During a residency at the Hilltown Charter School, second and sixth graders worked together in buddy teams to make poetry books inspired by the palm leaf books of SE Asia. These illustrated poems were first planned out on a draft sheet and then written and drawn on long narrow horizontal strips. The strips were woven together with waxed linen threads and colored mat board covers were added at each end. The books fold up accordion style and tie closed with string and button. They can also be displayed by hanging on the wall. Students were shown a variety of samples and different page layouts were discussed. Second grade students used strips with lines provided for writing. Sixth graders used blank strips.

Books closed and open

Students studied sample layouts to help design placement of text and images.