Poetry in Fourth Grade

The fourth grade has been exploring ideas about themselves and the world they live in while also delving into questions that may have no answers through their poetry. Each day we tried something new and went in different directions. The students are now busy revising and editing. They have been working on figuring out where they can take away words that weaken the feeling of their poems and examine if there might be a more concise expression or stronger word to express an action or idea. Here's a sampling of our work:

Kids

Dancing kids

Flattered modern children

Grown-ups, children, parents, children

Ordinary child, capable child

Baby child, kid mother

The schoolboy weeping fury

Bullied child so vulnerable

Little cruel heartless child

Magnificent loving child

~Samara

BARN

Sweet smelling horses

Birdsong a melody

A kind gentle nose, a touch to the hand

Cobwebs line the ceiling

Hay scattered on the floor

An old barn at the end of a twisted lane

Grass up to your knee tickles at the touch

Tall trees sway like dancers with the song of birds you can't see

Wooden barn painted white

You are beautiful in many ways

That is why I always come back to you.  

~ Grace 

Good

It’s hard to be poor.

But it makes people think that it’s easy to be rich.

But that is a lie

There is no man who is better because of money

People think that money is how you make a great nation.

For people must not waste food

For there are people who are hungry

Everyone must be grateful for what

they have.

~ Ian 

Students also read poems and analyzed them in an attempt to get at  different voices. They were challenged to write about what they felt like in order to express their own unique voices. 

Challenges

My mom loves cappuccino.

 I wish I never had a low heart rate.

 I  hate raw eggs. 

Is it bad to confuse someone?

It’s like a challenge. 

I wish it was summer. 

My friends look at me in disgust. 

I look at the pipe cleaners.

~ Elise 

A Perfect Day

      

Today was a perfect day. 

It was warm.

I didn’t even need a sweatshirt.

The air felt warm and smooth.

It was perfect for me.

I saw Mohan walking home.

He looked happy.

Because he also loves warm weather.

I needed water.

The water fountain had cold water.

Exactly what I needed.

The sky was blue and pretty.

It was the first time it felt hot this year. 

In the winter it’s so hard putting coats on.

And parents are always reminding you – put your coat on Laszlo!

But on a day like today,

You can just run outside

Jump around

You don’t need your parents reminding you to wear your coat,

Because you don’t need one.

~ Lazlo