I brought in an excerpted portion of May Swenson's "Cardinal Ideograms" - it turned out to be a great introduction to concrete poetry (treating language as material - one of my favorite exercises). I had my classes use the letters of their first name as their "ideograms" and encouraged them to look at the letters differently, as Swenson had done with cardinal numbers. The results were really fantastic!
Mr. K, Rm. 205
3rd Grade
Adrian
A A mountain. An upside down mountain
D A half-bubble. A full bubble.
R A waterslide. A waterslide upside down.
I Jail bars. A scratching post.
A Two people. Two people in love.
N A bouncing ball. Three pretzels together.
Monica C.
M looks like people holding hands with each other.
O looks like a blue bubble.
N looks like a bouncing ball.
I looks like a white window.
C looks like a horse shoe.
A looks like a slice of pizza.
Miguel
M like a mountain
i like a pencil
g like a six
u like a swing
e like a nine
l a person is standing straight
Marco T.
M Two big mountains with a lot of snow.
A A little little mountain.
R Mad Mick diving into the water.
C A big hole under the ground.
O It looks like the whole world.
Reymundo A.
r looks like a boat backwards
e looks like a bird's head
y looks like an ice cream cone
m looks like a cat's mouth
u looks like a person smiling
n looks like a person frowning
d looks like a golf club
o looks like an eye
Michael D.
M Two mountains together. Two pine trees.
I Metal bars. Jail.
C Tail moving side to side. Half bubble. Half a moon. Half circle.
H Tic-tac-toe. Door in half.
A Mountain cut off top.
E A book. W. Three people fishing.
L Like a fishing rod in water.
Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade
Jonathan V.
J looks like a pirate plank
o looks like a face
n looks like a cave
a looks like an upside down b
t looks like a hotel
h looks like a house
a looks like a 4
n looks like mountains
Lisette
L=flying bird
I=needle of a lie detector
S=spaghetti
E=book
T=badge
T=umbrella
E=ball
Esmeralda
E like a cliff
S like a slithery snake
M two people holding hands
E a comb to brush your hair
R a walking person
A like a house
L someone sitting down
D a big belly
A a street and a line where people walk
Luis
L A half house. A right angle.
U A head
I A trampoline
S A slide with two ways to go. A rain drop with a sad face.
Oscar
O A man with joy
S A cobra snake is so slippery
C Car wheels moving
A The Paris tower
R A robot attacking the city
Alejandra
A A little tent. A house.
l A stick. And a vine.
e A baby inside a stroller. Or a helmet.
j A fisherman's hook. A person on a swing.
a A cup upside down. A person with their hair down.
n A slide. A cup.
d A hat sideways. Somebody kicking a ball.
r A bed on top. A bird singing.
a It's a rooftop A. It's a jet.
Ms. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade
Myriam
M Mountains
Y A bell
R A rocket ship
I A pool
A A mountain going around
M A beak
Shalynn
S A rattle snake
h An old boot
a A girl with long hair that's happy
L One big building. One small building.
y A tire swing on a branch
N A racing track
n A stool
David
D A real slippy slide that kids always like.
A A zig zag ladder with a line in the middle.
V A greater or less than sign upside down.
I A big tower with lines on top and bottom.
D A broken piece of glass with a big crack.
Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade
Nelly
N A roller coaster and a person frightened
E An E is a pair of pants
L An open book
L A tree with flowers
Y A rein that you hold to control like Santa
Marco
M A big snowy mountain.
a Looks like a lollypop.
R A person coming out of a door.
C Looks like Pac-Man
O Looks like a spoon.
Laura
L A fluffy chair and a diving board
A A blue hut house and a volcano
U A yellow slide with a child
R A duck with one leg
a An alien with one eye
Alexis
A A yelling kid that is coming off the slide
L A kid that is shooting the basketball in the basket
E This is a kid that got a book from the bookshelf
X A pirate that found the x spot and digs it up
I This is a kid that is swinging in the swing
S This is a snake that is moving his tongue
Isabel C.
I A woman carrying a stick and jumping down and up.
S A seahorse waiting for her baby to come out.
A A mountain waiting for somebody to climb him or her.
B Two big eggs on a carton.
E A ladder that is waiting for a man to climb on her or him.
L A table that is waiting for food.
Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade
Ryan
R A no neck person with no arms
Y A half a stickman, a fancy champagne glass
A Candy corn
N The extreme slide
Ismael
I Pencils stacked on each other
S A slithering cobra
M Two mountains filled with ice
A Pac-Man with a stick in the middle
E A broken comb
L A store wall meeting the sidewalk
Jeremy
J President Lincoln with his hat
e An eye of a silly dog
r A candy cane
e A nest with eggs
m Bunny ears
y My conductor conducting me
Maria
M Two mountains dancing in the middle of nowhere
A Two people hugging because they just met their true love
R A big slide and stairs beside it. Kids going to slide but be careful not to fall
I A street where cars stop nearby and say hello while they kiss their brides
A A big lady walking down the street knowing she forgot to put on shoes
Samuel
S A snake sticking out its tongue and making the noise s-e-e-e...
