Comets, Stars, The Moon and Mars
Florian, Douglas. Comets, Stars, The Moon, and
Mars. Austin: Harcourt, 2007.
Critical Analysis:
This book is what space is all
about….weightless and pristine, while adventurous! Florian’s creative style is evident in each
and every page of this book; in the words of the poems, as well as the
whimisical paintings that span every page turn.
What a great resource to use in science when students are learning about
space and all of the elements of the solar system. This book has it all, as it blasts off to the
moon, and every planet in between the Sun and Pluto, by describing in detail
and imaginative rhyme what makes these far off places so unique. Many of the poems in this book are written in
such lyrical format that they sound song like, flowing off your tongue, while
capturing your mind and attention. Florian
has included what he calls a “galactic glossary” so students can expand their knowledge
of the information shared in the poems. Florian
has used vocabulary that is succulent, demonstrating for readers the power of
words! The paintings will captivate
anyone who is curious enough to see what this book has to offer, and the random
page cutouts will keep readers turning pages to see what is still to come. Elementary kids will love learning all about
space while they read and discover how fun poetry is at the same time.
POEM SPOTLIGHT
Pluto
Pluto was a planet.
But now it doesn’t
pass.
Pluto was a planet.
They say it’s lacking
mass.
Pluto was a planet.
Pluto was admired.
Pluto was a planet.
Till one day it was
fired.
Douglas Florian
Analysis:
I enjoyed this poem so much, mainly because it stresses
something that we will always remember….the mere fact that, Pluto was a planet. Florian has taken an important event in recent
history and memorialized the decision that was made by astronomers based on
scientific evidence regarding Pluto’s size.
The continued repetition of the phrase, “Pluto was a planet” seems to
loom over the reader acting as a constant reminder of the final fate of this
once, ninth planet. The candor expressed
in the planet, “not passing”, and “being fired” make this poem relatable to
just about anyone who remembers the day this decision was made. In only eight rhyming lines, Florian questions
and makes readers ponder the same concept, why Pluto is no longer a
planet. His careful attention to rhyme
and detailed vocabulary allow readers to experience the event in a manner that
is in a sense comical, and almost matter of fact, while at the same time a
major BUMMER too!
Classroom
Connections:
When I read this poem the rhythm of
the words makes me want to sing. I think
this poem could be shared to a common and tune such as Old MacDonald. The number of
syllables and lines fit perfect for with the usual versing that is present with
this song. Kids today are still
mystified as to why Pluto was, in the words of Florian, “fired!” In my experience students have a hard time
understanding how this happened after Pluto has been a planet for so many years
before. I think this poem would be great
to use in a math/science lesson exploring mass.
Students could explore the actual size of Pluto in numbers and relate it
to other celestial objects that are relatively similar. By comparing the size and “lacking mass” as
described in the poem, students can justify why astronomers made the decision
to down grade Pluto. Students could use
their research and come up with one additional line that completes the following
lines, Pluto was a Planet. But now... and share their new line with
the class. Have students vote on their favorite new ending and sing the poem to the tune one last time.
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