Ode to the Sky

May 11th, 2004, marked the culmination of the Ode to the Sky project by Longfellow Elementary School in Muncie, Indiana. All third, fourth, and fifth grade students wrote, edited and revised a poem during the preceding month. Then, every student was given a blank, white plastic kite. Their poems were transcribed onto the kites and appropriate decorations applied. In the morning, students and teachers shuffled outside to an adjacent field, kites in tow.

Within a very few minutes, dark clouds rolled in and sprinkles the size of dimes littered the area. Slightly wet kids had to beat a hasty retreat back into the building. Later in the afternoon, students tried again, and most were able to make an attempt at flight for their new, poetic kites.

A somewhat unexpected problem soon arose....most kids had never flown a kite before, and therefore a quick lesson in Kite Flying 101 was needed. However, the students were quick-studies, and within a brief period of time all the kids had attempted getting their kite airborne. Despite varying degrees of success, the poetry was wonderful, the kites were beautifully adorned, and fun was had by all.