A A person's face with a mustache and with his mouth open
M The mountains all snowy and cold with the sunrise up every day
U A horse shoe
E The cities that are always busy and have lights on all the time
L A crocodile's mouth with its sharp pointy teeth
Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade
Luz
L A comfy chair
U A face smiling
Z A sand timer
Jesica
J A big noodle like a J.
E A door that has a little window.
S An eight like a squirrelly snake.
I Like a circle table.
C Like a gooey worm.
A Two people hugging each other.
Elizabeth
E A ping-pong ball trying to find the finish line.
L A foot going inside a shoe.
i A pink lollipop
z An accordion being squished up.
a A girl with a ponytail
b A baby with a birthday hat.
e An umbrella
t A cross
h A chair
Diego
D A loaf of bread
i The Sears Tower about to be destroyed
e A miner under the earth
g A girl in bed
o I'm playing with a soccer ball
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Ideogram Poems
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Special Project, part 1: My Heart
With Valentine's Day approaching, with its barrage of red frilly hearts, I wanted to take a different look at the heart. We did this with the help of "Little Clown, My Heart" by Sandra Cisneros. The students brainstormed images that they associate with the heart, which I wrote on the board. I then asked them to write their own "My Heart" poems, BUT with the rule that they must not use any of the words on the board (many of them stock heart imagery: red, love, family, pink, Valentine's Day, etc.). Amid groans, they wrote poems comparing their hearts to people, things, machines, etc. I think they were surprised by what they could come up with.
This is the first part of a special project that I am doing with these classes. Next week we will revise our poems, and made illustrations to go with them, which will be posted in the school hallway. Stay tuned for photos!
###
Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade
My Heart
Miguel C.
Little computer, my heart writes
all the time sometimes and sometimes
you don't. You broke apart and then
you come in one piece and you
work again.
Little Metal, My Heart
Sergio H.
Little metal, it does not move, and
jumps into the fire. My heart is not
burned, he goes to the water, steam comes
out of the water. My heart is black.
My Heart Different Colors
Jocelyn H.
I have different colors in my heart.
My heart is like my teeth, all
going to fall off, oh now, when,
today, Monday or Friday.
My Little Heart
Zamira M.
Little heart that shines in the
dark. And walks in the fire. Also
swims in the purple water. It's filled with
love to my family.
###
Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade
My Heart is a Snowman
Maricarmen J.
Little snowman heart,
sometimes you jump a lot.
Sometimes when you are happy you
like dancing the song of Frosty.
And she said to me, if I tell her
something bad she is going to
get out from me.
The Heart that is an Angel
Hazael G.
The angel heart always
helps me and tells me not
to be afraid. And to be brave.
Untitled
Kevin C.
My heart is an eagle and
flies around my body.
My Heart
Luis M.
My heart is funny.
My heart plays the piano.
My heart is blue.
My heart rides a car.
My heart jumps around the house.
My heart goes to school.
My heart is a clock.
My heart puts 100 jackets.
My heart is a volcano.
My heart is a giant.
###
Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade
Untitled
Sergio P.
My heart is fun. It also has friends:
my lungs and brain. When my
heart hates me it turns black
and kicks my lungs. My heart thinks
it's smarter than my brain.
The Heart
Joel D.
My heart fights, drives.
My heart lives. My heart
explodes when it cries. My heart
is a box of chocolate.
The Heart that Plays Soccer
Moises A.
My heart is green. When it sees a ball it
goes and kicks it. It is also filled with red stuff.
When I roast marshmallows it gets hot. My heart
does cartwheels. It also jumps around. I feel good
about many different things my heart does. It is also
fun.
My Heart Pumps Blue Blood
Judith G.
When I bleed it's red blood. When
I bleed it's red sangre, it hurts sometimes.
Mi corazon me da mis wesos sangre. Then my
blood gives my skull blood. Mostly my body
is water, when I sweat I lose a little
water, then I drink water and go to sleep
so my bones can get stronger and stronger.
That's what my heart does.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Odes
"Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market" by Pablo Neruda sings the praises of a large, dead, and presumably stinky fish, by exploring the speaker's fascination with and wonder about the life the fish led and the depths it explored. I asked my students to choose something that they would normally think of as gross, strange, scary, or otherwise not something you would write an ode about, and sing its praises in a poem.
I got this writing idea from another Poet-in-Residence, Meredith Clark. Many of the students attacked the idea of praising an unexpected object with gusto, although with one classroom they only got as far as thinking of something gross (many skunks and snakes), and perhaps got too caught up in the grossness to get around to praising.
