughts on a Still Night, by Li Bai, a famous Chinese poet
Before my bed, the moon is shining bright,
I think that it is frost upon the ground.
I raise my head and look at the bright moon,
I lower my head and think of home.
Jue Ju poems by teachers and students
The winter wind blows loudly
Zadou listens through the wall
The house is strong and sturdy
He is warm and safe through all
Biogas is neat
Gives off lots of heat
Thanks to pig and cow
We have heat right now
The trees protect the clean air
The trees protect the rich soil
The trees protect the water
How can we protect the trees?
Try to write your own Jue Ju poems about people and nature. Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Rivers and people
• People’s dependence on water
• The creation of mountains
• People’s reliance on energy
• How people get energy
Share your poems with a wider audience. Send them to us in the comments or share with your parents and friends.
To learn more about Jue Ju poetry and a more detailed lesson, download our Jue Ju Lesson Plan. For other lesson plans and ideas for activities, go to the Learning Resources at the bottom of our Read to Feed Resources page.
