After a few weeks off, we reunited for our penultimate sessions, reading and discussing “maggie and milly and molly and may” by E. E. Cummings. I suggested that this poem was a kind of ‘greatest hits’ for many of the stylistic elements we’d examined previously: rhyme, both exact and near; grammar, such as so-called improper capitalization, punctuation, and spacing; personification and metaphor. Cummings has fun with readers’ technical expectations, while also describing a trip to the beach by four girls “to play one day,” where each encounters something individually—“a shell that sang,” “a stranded star,” “a horrible thing,” “a smooth round stone”—that effects them. We wondered about particulars, such as their ages and relationships, and pondered the poem’s final line: “It’s always ourselves we find in the sea.”
For the students’ own writing, friendship was the theme to be explored.
Ms. Kawa
4th Grade
Untitled Sonia G. My friend scared me as she shouted with glee I have a surprise you see she took off the cover and screamed with delight I got a fancy light. We all looked puzzled until she said we now could have pillow fights before bed without banging our heads. Friendship Hurts Sean J. we are friends in one shell racing to the beach into a well we want to do this so we don't get eaten only one can make it so you'd better get movin' Best Friends Forever Divya K. My BFF Best friend forever My bestie My best friend My favorite friend My most liked friend My BFF My best friend forever Always here for me Always there for me BFF are the best Recess Kai M. At 12 o'clock I go outside to the playground, swiftly I glide. Tag, protect, and many of mods, chasing and hiding, boundaries and all. A good 25 minutes of running and hiding and exhaustion and heat slips inside me. Into the building for ancillary classes SNOOZE! BORING! Lemme take off my glasses * sleeps * Friends Adelyn N. Friends. They're here to support you. Friends. They love to play with you. Friends. They entertain you. Friends. They help when you hurt. Friends. They are friends. Forever friends. Friendship Naomi T. Friendship is something that any wants you get it you keep it now it's something you need you feel it's deep it's a memory to keep. Hide it. Protect. Jingle and jangle and throw away the key. Friendship is something to keep.
Ms. Makris
4th Grade
Nature's Friends Ryan B. The rain is friends with the soil, because soil takes the rain and makes it help the plants. The plants are friends with the sun, because the sun gives the plants thrive and live. The sun is friends with the moon, because they cycle and meet each other in space. And finally, the moon is friends with the water, because it makes the tides and rain, starting the cycle over. Sophia, Selene, Camille, and Mabel Olivia C. Sophia, Selene, Camille, and Mabel went to a park one day. Sophia saw flowers and made a necklace. She gave it to everyone. Selene and a dog ran together. Then Selene noticed the dog was mad at her. Camille drew a beautiful picture about a park. Mabel played in the playground. Untitled Manny M. I was playing with my friend's xBox. Then we went to the park. We played basketball. Untitled Cayden M. Sometimes when me and my friends play tag or even sometimes we play basketball or we play at the park and have a lot of fun with each other. Happiness Naomi T. Have you ever heard of the most powerful source of happiness? What makes you enjoy life. Which gives you the power to move on. It's friendship. Who's always there for you.
Mr. O’Brien
4th Grade
Friendship for Eternity Urvi B. The Rivers and Lakes are my best friends. They Bring me good from Ice, Rain, and mountains. Oh how they fill me. I need to be filled. For I am the Great Ocean of the wide, the Sorcerer of life. We are friends for Eternity. For I fill them and they fill me. Untitled Dylan D. Friends come and friends go. You never know how long you have with a friend so savor the moment. Untitled Selene G. Sometimes friends come and friends go. But when friends go it can hurt. But you can always try to have a clean friendship. And choose the friends that will stay. And love them for infinity ∞ Older Friend Bronson K. My old friend Hendrick I met him in pre-K and sadly he left me in pre-K. Alexander Alistair L. Alexander, my friend. He got in trouble, and I slid up to him, “Alexander, wanna be my friend?” “How do you know my name?” I talked to him for a bit, and he became my friend. Untitled Emory M. Me and my cousin Carter always have really fun when we are together. One time we had fireworks and a big one tipped over and we ran and were laughing. Friendship Aniya R. Friendship is love like doves above I like to have friends. Friendship Bhavagna T. A star has 5 ends. A square has 4 ends. A triangle has 3 ends. A line has 2 ends. But a circle has no end, And so does friendship. Friendship Lucas Z. My best friend always plays with me. He helps and laughs with me. We don't fight. We play video games. Board games and a lot more. I have a lot of friends but this is my best friend and he always plays with me.
Ms. Nelson
4th Grade
Friendship Adysun A. When she walks in the room heads turn away from me to her. Short. Tall. Still pretty. No matter what. We care for each other. Look after their backs. We may have our ups and downs but who cares?! As long as we are together. We will help each other evolve and grow into wonderful ladies! Your Absence Victoria F. Liam my dearest friend, why did you have to go? I really miss you so. But it seems like no one cares about you. Dead or not, I would remember our fond memories. And I will keep wearing the friendship bracelet you gave me. Now here I am in the same park we used to play in the most. By the way mom made me. Friendship Matea K. The day I met you it was the best day of my life. But if I lose I will always have you. Seeing your beautiful eyes every time I see you, I'm glad I'm with you. I discovered a beautiful best friend when I saw you I'm happy I'm with you. But we will also have our friendship and we will never lose it. Friendship Marco P. Roommates friends brothers kids boys girls sisters cousins dogs cats hamster goodbye I'm fighting for our country goodbye my friends goodbye. Untitled Ella R. Friendships all come in different forms. Some break some stay for the rest of life. Some last a day some last an hour some last a minute some last forever some stay some go. But you know when it will last a long time. Some will stay some will go but you know when it will stay. Some only have only one friend. You will know who is a real friend and who is not. When there is laughter and fun. The Octopus (a friendship poem) Arjun R. I put on my scuba diving suit and dived into the water with my other recruits. The ocean life was colorful and sweet, with fish swimming, organized and neat. Here was the octopus, my very best friend, who our friendship has no end. We swam together in the beautiful sea, with many colors of blue and green. We became friends for life, no doubt it's true, and when we see each other, it takes away our gloom, When I Was the New Girl Eliza V. On the first day at school I walk in the classroom as shy as I can be. It was my first time at this school. I walk to the back of the class to find my seat. As I sit I look back I see a friendly smile. I say “hi” the girl in the back replies hi. A couple years later still friends so much friendship.