One student wrote an ode to her socks; she was unaware of the Neruda take on this one. Her piece contains some nice wordplay, too. Some students went as far as to engage in some fantastic speculation, such as inviting the object of their ode to tea, or imagining that maybe it could jump 2,000 feet.
###
Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade
Worms
Miguel C.
Oh worms, you go down in the ground.
You go up when it's raining.
and you stay on the floor until
the ground is dry and you go
down again.
Ode to a Snail
Araceli V.
Oh snail, you are so pretty. You came
from a little house. You look like a sphere.
I like how you swim. Then one day
one medium fish ate him.
Baby Octopus
Teresa P.
Oh, octopus, you have eight
legs. But you are pretty.
The octopus lives in the
ocean. There are some octopus that
have six legs. I wish I was
an octopus so that I had more
animal friends.
Oh Stinky Bug Come
Nicole O.
Oh, stinky bug, you are so smelly.
Oh, stinky bug, you're green and slimy.
Oh, stinky bug, you're so smelly, slimy,
and stinky. Come come stinky old bug,
come to my house for a tea party.
And the stinky bug said, "Thank you
for the tea."
###
January 23, 2007
Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade
Skunk
Omar S.
Oh Skunk, you’re so smelly that
you can kill people. And with
that smell if you put it on me
I have to wash myself with
tomato juice.
Snake
Luis M.
Oh snake, you’re a bad animal.
Oh, snake, you’re a bad animal
because you kill animals. Oh cat,
you’re bad because you have sharp
nails.
Skunk
Vanessa G.
Skunk, you are stinky and
really ugly because you
smell. If you didn’t
stink and smell you
would be pretty.
###
Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade
Ode to a little earthworm in the soil
Sergio P.
Oh,
Earthworm, Earthworm, with
your pink rolling eyes. You move
swirly around the dirt and sidewalk.
You got no legs but you can crawl
around. You sometimes eat grass--
that's vegetables to you--and the
soil is like a healthy soup to you.
The tip of your head is like a light
so you can see through your made-up
tunnels.
Ode to My Socks
Melissa V.
Oh,
sock oh sock
you move my feet
you can make me
warm of my feet
sole. I love my socks
and they are my
soul.
Ode to a Rat
Jordy D.
Oh rat, you are so furry, you
live in the attic where most people
are afraid of. Oh rat, you are
so small nobody else is smaller
than you, if only I could be
as small as you.
Frog
Judith G.
Oh frog I see you slimy.
Maybe you stick to ice.
Or you can stick your tongue
to a pole.
You might eat leaves.
Maybe you could jump 2,000
feet up.
Or you can count money.
You might be a red-eyed tree
frog
That's what I think you can
do.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Mood and Setting Poems
For this lesson, I used fellow poet-in-residence Laura Van Prooyen's Mood and Setting lesson on "Preludes (I)" by T.S. Eliot. In many of my classes, I had the students close their eyes and try and picture their own neighborhood at a particular time of day during a particular season, then asked them to write their own poems, focusing on their senses and trying to convey to the reader a particular mood. The results were very nice!
Mr. K, Rm. 205
3rd Grade
Midnight at My Backyard
Celina S.
It is cold and it is 10 pm.
It is fall and sounds like
crickets and dogs. It smells
like pinetrees. I am alone, it
is windy. People turn on their
lights. I see a rat and mouse.
Something is with me what
could it be? Yet I'm alone, who
is there? Nobody is at home.
Yet I feel someone is with me.
I look around and nobody
is there. Until I saw someone.
There you are! I found you,
you're it! I see you there!
Catch me if you can!
The Outside
David C.
It is the middle of fall
both cold and warm. It is 10 pm
the leaves are whistling in the wind and some
are captured in the ground and some of
them are crushed in the street.
I walked around, I saw a squirrel
getting ready to feast on an acorn,
also a rabbit dancing with its own kind.
The Night
Elizabeth C.
It was 9:30 of the night
outside my house. There were
birds singing. It was winter.
My friend was outside. And she lived
outside. So I invited her in.
My house to warm up. And
then her parents found her.
They treated her bad.
So they told her to come
back with us and we adopted
her. Her name was Isa.
Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, Rm. 001
3rd Grade
Untitled
Shawn
It is winter
it is
cold
it is snowing
the streets
are slippery
It is 3:05 am.
Nobody is
out
side
but me
I am
playing
in the
park.
The Angry Sun
Raymond C.
The summer sun has begun down
come the leaves all crunchy and hard.
The sun's light bright like a light so
bright like a light so hot like a
steak. The sun is hot like a soup too
hot too bright like a light at 4 o'clock.
The Man
Salvador I.
Summer has sprung his leaf,
it was 7:00 am, an old man was
walking he was starving, he saw
Chinese buffet at the corner, he
went in, see he paid $10 for him
he ate all he wanted, even carrots.
