Homespun Charm

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Shovan's
Day 11 Found Object Poem Project

It's Day 11 of Laura Shovan's Found Object Poem Project. Each day in February, Laura's birthday month, she invites colleagues to write alongside her. You can read about the poetry project here. Today's image, submitted by my Twitter friend, Linda Baie, speaks of simplistic charm. As a lover of antiques and history, I was drawn to this prairie doll that brought back memories of Little House on the Prairie books and the television show.

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I was born,

just an ordinary doll 

of plain homespun fabric

stitched by Ma's loving hands.

As odd as this seems,

I was given a walnut 

for my head. 

Just an ordinary doll,

I am.

They tell me that my family 

weathered many a storm

as their wagon wheels 

slowly moved west

to Walnut Grove.

Here on the prairie, 

I was loved

as the ordinary doll

that I am.

Living in a soddie

under a sun that

beat and blistered

was a way of life 

in summer,

while winter snow

drove us indoors

to wait out the 

blizzards and 

cold winds.

My days with 

my little owner 

were full of  
simple prairie life 

and prickled by

inconstant weather.

The ordinariness

of pioneer days

were filled with

special moments,

family ties,

and homespun charm.

Time has turned over.
Centuries have passed on.

My descendants

grace museums and 
I sit on a shelf

reminding all of 

ordinary times

and ordinary dolls
loved by ordinary families.

©CVarsalona, 2016 

Broadening Elementary Students' Awareness of Prairie Life:

1. Read aloud the above poem while the photo is projected on the SmartBoard.
2. Collect other photos of the time period (see sample below).
3. Engage students in teams for a gallery walk of period photos to broaden their awareness of the time period.
4. Offer a guiding question for discussion: How does pioneer life compare to the lives of people today?
5. Let students build their own background knowledge by collecting additional photos or finding quick facts about prairie life. 
6. Lead students to wonder more about the topic by introducing Wonder of the Day #1157, Is Your House on the Prairie?, from Wonderopolis. 
7. Have students capture their thoughts about one of the picture prompts in free verse, a diary entry, Animoto video, or other digital means.
8. Showcase the work via blogging, tweeting, and/or a classroom poetry gallery.

walnutgrovetnd.com