Discovering your spirit animal

This week for their 4th poetry session, Twain 6th graders channeled their inner spirit animals. The session was inspired by poet in resident Teresa Dzieglewicz’s lesson. Students were asked: If you were an animal, what animal do you think you would be and why? What parts of yourself are similar to this animal? One student chose a cheetah, since they run very fast on their track team, while another student who considered themselves shy and identified with turtle, who hides in its shell. 

Together we read “How to Triumph Like a Girl,” by Ada Limón. In her poem Limón compares herself to a horse, an animal that she admires for its beauty strength, and perseverance. As if this big dangerous animal is also a part of me/that somewhere inside the delicate skin of my body, there pumps an 8-pound female horse heart/ giant with power, heavy with blood. The poem is about self-empowerment and loving the unique parts of over selves. 

Below are poems written 6th graders, about their connection to a specific creature, that live on land, sea, and on the air.

Mr. Barr 6th grade Group 1

How to be stealth like a lion by Diego L.

Early morning hunt for prey.
Look for prey,
crouch as little as you can.
Wait and wait and wait,
the ATTACK.
Going back to the tree.
Protect and Protect.
Can’t always be in the
same spot for days,
other animals can see
and you will never know.
As long as you protect your
surroundings will be safe,
and then you can be
stealth like a ninja.
you don’t have to be the stealth
lion but you will be a good
hunter and powerful.

How to be calm like a giraffe by Alejandro P.

Giraffes moving in herds across
the dry and warm savannah, like
moving with my family, but instead
across a city.

With a tall neck to reach the
leaves on top of the tree, like
mine, but instead for reaching
the top shelf.

Legs built for walking long
distances, like mine but not as long.

Dog by Sophia O.

I like how much energy
Pomeranians have.
How they eat a lot of food.
How they are hungry all the time.

They stay up late but sleep a lot.
Pomeranians sleep and are lazy,
but they have lots of energy
in the morning to night.

Pomeranians are friendly,
sociable, a little intelligent
and playful.

Some of those might describe
me, but I don’t know

Mr. Barr 6th grade Group 2

How to Live Like a Jellyfish by Valeria G.A.

I like how jellyfish are
colorful and pretty.
They look like they can’t
do harm but if you touch
it you can die.
They live in the dark,
that’s why they are
bright and colorful.
I love how colorful they are.
If I turn them into an outfit.
I could win a fashion show.

How To Be Scary Like a Crow by Valentino R.

Crows are my favorite bird.
They make people scared.
You can be in the dark looking
not noticeable to you.
come out of nowhere like
an Ad. No one notices you.
I like the dark.
Not that scary, I pop out
any time.
Screaming can be normal
in the DARK.
It can happen anytime,
it is rare like my name.
It can be hard to see,
but not for a crow or me.
They stick to a place,
like I stick to my house.

How To Adventure Like a Monkey by Isaac O.

First, you need to manifest
into a monkey, which for
most, is impossbile

After manifesting, you’ve
done the hardest part of
your journey!

Tell your family members
that you’ll be going to the
Amazon Rainforest.

To climb and adventure
as a monkey you need to
do these steps.

1. Hop onto a vine.
2. Swing back and forth.
3. When enough swinging, jump!
4. Just hope you don’t fall flat.

Mr. Barr 6th grade Group 3

How To Be in the Shadows Like a Panther by Abel L.

I like being alone the best.
Nobody by my side.
I wait in the shadows
for my prey.
I’m always in the shadows
like Batman.
I’m too fast for my prey
to realize where I’m at.
I strike and feast on
some good meat.

I eat in silence, no one
around.
I love my dark coat,
it helps me camouflage
and catch my prey.

Hyena by Amira L.

I like Hyenas,
how they laugh,
reminds me of how
me and my friends laugh.
Their powerful jaws,
rough coat of Africa, and
have black or gray everywhere,
like a chocolate chip cookie,
and crazy hair like if I
wake up from bed.

How To Be Pretty Like a Ladybug by Noire U.

I love the ladybugs best,
how they only come out
in the summer,
landing on people’s
arms and legs,
which = good luck.
I love how they look,
red with black dots
all over them.
They remind me of
of myself because they
only like Spring/Summer.
I like to look at flowers,
especially tulips and
hibiscus flowers.
I also love to dress like
them, wearing black
and sometimes red.
They’re red like a strawberry
and black like chia seeds
I put in my smoothie.

How to Be Quick Like a Deer By Agustin M.

I like the deer best,
it’s hooves stomping
in the forest, strength
with every step.
Shivers after a run
it may not be mighty,
but it survives,
and it thrives.

I admire their stoic
perspective, their
nearly 360 view.
They aren’t afraid
they are evasive
I know I’d be scared,
but would you?

Mr. Barr 6th grade Group 4

How To Be Magical Like a Unicorn By Kristen B.

I like the unicorns best.
They’re magical
and got rainbow manes.
when they run, they
leave sparkles and glitter
Their horns shimmer
like the sun.
My personality is
just as magical.

 

My Spirit Animal Is An Owl by Ricardo F.

I am an owl.
Tired in the day,
but when it is night,
I wake up.
I love the dark,
because I see very good.
Owls fly down to get
their food.
I do the same.
As an owl I like to be
up on my back legs,
as I fly down to get
my food.

How To Be a Chicken From Popeyes by Sebby H.

I was made.
I became a chick.
1 year later I’m grown.
I end up in a factory.
I die.
I’m in Heaven,
I see that I end up
at Popeyes.
I’m turned into a
magically golden brown.
I see the kid listening
to all the chicken sizzle
on the fryer and he’s
served the best chicken
of his life and it’s the
the best things he’s eaten.
His mouth waters, just
by hearing the crunch.

6th grade Artwork