Untitled
Ruben
The summer has begun, kids
are playing, talking, laughing,
that means summer is here.
Most hate cleaning up,
most hate playing the same
things, oh but not me
because it makes me be a
better person, also it makes
me read and study for next
year, but I'm not scared,
I don't have fear.
Ms. Marfise, Rm. 002
3rd Grade
Untitled
Veronica G.
The summer evening burns up
As I crawl back from school
four o'clock
I smell steak and I go down
stairs. "I finished my homework,
can I have steak?" I yelled to my
dad. We set up the pool and
filled it with water. The trees get
wet while I enter the pool. On a
hot summer day.
I.
Denise B.
The summer sun is rising
8 o'clock
Morning run, walking dogs.
Playing catch, having breakfast.
My Neighborhood
Mireya
The summer sunshine warms my face.
It is 12 pm in the scary house. A lamp
is flying. The sofa is jumping. The clock
is ticking. The bed is walking. And also
the TV is turning channels without touching
the control.
Untitled
Elizabeth C.
Spring has a beautiful sky
Sun is light
Flowers are growing
Trees are growing their green
leaves
People are getting out of their
house.
Untitled
Shalynn S.
The summer night settles
down with the moon shining
bright on the cold blue pool. The bugs
are out at 9 o'clock. I smell the
burning hot dogs on the grill
my dad makes. The night is
bright like a lightbulb that gets
changed every morning when the
sun comes out where the water
tube stands still.
Ms. McCormick, Rm. 214
3rd Grade
Summer
Alicia
It's summer
I love it
I picture
it like
myself
in the
pool with
my cousin
and we
jump in
the pool
and it is morning
at 6:00 and
it sounds like
the jungle because
me and my cousin
were screaming
and we had
lots of fun outside in
the pool
Spring
Casandra S.
It was a nice day and it was Saturday.
The birds were singing and it smelled
like the nature trees, also looked like a doll
house life. The sun up, the flowers were
flowering, pretty ones too. I feel like a lonely
girl. Good morning to you.
Summer
Laura
Summer morning
looks so bright as a shiny
day would. Feels so soft
and fluffy like a pillow. As you melt
stop, I say. Don't melt, but
under a shadow. Don't worry,
I'll be back. But so warm
I melt too with my carrot
nose.
Mrs. Rodriguez, Rm. 401
5th Grade
Spring
Esteban M.
It is spring early in the morning
the streets are quiet and the air is very windy
at 10 am
It smells like a burning car that
just had a crash and I could see the
leaves of the trees turning red and yellow.
It sounds like two dogs barking
and fighting.
It tastes like people just got up in the
morning, making breakfast right
outside my house.
A Summer Morning
Lizeth
It was a summer in the
morning at 11:30 am. I went
outside, I smelled the fresh wind,
and I felt like flying on the
wind. Then my friend came and told
me let's go swim. So then we
went inside the water. I felt like swimming
all around like a mermaid.
The next day I felt like doing
the same thing.
Summer Day
Esmeralda T.
In a summer morning
the air smells fresh
10 o'clock
The sun comes up.
The birds come home
and stay on their
nest like a stone.
A mother comes with
a baby,
the baby walks to
a tree and tries to
climb it.
The mother laughs
The baby found a hat
It sounds like a bird
song.
The summer tastes
like flames of fire.
The baby looks up
at the birds on the
tree and the birds
come closer.
It's summer again.
Summer
Ryan
The summer came and it was hard.
The cement from the road is getting replaced.
The scorching heat melts us.
Inside is freezing due to the air conditioning.
The ice cream melts before we eat it.
When you reheat food
no need to use the microwave.
Ms. Breen, Rm. 201
3rd Grade
Summer
Jesica G.
The neighborhood is clean
everybody is happy, people
are walking their dogs
kids are playing with their
pets and other people, birds
are flying outside.
The Hot Sun
Diego L.
Summer is good
You can have
a pool. It smells like
a cool summer breeze.
I feel hot and
I head to put on
a tan.
Sunny Days and Hot Days
Cynthia M.
In a hot sunny day
Eating ice cream
Being fresh
Being wet
Happy times
Playing
Fun
Splashing in pools
Hanging out with friends
Going to pool parks
Enjoying
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
This is a poem. (3rd grade)
Over the winter break, I read For Love by Robert Creeley, and shared his poem, "Please," with the students today. It's a poem that refers to itself as a poem, which I find to be a curious and fun construction, and one that I thought the kids could dig into. I invited them to write a poem that could make statements like: "This poem is for..." "This poem is about..." etc. I also asked that they include a QUESTION, an ANIMAL, and the NAME of someone they know (all of which Creeley's poem does). Many of the students took a theme or idea presented by Creeley's poem (violence, loneliness, lostness), and riffed on those. I'm also seeing other lessons, like personification and metaphor, integrating into these poems. Fun!
