INTRODUCING POEMS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Fly, fly, Butterfly!

SUMMARY

Vuela, vuela mariposa! (Fly, Fly Butterfly) narrates the magic relationship between children and butterflies. Children in the poem admire her because of butterfly color and they invite her to share a play day full of colors, rhymes and feelings of friendship.

Fly, Fly Butterfly is inspired in a folk poem, which is commonly narrated by parents in informal education and it has been used in formal education in Venezuela, South America. This poem was introduces to me for my grandmother, who usually had taught me about nature and flowers and butterflies´ beauty. This poem has had part of my family for a long time.

Type of Poetry

 Lyric Melodic. I choose this poem because of the meaning of their words in my childhood, because of the intimate relationship that I had with my grandmother and because I know, children will enjoy the musicality in its phrases. This poem could be used in integrated programs, when children proceed from Spanish speaker families.  Share with them part of their culture will encourage them to valuate in positive way their origin, making possible a sense of self-esteem and appreciation for their culture and their languages.

Ages: 3-4years old.



Vuela!, ¡Vuela, mariposa!

¡Vuela!, ¡vuela, mariposa!
Vuela en tu esplendor,
escucha la palabra animada
Que te llama con mi voz.
somos niños y vamos al prado
todo el dia a juguetear,
no te vayas de mi lado
¡tus alas me han encantado
con colores coloreados
en tu hermoso voletear!
¡Vuela!, Vuela, mariposa!
Cuando llegue la noche callada,
Vuela, vuela! Y en la mañana soleada
Vente conmigo a jugar.

Inspired by Venezuelan traditional poem "Mariposas de Colores". 

Ways to extend the storyline: 

I choose this poem thinking in the world of 3 and four years old in the task that orientate them to understand some basic concepts about colors (introducing colors to early preschoolers-3 years old). Other concepts are introduce for older preschoolers such as rhyme in words, how termination of words are similar or different and in the other hand, the feelings they would experiment during the narrative
.
I introduce music to make the moment special, using not just visual stimuli. The song "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini" by the Russian composer Rachmaninoff. is a classic musical piece that also would introduce new musical concepts to children. In addition, the song is one of my favorite and suggests the movement of the butterfly, who is the main character in my story. This story would be extended with the presence of new elements such as music, movement of hands in the space simulating butterflies, puppets, children´ corporal movements using specific music, painting butterflies in different colors and sizes using big format paper.

Activities would be numerous depending of teacher's creativity and would be developed inside or outside the classroom. Other idea to extend the story could be using cards with colors and butterflies. In this specific activity, teacher could encourage children to play with cards that teacher made for them, turning it over and matching colors (Memory game). This activity also, will help children with memory and identification of concept as color, direction and spatial relationship between objects.
Many ideas could be introduce to encourage children to use concept such as musicality, rhyme, rhythm and colors. In addition, gross motor skills and creativity would be explored in successive activities.

How will involve the children in this activity? The teacher could make an introduction about the activity, setting up the environment to provide children a relaxed and calmed vision of the classroom. Later, the teacher could show to children, a butterfly made with paper, felt, fabric or other material. The teacher, with the use of music, starts to create the “environment” to prepare the audience to the story. Using their hands and voice, teacher will suggest children to create an imaginary story about what the butterfly is doing? Where is she/he going now? Where does she/he is? When the teacher perceives children are emotionally and physically in attention with the story, she/he would starts to read the poem, making pauses and emphasizing ending of phrases, to make understand children the internal musicality the poem has. At the end of the activity, the teacher will make to children questions about the story, what kind of feelings the children have had and so on.

Poetry and diversity:

“!Vuela!, !vuela mariposa!” explain that variety is present in the world. Butterflies have many colors and them still being beautiful, free and happy in their original environment. Nature and color are present in this poem. Children enjoy so many stories about animals and insects. This specific story tries to give a message of peace, sharing and friendship between animals and human.



Poetry will stimulate children’s ability to discriminate words, create rhyming words. Poetry develops in them a sensation of music in world’s rhythm; introducing the firs step to the early reading ability. On the other hand, poetry makes children could understand words when teacher pronounces them in perfect diction. Children are able to discriminate words and phrases with rich sensory and associating meaning in the content. Poetry includes mental images to children that help them to create their own world of sensation and meanings. Poems encourage the attention and children’s´ self-confidence in new words, promoting the increasing of their vocabulary.

I used to use poetry with my children. In the program where I am working right now (3-4 years old), teacher encourages children to listen to music and poems very often. I know that this kind of activity could be enjoyed for children of every age.