Mattie Stepanek, American Poet and Peacemaker
"Poetry is a beautiful way of expressing feelings - happy, sad, angry, caring. It's also a way that we share with other people, to help them with those feelings." - Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Let's learn more about Mattie:
- Read about Mattie here
- Read an article about Mattie here
- Watch How Mattie Stepanek's Words Inspired Millions | The Oprah Winfrey Show
- Watch Mattie on Larry King Live
- Watch Billy Gilman pay tribute to Mattie Stephanek on the 2010 MDA Telethon
- Read former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's Eulogy for Mattie
- Watch Oprah's surpise visit to Mattie Stepanek's mother
- Read about Mattie's Books here
...if you live feeling like
Your glass is half empty, well,
It may as well be empty all the way.”
― Mattie J.T. Stepanek, Journey Through Heartsongs
Your glass is half empty, well,
It may as well be empty all the way.”
― Mattie J.T. Stepanek, Journey Through Heartsongs
Objectives of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Learn about Mattie Stephanek's life and purpose
- Understand the message, meaning or impact of Mattie Stepanek's poetry
- Analyze Mattie's poetry and write about it
- Be able to write their own poetry inspired by Mattie's poems/life
- Be able to make illustrations/artwork to go along with their poems
Let's research for information on Mattie J.T. Stepanek and his poetry (cite all sources):
You will use at least 4-5 different reliable sources to gather information on Mattie while researching. You may use books, databases, websites, newspaper articles, videos, etc. You must cite all sources (including images).
During your research you will collect the following biographical information:
(Use this graphic organizer to help you collect information)
Search Gale databases for more information, Gale Biography in Context and Powersearch (will search all Gale Databases at once) To access databases click here
Search the web for more information (use credible websites, etc.)
Search for photos/images to add to your Adobe Spark presentation (cite them)
Search for poems Mattie wrote and also collect inspirational quotes from Mattie (cite them)
You will use at least 4-5 different reliable sources to gather information on Mattie while researching. You may use books, databases, websites, newspaper articles, videos, etc. You must cite all sources (including images).
During your research you will collect the following biographical information:
(Use this graphic organizer to help you collect information)
- His personal life, public appearances, etc.
- His poetry
- Impact on society
- Pictures, images, etc.
- Video clips (optional)
Search Gale databases for more information, Gale Biography in Context and Powersearch (will search all Gale Databases at once) To access databases click here
Search the web for more information (use credible websites, etc.)
Search for photos/images to add to your Adobe Spark presentation (cite them)
Search for poems Mattie wrote and also collect inspirational quotes from Mattie (cite them)
- You may borrow my copy of, Hope Through Heartsongs or borrow his poetry books from the public library.
- Search the web on how to analyze poetry
To present your research you will use Adobe Spark , an online design app that can be used to easily create stunning social graphics, short videos, and web pages. Watch this Youtube video to learn how to use Adobe Spark to make a web page for your presentation. You will upload your Adobe Spark presentation to Google Classroom.
Your Adobe Spark presentation must include:
Your Adobe Spark presentation must include:
- Biographical information on Mattie (see above list)
- 3-4 poems of Mattie's with a written analysis of each
- 2-3 inspirational quotes of Mattie's
- Photos/images (make your presentation creative) - remember to cite
- 2 poems of your own (inspired by Mattie's poems/life)
- illustrations/artwork of your own which were inspired by your 2 poems
- Work cited page (at the end) of ALL sources you used, books, database articles, websites, Youtube videos, photos/images, etc.
Assessment: See rubric attached to Google Classroom
FOR OUR WORLD
A poem written on 9/11 by Mattie Stepanek
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.
A poem written on 9/11 by Mattie Stepanek
We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.