###
Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade
You Know
Lesly L.
This is a poem for...
You know.
I know sometimes you know
and sometimes you don't know.
I know what is the animal
that has ears and four legs.
It's the donkey. What is the
animal with four legs and
is in the water?
It's the frog.
Colors Colors Everywhere
Nicole O.
This is a poem for colors.
The colors are dancing, and they're
saying, "Hello everybody, we're dancing."
The colors are going to the
movies and they're eating popcorn. Then
they go to school and they say,
"Hello everybody."
Kids
for Lesly Lopez
Andrea P.
Oh Lesly let's go.
This is a poem for Vanessa Melesio.
Everywhere I see
kids shooting. Kids kids kids kids.
This is a poem for Citlali Sanchez.
I want to go to my house to
my house. This is a poem about
a tiger that was lazy. Lazy.
Tiger. Lazy. Tiger. I want you
to go to school. Are you goofy,
mad, excited?
A Poem
Sergio H.
This is a poem for Joaquin. Tired like a turtle
that goes slow on day and night. I know
someone that is my friend and he likes
to play. He likes to play the PSP and
Playstation. My friend and me have
the same game for the PSP. Please come
to my house if you feel alone.
###
Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade
Little Girl is Lost
Alexsandra A.
A little girl that was
lost says, "I want to go home
but I do not know where is
my house," says girl to a
boy and the boy said, "Do you
know who is your mom?"
"Yes, but I don't know
where is my mom."
This poem is for my mom.
Bird
Yacsel H.
This poem is about a bird who can fly.
He was tired of flying.
He can fly because he has to
fly and fly tired and tired.
My Best Friend
Angelica V.
This poem is for Alexsandra.
A little dog that died.
Are you sad, Alexsandra?
Do you know someone?
All Kinds of Things
Hazael G.
This poem is for God.
Oh, God, where are you, I need
to talk with you. In Iraq
is shooting, shooting, and
shooting at people and dying.
People die here too.
How do you feel?
###
Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade
Untitled
Zalma R.
This poem is for puppy.
A lazy puppy. A friendly tiger.
A smart monkey. This is for
Michelle. Are you lazy, friendly, and smart?
This is for Jazmin. A horse so
sleepy. People so smart like monkeys.
Are you as friendly as a tiger?
Tell us tell us.
Hello for Ms. Hamdan
Giselle H.
The dog is trying to say hello
to the beauty queen Ms. Hamdan. Mr.
Heartman is trying to give the model Ms.
Hamdan a crown that says, "Hello, Model."
She appreciates the attention but she
wishes she was just a plain
old person. She tells them both. Mr.
Heartman and the dalmation dog dropped
their mouths open. Then along comes
the mice from Alvin and the Chipmunks.
They sing to Ms. Hamdan a song.
They she asks, "Why are you doing
this for me today? It's not my
birthday."
Untitled
Sergio P.
This is a poem for a
hammerhead shark.
Hammerhead shark hammer
head shark don't swim away.
How fast do you swim? Take
my friend for a ride while
there is no shark fight.
The Poem of People
Angel A.
This poem is for Ms. Hamdan.
My uncle is nice. Mr. Hartman
is so funny. My favorite animal
is a lion, tiger, and a leopard.
What's your favorite animal?
Who's your favorite class?
Who is smart from your class?
Monday, January 14, 2008
Color Poems
Brazilian poet, Adelia Prado, writes passionately and intensely about the color "Purple," sometimes using it in unusual ways. After I read Prado's poem in English, a student read it in Portuguese; students were asked which words 'sounded' more purple to them -- "purple," "morado" or "púrpura" -- and which version of the poem they preferred, regardless of whether they understood it in Portuguese. We discussed parts of speech and personification as well. Students were then asked to write their own poems, using a favorite color in as many ways as possible.
Ms. Fialkowski, 5th Grade
Colors
Bella R.
Green like a beautiful garden
black the deep side inside you
yellow like a sun
the beautiful blue like the ocean
divine colors
brown is eager
the bright color pink
that Navy blue color
the passion of red
white like a construction
paper
orange the color of the
juicy orange fruit
purple the purple grapes
one by one
those beautiful colors
there and here comes and
goes
those colors
I love those colors
Pink
Katy R.
Pink feels soft
like a soft petal
of a rose blooming under
the shining sun,
pink looks bright
like the blue sky
shining in the
morning with the sun.
Pink sounds like a
quiet ant trying to
escape from the
anteater,
pink tastes like
a pink cake with
strawberry ice cream inside
with red juicy strawberries
on top.
White
Johnny S.
White is a silky web
White is creamy white milk
White is a splashing white wail
White is a big ice cream cone
White has been in Egypt
or likely France
but the reason I like
is not the big blue it is
red white and blue
Ms. Michel, 5th Grade
Rainbow
Vanessa L.
