Here is a workshop plan for the re-mix. Feel free to copy and rework it.
Spatial Poetry Meets Urban Ecology – A Remix
This activity operates best as a structured workshop for middle to high school aged participants. Originally, it was delivered as part of a high school outreach program. Participants explore the environment where they live and go to school, through information gathered by observation and through research. They will create reflections on their explorations.
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Age Range: 10+
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Group Size: 20-25 max, depending on time and staff
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Number of Facilitators: 1 - 2
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Activity Length: 1.5 hours, with possible follow-up sessions
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Cost: $0 - whatever you can afford to spend, using materials on hand
Supply Kit
The materials are flexible and can be made up of whatever you have on hand, such as:
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(Optional) blank[ zines](file:///C:/Users/staff/Downloads/d658b85d-b402-46cf-b8e4-149f6c1a2e86.pdf): folded & cut (How to)
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paper of all types—cardstock, construction, watercolor, origami
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markers, colored pencils, crayons, watercolors
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Stencils
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Stickers
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Stamp pads and rubber stamps
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Laptops/Tablets or computer access if researching together
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Glue
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Stapler
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Scissors
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Rulers
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Clipboards
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Collage materials (discarded picture books and magazines)
Workshop Prompts
This activity can be easily adapted to the history and geography of your locale. If possible, split the workshop into two sessions. The first session focuses on research into local history, maybe delving into a specific database. The second session takes us outside and then through the creation of a zine or poster. We zoom back down to the individual.
Preparation: Research to find out the history of the land and the community. Check out websites with information about Indigenous Peoples to learn more about the history of your location. If time is short, select a specific database for students to explore with you, as a group.
https://www.bia.gov/service/tribal-leaders-directory/federally-recognized-tribes
Project: Create a zine or a poster that depicts how you interact with your environment. Thinking of what you learned about the Indigenous People who are the caretakers of this land, how do you feel about this place? Take your notebook outside and make observations about your environment and how you feel being here. You can collect samples, draw what you see, and write down your thoughts. Think about yourself and how you fit into this environment.
Example Projects
We used examples of stories, poetry and artworks from Tongva People, as well as other poets.
This website hosts the final projects of a class at The New School called Mapping the Field:
https://mappingthefield.wordsinspace.net/2021/our-final-projects/
Facilitation Tips
Provide all kinds of materials to explore. Keep the format open-ended so students can create in the way they wish. Some students create more visual expressions, while others focus on the words. All creations are valid. Encourage students to use their senses. Circle story maps would be a suggested project for students having trouble getting started.
Links to fun poetry websites for inspiration and exploration
Auto-generated Haiku based on geographical location:
https://satellitestud.io/osm-haiku/app/?lg=en#18/42.36082/-71.08757
Magnetic Poetry Online: Magnetic Poetry : Play with the Nature Magnetic Poetry Kit
Map Resources
UCLA Mapping Indigenous LA: https://mila.ss.ucla.edu/
Google Earth enables you to create your own maps and projects: