4th graders Draft Odes

Three weeks ago, Shoesmith 4th graders had standardized testing. The following week I was involved with Chicago Poetry Center’s video-shoot for “Queen Zee’s Poetic Adventures;” and last week was spring break! So today was a reunion of sorts, and we needed to spend time remembering each other and reviewing what we had been learning about poetry.

We read “Ode to My Size” by Peter Acosta, in which a young poet accepts and celebrates that he is shorter than most of his classmates. After brainstorming, and composing collaborative group poems, students began writing odes – poems that show respect for, or celebrate the worth of a person, quality, or thing – to something about themselves, or about the earth, in honor of this being Earth Day! Next week we will spend more time revising and polishing our odes, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy these two group poems!

Ms. Lehner 4th grade - Group 1

Ode to a Donut (a collaborative poem)

Oooo, I love you, donut
your sweetness makes me feel hyper, happy
dreamy, and powerful
your squishy, pillowy softness
makes me want to go to heaven
I could kiss you but
frosting would get on my lips
I’d rather eat you

Thank you, donut
for being so sweet and fresh
Mmmmm, yummy!

4th Grade - Group 2

Ode to Hands (a collaborative poem)

I sing the song
of my hands
they help me to eat
and to write a story
and carry groceries in a big
plastic bag

I sing the song
of my fingers
that press the keys on
a piano, or clarinet, or saxophone
my fingers that point and grab
and make the shape of a heart