I am painting with pink
I love blue
I love a good shower and a hot sun
and love a curve so come out of the sky stop
hiding rain come out rainbow so
I can see the world.
Black
Magdalena R.
Black bananas.
Black hair.
Black is a TV screen when it is off.
Black coffee.
Black bags.
Black shirt or pants.
Black pens, pencils.
Blue
Daisy V.
Blue is when it is sunny
outside. Blue like the ocean.
Blue as a blue house. Blue
like my blue pen.
Blue like the blue color.
Blue sky when I went
to Mexico.
Blue as my blue socks.
Blue as my sister's gym
shoes.
Ms. Hughesdon, 5th Grade
Color Blue
Claudia A.
Blue sky at morning
and at dark at night.
Blue shoe that goes
and comes.
I like blue and
red likes blue
how narrow can it
be. Blue's what name, can it
flight Blue's Clues?
Blue ocean blue
morning. Oh blue
oh blue what can
you do?
Blue December
and blue planet.
Oh oh oh blue
shy blue.
Brown
Jose B.
Brown is the color of
chocolate cake, chocolate milk.
Brown is mean, a brown dog
barking, trying to bite.
Mud is mean to me too
it gets you dirty. Brown
reminds me of a football
when they throw it.
Green
Carlos M.
Green is light of the grass. Green
is a rich color because the dollars are
green. The sky in Antarctica has
a green color. I smell like fresh
trees. I taste like green Doritos.
I sound like the air blowing
the trees. Green is an interesting
color you see it all around you.
When I see it it makes me
think like dirty water. Even though
green is a very special color.
Ms. Montoya, 5th Grade
Black
Ivan M.
Black – really dark
Spooky maybe
Some people's favorite color, some not
Black like a wolf for attack
So sad
A hollow word
So mysterious
Black really ferocious
A bright color's enemy
People's nightmares
Black like enemy's attack
Black so evil
Black
Yellow
Cristian O.
yellow brings out the light
and sprouts like a blooming
flower rises from the ground
and lets us see the world
nothing like a sour lemon
but actually like a
dandelion just waiting
to sprout
Blue the Color of Life
Diana R.
Blue is the color
of life, passing
by light blue in
the morning dark
blue at night
blue like the rain
crystal like a
diamond blue
is the ocean
blue is the dolphins
blue is a violet
blue is too many
things with or
without movement
blue is to that
night when stars
were alive blue
is when the
stars are moving
through the night
or the moon
shining bright.
Blue is to
the ice age
but blue will
always be the
color of life.
Ms. Graefen, 5th Grade
Green
Magdalena F.
Green is everywhere you look.
A green sky morning and night.
Green trees and flowers
And even snow
Green rain
But one little thing is not green
The huge bright yellow sun.
Blue
Jacob S.
The sky is blue
it's blue. The ocean
is blue I see
my reflection in it
as if it were a
mirror. Splash I
hear from sea
animals when
it's raining. The
sky purples I hear
splash from blue
rain drops dropping
blue, blue, blue, blue.
Blue
Osvaldo T.
Blue, the color of the sky
added with white of the clouds.
The color of the ocean, rivers, lakes,
streams, flow, flow, flow.
Blueberries, sweet and juicy.
Blue color of the world with green.
Favorite colors of many people,
and I am one of them. Blue.
Mr. Heredia, 5th Grade
Red
Deisy C.
Red puts me in a
good mood. Red
is the color of
an ugly sweater
my aunt gave
me. Wine that
is red that
looks like blood.
A red car speeding
and passing the
red light. Red
the color of
my necklace.
Red the color I
chose to
like. The red
cheeks on
someones face
in the winter.
Red the color
of hearts
on Valentine's.
Red the color
of my favorite
team, Las
Chivas.
Gray
Carina G.
The sky is gray
oh I see a yellow
crazy man running
oh wait a minute
it's Homer Simpson.
A rose turning black.
A gray man walking
with a cane.
I see small pink children
with curly tails,
a brown reindeer without
antlers,
a brown and black fly flying
everywhere.
The clouds have danger.
A pink man shoveling.
Lavender Lilac
Stephanie M.
Lavender makes the world color.
Like a lilac.
The lilac lavenders into a flower.
A lavender lilacs into a color.
Me, lilac and lavender walking
down lilac garden.
Lavender such a rich, radiant
natural color that expresses
the fresh rivers, nature, and
style.
Me, lilac and lavender.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Dialogue Poems
I am often hooked on a poem by its use of argument and voice - contemporary British poet John Fuller's "An Exchange Between the Fingers and the Toes" is definitely one of these poems.
Just as often as I am hooked by it the complexity of a poem's figures belies its core simplicity. This poem essentially outlines a bragging contest between fingers and toes, which turned out to be a really fun prompt - I asked the kids to pick two body parts (not necessarily ones typically paired, though these often generated the most ideas) and write a dialogue between them. Who wins the argument? Why?
