Bechtel Prize Essay: The tree project  

Looking for a poem to write? Maybe start by asking: What is a tree? “A tree is a lollipop of God!” and “A tree is a pigeon hotel” are just two possible answers to this question. Sam Swope was a writer-in-residence for two years with a group of children from 3^rd to 5^th grade. The students had immigrated to NYC from over 20 different countries and together they took on The Tree Project. In an attempt to cultivate their individual poetic passions, they were asked to write a list poem about trees. The responses the students gave during this project branched outwards and inwards in numerous directions, reflecting the relationship between their inner lives, outer lives and the stuff poems are made from. Sam Swope won the Bechtel Prize for this essay in 2004.  He remains dedicated and active in the engagement of children’s creativity; his book, “The Araboolies of Liberty Street” has been featured in numerous school plays and is even available in the form of an opera.

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