THE RAINBOW-activity

 

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky: So was it when my life began; So is it now I am a man;

So be it when I shall grow old, Or let me die! The Child is the father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be

Bound each to each by natural piety.

Step

1: Guided Reading and Interpretation (15 minutes)

1. Read and Highlight: Have students read the poem silently and then aloud. Ask them to highlight or underline the words and phrases that express the speaker's joy and connection to nature (e.g., "My heart leaps up," "so was it when my life began," "natural piety").

2. Focus the Goal: Direct attention to the line: "The Child is the Father of the Man." Explain that Wordsworth means the essential self established in childhood is the foundation for the adult.

3. Define "Natural Piety": Discuss the final line: "And I could wish my days to be / Bound each to each by natural piety." Clarify that "natural piety" means a deep, respectful, almost spiritual love for nature, the kind often felt intensely and instinctively by a child.

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Step 2: The "Child/Man" Organizer (20 minutes)

Students complete a simple graphic organizer (or T-Chart) that compares their childhood selves to their current selves, seeking evidence for Wordsworth's claim.

Child (Past Self) 👶	Man/Woman (Current Self) 🧑‍🎓	Connection/Continuity 🤔
Example Trait: Intense love for drawing.	Current Trait: Studying graphic design or always doodling.	Wordsworth's Line True? Yes. Childhood passion became an adult pursuit.
A Core Interest/Hobby:	How it shows up now:	Wordsworth's Line True? (Yes/No)
A Deep Belief/Value:	How it shows up now:	Wordsworth's Line True? (Yes/No)
A Strong Emotion/Response: (e.g., how you reacted to injustice or wonder)	How it shows up now:	Wordsworth's Line True? (Yes/No)

Goal: Students use this structured reflection to decide if the "child" they were truly set the trajectory for the "person" they are now.

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Step 3: Reflection Essay (40-50 minutes)

Using their completed graphic organizer, students write a short, focused essay (250-350 words) that directly addresses the prompt:

Prompt: Does the "Child" act as the "Father" in your life?

In your essay:

1. Introduce the poem and quote, briefly explaining what Wordsworth means by "The Child is the Father of the Man" (i.e., that the essential self remains).

2. Present Evidence: Use one specific example from your graphic organizer to support or challenge the quote. Describe the childhood trait/interest and how it has continued or evolved into your current self.

3. Conclude: Make a final statement about the power of early experiences. Is the most important part of you something you grew into as an adult, or something you've simply carried with you since childhood?

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Step 3: Philosophical Reflection and Debate (30-40 minutes)

1. Personal Connection: Ask students to reflect individually on the quote. Is it true in their experience?

• Prompt: "Think of a core interest, value, or emotional response you have now. Can you trace its origin back to a distinct memory, feeling, or trait from your childhood?"

• Have them write down one concrete example that either supports or challenges the quote.

2. Structured Debate/Socratic Seminar: Divide the class into two groups:

• Team Pro-Wordsworth: Argues that the essential truth of a person is established in childhood (the "Father"), and adult life is either a successful continuation or a tragic departure from that truth.

• Team Anti-Wordsworth: Argues that the Man is the Father of the Man. They believe that true character is shaped by adult choices, experience, education, and the active overcoming of childhood limitations or innocence, not just a passive inheritance.

3. Execution: Allow each team to present their strongest argument, followed by a moderated cross-examination and rebuttal. Encourage students to use evidence from the poem itself (like the joy of the rainbow and the desire for "natural piety") to support their claims.