Mr. K., 3rd Grade
Eyes and Ears
Damien M.
Eyes could see your fingers,
arms, toes, everywhere, kitchen, and your mom.
Ears can hear people fight. Listen, birds,
animals, the ocean, lakes, Pacific Ocean.
An Exchange Between the Hands and the Feet
Alexis J.
Hands: I can scratch. I can point. I
can punch hard. I can smack. I can
push. I can hug.
Feet: I kick. I dance. I walk.
I move.
Braggers
Reymundo A.
Brain: I can help you think. You
could talk without say it out loud
If you're having a test I can
help you. I can grow bigger if you
learn more. I might have a headache
and your head might hurt.
Heart: I can help you live
that is better than a
brain. I can beat. If
I stop beating you might
stop living. I could get
you in a lot of trouble.
Ms. Sandoval-Johnson, 3rd Grade
Bones and Heart
Jonathan V.
Bones: Heart, you can't
flex or stretch like us.
Heart: Well, no I can't
stretch, but I can pump
blood and keep people
alive.
Bones: Well, I protect you.
If somebody tries to
shoot you the breast bone
protects you all the
time.
Heart: My blood
is everywhere.
Better Eyes and Ears
Alejandra I.
Blink, your eyes shut as The ears hear sounds
the eyes have puddles of water We shall
hear what other things say or see it in a
way. The hearing of music fills with joy Our
eyes are shiny, the ears hear singing.
Between Eyes/Ears
Oscar O.
Comrade, I have more awesome things
than you, I can see and you can't
I know, but I can hear and you don't
I know that, but you can't look around
in circles I hear things they are saying
can you?
Ms. Marfise, 3rd Grade
The heart and the ribs
Andres E.
I keep you alive from the dead.
I protect you all the time night sun I will always
protect you from the dead.
I hate you ribs forever.
I hate you to heart.
I am not your friend, said heart.
I am not your friend either, said ribs.
Brain vs. Heart
Veronica
Heart:
I can breathe and make kids live,
but you just lay there like a
bit fat exploding pillow.
I can float,
but you just sit on your little
stool telling kids wrong answers.
You don't do anything.
Brain:
You are wrong. I'm the
one who controls you. I am
not saying I am better than
you. I can't believe you are
a heart but not sweet.
Arms and Neck
Shalynn S.
Arms:
You think you're cool that you
can wiggle, but we got muscles
that sizzle, we hang down
you hold a head. You are
under a turtleneck when we
have sleeves.
Neck:
Yes, I do hold a ton
I do got muscles, how
do you think I hold the
head? You are lazy, all you do
is hang. I am strong, I
can crack which is a song
to me. I hope you know
I'm strong too!
The heart and the brain
Elizabeth C.
I help the body
I pump the blood
I help to learn to
read and do math
I help the body stay alive
But I learn to take books
from the library.
Mrs. Rodriguez, 5th Grade
Untitled
Jeremy T.
Heart:
I am the one who keeps the human alive
I am better because I pump blood
into every part of the body, I am
the one who does everything
I also have to stay in one
spot and never move!
Brain:
I am actually the one who
keeps the human alive
you may pump blood into every
part of the body because I
make you, I am actually the
one who does everything, if
it weren't for me you wouldn't even
live one day or second. I'm the
one who tells everyone to do everything!
P.S. I stay in one
spot too!
Mouth vs. Ears
Ismael H.
Mouth: You aren't needed, I am more
important than you, I am the one to
speak while you are merely weak
I'm the one they put in food to
eat and you just sit there and
do nothing
Ears: Without me you wouldn't be
able to hear anything and be
confused, you are not needed at all
I hear things and you get our master in trouble,
you make him say bad words and talk too
much, I let him hear stuff and am more
important, end of conversation.
Eyes and Heart
Beverly A.
Heart
I can speed up but you can't see me
because I'm inside of you
I stay in one place, bored, I'm just speeding up
The color I am is red and I have blood and veins
I can feel you touching me almost every day
I feel you running and doing exercises,
and when you stop I speed up.
Eyes
I can roll my eyes but you can't see me,
because I see with you
I can see everything in the whole world
I am a color and you know what color
I am
When you close me I can't see anything
because you are sleeping
You put contacts on me, in different colors
Toes and Fingers
Emmanuel M.
Toes
Oh toes you help me in different things, you are like a charm to me. You help me touch
the sky. You are like a trampoline to me and let me go free. You let me move
place to place, you are better than cake.
Fingers
But we fingers are things that help humans reach
although we are clumsy, we can help in different ways
we are better, we're like two noodles, two noodles that
are helpful.
