"The Reason I Like Chocolate" - The Chicago Poetry Center

“The Reason I Like Chocolate”

Wednesday I was reunited with Mrs. Murphy and got to meet new-to-me 3rd graders at Twain Elementary. It was great meeting Ms. O’Reilly who is covering for Ms. Isaacs while she is on leave. (👋🏾Ms. Isaacs!) I’m grateful to be invited to return for a third Fall term. Students shared what they knew and imagined poetry to be, and we talked about “art class with words,” having fun, being open to creative challenges, and having an opportunity to learn, make, and share of ourselves in unique ways. From there, we read “The Reason I Like Chocolate” by Nikki Giovanni. Students were introduced to their first poetry terminology: LINE and STANZA, and we talked about how our “likes” are the same or different from those the poet shared in the poem. We looked at how the poet wrapped words to make new lines instead of writing a thought in a straight, unbroken line. We also noticed how the poet wrote “’cause” instead of “because.” Students brainstormed things that they like, as well as the reasons why, before writing their first poems of the residency. Enjoy!

Mrs. Murphy 3rd Grade

Mitzi B.

I like soccer ’cause I can make
goals and kick the ball and I have
a team to help me shoot

I like fall ’cause it’s my birthday
season and leaves turn red, orange,
yellow and light green and I can
jump in the pile but I don’t do
that

Dalilah C.

I like to play volleyball legends with
my cousin, sometimes. we go on different teams.

I like books, my favorite book to read
is Bad Kitty. I like books ’cause it’s calming.

I like sushi, it has crab and rice. I
like it a lot, it’s very good, you should try it.

Isabella L.

I like gil de pollo (chicken soup)
because it is tasty and I love
chicken

I like the pumpkin patch
because I can go on fun rides
and it opens in fall….
BOO!

Eliana O.

I like doing gymnastics because
it is fun doing flips.

I like playing on
my iPad because I like to play the games
on it.

I like to ride my bike because
I can go fast and I like the wind on my face.

Ms. O'Reilly 3rd Grade

Victoria G.

I like cats because they are fuzzy and
cuddly!

I also like volleyball because
the ball goes high and makes a cool
sound! BUMP!

I like my family, my big bro, Max
stands up for me! and I like to annoy my brother
Vincent.

Ethan L.

I like Fortnite because it is very fun and they
do collaborations.

I like science because it has
magnets and other stuff.

I love Home Depot because
it has candy, tools, and mini buildings.

Melody P.

I like dogs ’cause when I am
sad and I snuggle with them they
make me happy

I like roblox
’cause it is fun

I like my cousins
’cause they make me smile

I like my family ’cause
they make me laugh and they make me
comfortable

I like Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
’cause it is interesting