This week for our 10th and last day of our residency, we celebrated with color. Together we read and discussed the poem “What You Need for Painting,” by Raymond Carter, based on a letter by famous French Artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. In his poem, Carver lists colors for a painter’s palette, which has interesting names such as Naples Yellow, Venetian Red, and Ultramarine Blue. A few students searched for images on their Chromebooks to see what these colors looked like based on their names.
I had students form groups, to collaborate and write “paint chip” poems, poems based on paint color samples cards, that I picked up from my neighborhood hardware store. The end results were amazing; I was blown away by the unique poems students created together.
Below are the colorful masterpieces from 6th graders. I’m so proud of all their work they’ve accomplished these past ten weeks. I hope they have a fantastic summer break!
Mr. Barr’s 6th Grade
Group 1
Fame, Fortune, and a Fashion Fix
By Stephaine M., Valentina V., Mateo M., and Jamariae
Being rich and famous.
Having good style.
Success means fame and fortune.
Good style.
Cheetah print
Gold chains
YouTube channel.
3k a month, we be winning
Gold play button.
Autumn Stroll in a Radiant Sunset
By Jaden C., Axel G., and Ethan
A color just as brown
as the falling leaves,
in the days of autumn,
as colors browning.
Color green turns into
brown, red, and orange,
fills up the trees and sidewalks.
It was brown and nice,
it can be a skin tone,
its’s cute.
My Ukulele and Setting Sun
By Madelyn G., Renata P., and Jezebeth M.
I think about my dog playing ukulele.
The sunset, a golden light so bright.
The color reminds me if Dwayne
the Rock Johnson playing ukulele.
Our Soulmate Is All Grown Up
By Lucas J. and Noah K.
Flowers like pink frosting,
Lily flowers, like lavender
without sent.
My soulmate is like my brother,
dark, pinkish purple.
A color of a ghost at night
that is all grown up.
A light color seen
through me.
Our soul mate is all
grown up.
Mr. Barr’s 6th Grade
Group 2
Radiant Sunset
By Grace F., Olesia H., Jasmin F., and Stella A.
The sun going down, yellow, red,
pink, blue colors.
A warm feeling, the days ending.
the radiant sunset makes the
sunset shines as the rose
blossoms at the sun.
Walking on an autumn stroll,
coming across a radiant sunset,
blinding my eyes with its
bright light.
The color of Mateo’s face,
dirt on the ground.
Autumn like the season,
pretty Fall colors.
Camellia Blossom and Cayenne
By Juan D., Jimmy C., Susie S., Craig M. and Gema D.
The flames of spicey chips,
running through my tongue,
making it redder than how
it was.
The flower red the color of fire.
the blossom blooming.
The fire flower blazing in the air.
Caramel flowers for a sweet treat.
something your grandma makes
for you.
Cayenne watched too many horror
movies at night, but everyday its
always bright.
The red is like Christmas,
with red and green.
Lime Zest and My Sancturary Green
By Melissa T., Julianna T., Morgan M., and Daniela A.
Sancturary green, color of sweet
tasting green Jolly Rancher.
Lime Zest, it looks sour.
Take one look and your mouth
will water.
Lime Zest,
bright green like freshly
squeezed limes.
Lime Zest, neon color,
bright and shiny through
all times.
Corn Maze, Vibrant Sunset, and Canary Diamond.
By Alicja N. and Nanigi A.
Canary diamond mustard.
The corn maze grew in
sunset.
Like that that chicken from Talking Tom show.
The sun during a sunset,
The sunset is vibrant.
Midtown Manhattan Jazz Club
By Jesus O., Gianna M., Samantha H., Delilah O., and Emily C.
Midtown Manhattan:
Iconic buildings like the Empire of state building.
Jazz Club:
This reminds me of a club from back then.
Midtown Manhattan:
A busy and noisy street.
Reminds me of Hip hop and the colors
reminds me of downtown.
Daisy Crown and Brillant Sunshine
By Miriam Valdez and Group
Billant sunshine,
a beautiful ray of yellow
sunshine.
A color that can make
your day.
Daisy crown,
a crown that’s made up
of beautiful daisies.
A color that gives off
good vibes.
The color of the bright
sun during a summer day.
Mr. Barr’s 6th Grade
Group 3
I’m Wild About You Hummingbird
By Melanie V., Khary C., and Mila J.
Green like trees.
Green like flower stems.
Calm like nature.
Free as a bird.
The hummingbird’s wings,
are so accurate,
to the heartbeat
of nature.
Purple like lavender.
Blue like the Ocean.
That’s the hummingbird
in motion.
He gets married in a castle.
All Grown Up, Soulmate
By Mckenna., Miranda L., and Kaylene C.
Light purple all over,
Purple like my mom’s flowers.
Purple like growing up.
My soul mate loves the
color purple.
It’s a light purple,
god for nails.
I’m all grown up,
compared to last year.
Cayenne and Camellia Blossom
By Izabella G., Julian G., and Herman D.
The smooth color of the cayenne,
reminds me of Clifford’s red fur.
The color of cayenne,
reminds me of spicy food,
It’s a nice color,
it makes me happy.
Jazz Club in Midtown Manhattan
By Thanasis T., Zoe R., Sebastian C., and Catalina S.
Purple like club lights.
Dark purple sky in the
midst of Manhattan.
Purple like a beautiful
purple tulip,
sparkling dark
purple wine.
A gentle touch of black
lingering on purple,
like the gentle note
played in a jazz club.
In Manhattan,
a stroll midtown,
light purple, yet
to be seen.
I flew to Midtown Manhattan
on June 17th,
dark purple light up
on a ceiling,
in a jazz club.
Mr. Barr’s 6th Grade
Group 4
Fame and Fortune
By Gabriella C., Jackie M., Montserrat H., Alexandra I.
Fame and Fortune,
you won’t know which
one it is.
Living in Fame and Fortune so happily.
With Fame and Fortune comes
stalking and paparazi.
With a fine wine, the deep
purple one, the color that’s
Fame and Fortune.
It spells my name.
The Brillant Sunshine, Daisy Crown
By Alexander S., Penelope B., and Nathan D.
The flowers on the ground
are daisy crown yellow.
The yellow sun produces brilliant sunshine.
A beautiful daisy crown, worn
by the sun god Helios,
as brilliant as the sunshine.
The color is like the sun
shining to bloom flowers.
The butter for my toast
in the morning.
Jazz Club
By Jace H., Alejandra B., and Leonardo O.
I love the sweet jazz,
in the jazz club.
The swishing sound of purple
wine in a crystal glass.
The chewing sound of a grape.
Bali Blue, Blue Shell
By Gabriel C. and Group
I was on vacation, I went to Bali Blue,
they had a very pretty ocean.
I saw a gorgeous seafoam green sea.
Blue shell reminds me of the sky
in the morning.
Bali Blue is like the water in a coral reef.
Paint Color Samples