Ms. Breen, 3rd Grade
An Exchange between the brain and the eyes
Elizabeth
Brain
I can do math problems
I can think up stuff and you
can't, you sit in those holes
all the time, you can't do anything.
Eyes
Don't be mean, I can do more than
sit in holes all day. I can cross my
eyes, I can see things like dogs, cats, birds,
trees, and other things. You can't see
things you can only think things.
I see colors and don't, I see colors
like pink, green, yellow, and red.
Poem
Jocelyn
You can't love someone with all
your wrists.
You can't run your fingers
in your curly wrists.
You can't look into someone's
blue wrists.
An Exchange between the mouth and the hair
Julie G.
Mouth: You always bother the
person and I help the person
say things. You don't do anything. I
eat and you don't. I help people
talk and say poetry, math, and other
better words than hair.
Hair: Oh no you didn't! You talk
the whole day and I don't. I help
the person look good and pretty. I
grow and you don't. And you
always need to get lipstick. I
let the person paint myself. you
look ugly. The person can brush
myself. And you are always
naked and I'm not because
they put on a ponytail holder.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Las mamás con bebé, busy mailmen, featherless turkeys, invisible babies, and one-eyed dogs.
Guadalupe Morfín's poem "Las mamás con bebé" ("Mothers With a Baby") lists both practical and fantastical needs that might come to the aid of a mother with a baby. I asked the students to then think of their own "_____ with _____", a person with some kind of responsibility or problem, and a list of real and magical things that could help them. The results were varied, often hilarious and/or touching. One class got completely caught up with imagining elaborate “problems,” many of which had to do with being gruesomely maimed, strangely enough (“20 fathers who fall off of helicopters from 2,000 feet,” “The bus driver with no eyeballs,” etc.). They were also apparently obsessed with one-upping each other in terms of quantity (2,000 hamburgers, 30 Santa Clauses, 20 fathers, etc.). Exuberance.
###
Ms. Vilchis, Rm. 202, 3rd grade
Invisible Baby
Zamira M.
One day I didn’t
find my brother,
then I heard a
voice. “Junior, where
are you?” “Next to
you. It’s because I
am invisible.” “That
is not true.” “Look
next to you and I’m
going to turn colors.”
Then I turned around
and I saw many colors.
“Where’s Mom?” said Junior.
“In the kitchen. Let’s go.”
“No. She is going to be
scared. I need a magic wand.”
“Here you go.”
A Turkey with No Feathers
Abel V.
The turkey needs a sweater
because he is cold.
The turkey needs feathers.
The turkey needs a school to learn.
Mothers with Babies
Daniel R.
All the mothers always have
a baby, sometimes
some mothers need to have
some elves to sing a song or tell a
story for the babies to sleep
and the mothers, too, so the
babies can sleep with their
mothers in the beds, so
the babies sleep when the
moms go to sleep, the babies
go to sleep too with their
mothers in the beds.
###
Ms. Vazzana, Rm. 104, 3rd grade
My Mom
Vanessa G.
My mom needs to call the police
to chase my sister and call the
firemen to help her to change
her diaper.
About Mother
Maritza R.
My mom loves to play games and cars.
Mother eats some hot chile and popcorn.
My mother loves to be nice and good
and my dad loves to eat some pizza
and go to school.
Teacher
Luis M.
The teacher doesn’t need toys.
The teacher needs a computer.
The teacher needs a princess
to give her a pencil.
###
Ms. Hamdan, Rm. B15, 3rd grade
Mailmans with Many Mails
Jordy D.
mailmans with many mails need
Santa to deliver some
a mailman needs only on email
to deliver
a mailman needs a wand to poof
the mail gone
A Mailman is Being Chased by a One-Eyed Dog
Andy L.
The mailman needs to buy a
fake eye so the dog could
stop.
30 Santa Clauses pop out
of nowhere and give him
a fake eye.
He buys the eye
and he gives it to
the one-eyed dog.
Untitled
Judith G.
Dogs that can’t find bones.
Turkeys don’t have colorful wings.
Cats that only smell dogs.
Snowmans don’t have a body.
Frosty doesn’t have an orange
nose; he has a pink rainbow nose.
The president doesn’t have hair.
Toucans don’t have big
long beaks.
Bamboos are really called
bambutts because they show
their butts.
Ms. J the Poetry Teacher
Giselle H.
Ms. J needs an assistant. She needs
one because her voice is tired of
talking. She needs a script with words
she’s going to say. Make that two
assistants: one to do the talking and
the other to give her the script.
She needs a robot to pass out
the poems. She has another problem.
She needs another pair of glasses
to see if someone is talking.
She needs a fairy to give her the money.
She also needs a cup of magic Coke
to give her lots of energy. If her
head ever goes wild we can shut her
up with chocolate chip cookies.
Professor
Sebastian C.
A professor that is late
for work needs a jet
pack to get there, but there is
one problem: his papers fell.