It's May.
The 30th.
I think maybe I need to stop committing to a poem a day during April's Poetry Month festivities. Or ever. Because life makes me a liar. :)
But today, I do have poems for you. But not by me. My third graders are a spectacular bunch of kids who happen to love poetry--hearing it...reading it...writing it.
Michelle, over at Today's Little Ditty, had a great interview with Elizabeth Steinglass, who gave a challenge: write a poem of instruction to an inanimate object.
My kids tried it and, as usual, did a great job. We try to write quick poems--I give them between 10-20 minutes to write a poem and we decided to not worry about rhythm or rhyme (though some couldn't stop themselves--I totally understand!) but instead to focus on making good word choices.
Happy reading!
Instructions for Crayons
Be pink for a drink.
Be green for a bean.
Be yellow for Jello.
Be red for bread.
Be blue for clues.
Black...oh, yeah...be black for a black Cadillac.
Jessica, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's Class
Instructions for a Playground
Stuff outside, be fun.
Be a fun place to play.
People like recess.
Antoine, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's class
Star Instructions
Star in the sky,
shine so bright.
Only come
out in the night.
Be sparkly
and shiny
when you glow.
Ani, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's Class
Star in the sky,
shine so bright.
Only come
out in the night.
Be sparkly
and shiny
when you glow.
Ani, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's Class
Instructions for Video Game Controller
Move smoothly.
Don't break.
I'm awake.
Ready to play
my video game.
If somebody takes you,
if they break you...
...they're in for it.
Aaron, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's class
Instructions to a Car
Do not run out of gas
Always stay powered up
Go, drive away
Down and up.
Go, go, go, as fast as you can!
Be very big just like a minivan.
Flash your lights.
Beep your horn!
As long as you're driving in the morn.
Naomi, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's class
Sun Instructions
Shine real bright.
Don't come at night.
Don't come close to Earth.
When Winter comes, knock him back to
Aunt Artica.
Be the star of the show.
Let everybody know:
you shine bright.
Isabella, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's class
Bike Instructions
Don't let me fall!
Hold me tight!
Don't blow your wheel!
Don't let me slide like a seal.
Don't let my feet slide.
I don't want to use training wheels.
Listen to what I say.
If you don't,
I'll love you anyway.
Isabella, 3rd Grader
in Mrs. Hoeft's class
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